I have the stock 17 inch S-Lites on my MCS. I've decided that I'd like to get new wheels and tires. The problem is, I really don't know much about wheels. I see stuff on the Tirerack that I think looks good, but don't know if they're actually good wheels.

Also, has anybody moved down to 16 inch wheels from the stock 17's, does it improve ride quality?

Here are some wheels I like from the TireRack upgrade center (in my price range), would anyone be kind enough to give me feedback on any of them?

ASA KA3


ASA LW5


Kazera KZ-V


Kosei K1 TS


Mille Miglia HT3


O.Z. Superleggera


SSR Competition



Favorite out of those are the Mille Miglia HT3's

 

here are the major questions when it comes to wheel selection:

*what's your MINI's color combo. better yet, what kind of look are you going for?
*what are you doing with your MINI? showing off around town, or racing frequently? (this will dictate tire choice which dictates wheel size)

answer this, and we'll get you on the right track (maybe literally!)
Cheers,
Ryan

 

sorry to steal a response but do you think the SSR comps would look better in silver with red/white combo? I do, but haven't seen any pictures of silver really. Almost everyone get the anthracite.

sambusik, getting the 16's should improve ride quality and improve throttle response. i'm doing just that but mostly for performance purposes.

 

also you should check out the "show me your wheels" posts. they are a few pages back in the tire forum.

 

My MCS is DS/B, with silver S-Lites.
Not gonna be doing any performance driving ... Change in wheels is mostly for ride quality and looks.

I'll check out the Show me Your Wheels thread. Thanks

 

Too bad that there's a lot of Red X's in the Show Me Your Wheels thread. But there are some great shots in there.

The shots of the SSR Comp's are great, so are koolmini's O.Z. Superleggera.

 

sambusik, I went from 17" S-lite wheels to 15" Rota wheels with shorter overall tire diameter. There's nothing wrong with going smaller, it'll result in better ride quality and performance. Also, TireRack offers quality products and I don't think you can go wrong ordering stuff from them, but don't restrict yourself to only their selection. There are a lot of wheels out there that will fit our cars due to the similarity in bolt-pattern and offset with other modern imports (mainly Hondas). Also, the search function on this website will open up a wealth of information on choosing wheels and how the different sizes work, without it I wouldn't have been able to make the decision to change my wheels. Good luck and post pics when you get new wheels :smile:

 

>>I have the stock 17 inch S-Lites on my MCS. I've decided that I'd like to get new wheels and tires. ... Change in wheels is mostly for ride quality and looks.

Lets look at each choice individually below. Looks is subjective so only you can be the judge. Also take a look at Rspeed wheels. Like this one-
http://www.rspeed.net/mini/item.asp?...p;prod=405-510
Rota Subzero Wheel 16x7 +40mm Offset $135 per rim

Fullset of tires and rims-
http://www.rspeed.net/mini/item.asp?...p;prod=405-295
Includes Falken FK451 in a 205/50/16 size (more performance oriented)
Or this-
http://www.rspeed.net/mini/item.asp?...p;prod=405-605
Ronal RT Twin 16x7.5" +45mm in silver $149 each rim


Or choose all season tires
http://www.rspeed.net/mini/item.asp?...p;prod=405-712
Falken Ziex ZE 512 Tire 205/50/16 Consumer Reports Rated #1 Performance All Season Tire $79 each

>>Also, has anybody moved down to 16 inch wheels from the stock 17's, does it improve ride quality?

16" wheels can be better for ride but it depends on the tires and the tire size.
Lets assume that you have a stock suspension with no interest in lowering your MCS.

