I just installed the 17" Minilite Design wheels with 17" Pirelli runflats...upgraded from the base 16" on the Cooper S. I like the tires but the wheels feel heavy. Anyone know the actual weight of these wheels and a lighter alternative wheel? I'm also thinking of switching to Yokohama AVS ES100 17" as an alternative to the Pirellis. Any comments, advice apprecaiated...Thanks.

Fla. Mini Owners


Size matters!!!!!!

 

not sure about the pirellis, but the all-season goodyear runflats with 17" s lites on my car weigh 50 lbs each!
i replaced them with OZ superleggeras, 16 x7 and Kuhmo V700 205/45: 34 lbs each[img]null[/img]

 

I just sold my R90's and put on the R84 V-Spokes with 205/50 R16 Yokohama AVS ES100's.

That cut about 70 lbs of rotating weight off my MINI.

The ES100's are nice and in the 16" size they are only about $75 a tire. The performance is so much nicer with lighter weight wheels/tires.

- No more 1st gear bog
- quicker acceleration
- improved ride comfort with better handling
- much less "hunting" over rain grooved pavement.

 

I've always assumed that I'll get a Cooper (with the Works conversion) then run the standard 7-hole wheels with 195/60R15 Yoko AVS Intermediates, for that classic high-profile look. Not to mention dirt cheap. And light: the 7-hole wheels weigh 12lbs!

Can anyone see a downside to running 195/60s on 15x5.5" wheels?

 

Actually, I think it's more like 50 lbs, isn't it? The R84's weigh 17.6 pounds, or 6.5 lbs less than the 24.1 lb R90's. Your 205/50/16 Yokos weigh about 20 lbs, for a savings of about 5 lbs compared to the runflats. Total weight savings: 11.5 x 4 = 46 lbs

Better than a poke in the eye though! According to a spreadsheet I found, that should give you the effect of adding about 16 "extra" pound/feet of torque to your car. (That's how much less torque it takes to spin your lighter wheels up to speed.)

I'm still debating which tires & wheels to put on my MCS when it gets here in a couple months. Probably 17"x7" wheels from Center Line (14 lbs), shod with 205/40/17 Dunlops. (18.5 lbs) That'll save me about 72 lbs as compared to the R85s that come on the car. According to the spreadsheet, the equivalent of adding 21.5 lb/ft of torque.

But those 11 lb SSR Comps are still calling my name.... <sigh>

-Dave

 

Dave,
I just ordered Yoko AVE 100s (215 45 17s) and Kosei rims (16lbs). I'll let you know how they feel when mounted, probably next Friday. I'll also post pics, before and after on the website. BTW if you go to a 40 sidewall it will affect your speedo.


Florida Mini Owners