I have been reading much about the effects of unsprung weight and handling of various size wheels. So I would like to forgo the MCS standard 16" or 17" wheels in favor of the 15s. The configurator doesn't provide that option, but I am wondering if the dealer can order this way? If not, with the myriad of wheel options available, which are lighter? I favor results over looks, but unfortunately the configurator doesn't give much information about these wheels beyond the looks . Is this info available anywhere?

 

I'm fairly certain that none of the MINI factory 15" wheels will clear the brake rotors on an MCS. In fact, most of the 16" wheels that MINI has offered over the years won't fit either (although any 16" wheels you can order on the configurator have probably been confirmed to work.)

 

No; the front brake calipers won't fit in anything less than 16".

 

Is that the same for the R53?

 

No, the 15" OEM wheels will fit the R53 brakes. (The R81 "Holies" are a popular example, since they're the lightest of all the OEM MINI wheels.)

The reason why the second-gen 'S' cars won't take OEM 15" wheels is that the standard 'S' brakes on the new cars are the same as the JCW brakes you could order with the first-gen cars. In short, the standard R56 'S' brakes are bigger than they used to be in the R53

 

Now that you mention it I do remember reading that about the new model. Do you know offhand how much the R81 wheels weigh?

 

Sorry, but that's not accurate.

I wanted wheels to put a set of 15" studded snow tires on my '10 MCS that I had previously bought for my '03 MCS (these still had lots of tread left). Alex at Tire Rack sold me four Mota wheels that work very nicely for that purpose (part #20485651635BML MR20485651635).

To get back to the OP's question, though, I'd suggest you talk to your local dealers about the lightest 16" or 17" wheels that you can get from MINI to keep the upsprung weight at a minimum because MINI USA's website just doesn't provide that info. That's kinda dumb for a performance automobile, but they just don't give you much info to go on. *sigh*

 

Almost exactly 12 pounds.

 

wheel weights:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?f...heel_tire_tech

 

Wow, this thread has really gotten off topic.

To answer the original question, no you cannot order an MCS with 15" wheels. Furthermore, the 16" selection is completely new for 2011 and none of the wheel weights are known yet.

BTW, I don't think MINI actually publishes wheel weights and dealers probably won't know; the knowledge comes from the community and spreads online.

 

OK, thanks for all the info. Didn't realize brake calipers would be an issue, good to know! It looks like I will order 16s then. Depending on how much info I can track down I may just order the standard 16 wheels and run em for a while and see how things go, but probably ditch them and the run flats for a set of workable aftermarket 15s with good street performing rubber...but I've got lots of time to look into that.