>>Here are some wheels I like from the TireRack upgrade center (in my price range), would anyone be kind enough to give me feedback on any of them?
>>
>>ASA KA3 (not in 15 or 16" rim sizes)
17x7.5 et42 22 lbs $239 per rim

>>ASA LW5
16x7.5 et 42mm??? 16 lbs , Silver $119 and white $154 per rim 205/50-16 tire size

>>Kazera KZ-V
16x7 et 45 16.0 lbs $119 per rim 195/55-16 tire size

>>Kosei K1 TS (not in 16" rim size)
17x7 et42 14.1 lbs $199 in silver and light grey per rim

>>Mille Miglia HT3 (not in 16" rim size)
17x7 et45 21.0 lbs $179 each rim Light grey painted

>>O.Z. Superleggera
16x7 et37 14.5 lbs $239 each rim Bright silver
195/55-16 tire size

>>SSR Competition
16x7 et42 11.3 lbs Anthracite $295 each rim 195/55-16 tire size
16x7.5 et42 11.5 lbs Anthracite or Silver $305 each rim 205/50-16 tire size
16x6.5 et44 11.0 lbs Anthracite $279 each rim 195/55-16 tire size

>>Favorite out of those are the Mille Miglia HT3's
They come in 17" and 18" rim sizes

If you want the smoothest more comfortable ride quality you might start with 16x7 inch rims with 195/55-16 non runflat tires. Find a MINI with this setup and go for a ride.

 

>>Too bad that there's a lot of Red X's in the Show Me Your Wheels thread.
>>

Click below to view over 50 different wheels fitted to MINIs:

Aftermarket Wheel Gallery


>>If you want the smoothest more comfortable ride quality you might start with 16x7 inch rims with 195/55-16 non runflat tires.
>>

205/50-16 is the most common (and plentiful) choice for non runflat tires.

 

Anyone know how much these wheels weigh?

 

17x7.5 Ronal RT wheels weigh 23 lbs.

Source: http://www.ronalusa.com/wheels/rt.html

 

>>17x7.5 Ronal RT wheels weigh 23 lbs.
>>
>>Source: http://www.ronalusa.com/wheels/rt.html

Boy, they are still on the heavy side but they look good and the price is reasonable.

 

minihune, thanks for a very informative post. The Rota 16x7 with Falken FK451 kit on RSpeed looks very interesting.

 

I'd stick with 17's for your DS/B. My favorite DS/B MCS combo is the OZ Superleggera in 18", looks positively wicked Stealthy! However 18's will destroy any ride-quality you thought you had with your boat-anchors. If you're still running Run-flats, just switching to a non-run-flat will feel like going to a 16" in terms of taking the edge off. Keeping a 17" will maintain the aggressive look. Any smaller than a 17" on a street-car MCS and you start to lose that hunkered down powerful stance.

All that said, my basic recommendations are either the Kosei K1-TS in light gray, the OZ Superleggera in gray, or, if your like more brightwork, the SSR Comp's in anthracite with polished lip. Since the Kosei TS and SSR Comp are 7.5" wide, go for a 215/40-17 size. This means you can run the Bridgestone S-03, Goodyear GS-D3, or Toyo T1S, all of which are top-shelf tires. Since the Superleggera's are only 7" wide with a 37mm offset, I'd say stick with the stock 205/45-17 size, so the Yokohama ES100 or Parada2 are the best choices there.

So, when it comes down to it, the Kosei K1-TS if you want a more wispy, but stealth look, and the SSR Comp Anthracite if you want a shinier but chunkier look.

Hope that Helps,
Ryan

 

Ive been modding and dressing up cars for a while now and the rule of
thumb is to watchout for wheelwell gap and the gap inside the wheel between
your brake rotor and rim.

With that in mind, I chose to go with a mesh type wheel in 17 (more
spokes, the better it covers up the rotors) and a 5 spoke in 16. I've
seen many mini's with large diameter wheels with
what looks like teeth missing inside the rim due to the small rotors.
Might be a difference in opinion, but to me, that is not the look I would
want. There is a reason why the factory wheels cover the rotors quite
well. Not sure about the JCW 18's though...

I think out of the wheels you listed, the OZ's will probably look the best
in 17's with a lowered ride or with 205/45/17 tires with stock ride height
(try rounded shoulders tires, not ES100 type where the sidewall has a
sharp edge augmenting the wheelwell gap). You might even want to
look into all-season tires where the sidewalls are much rounder if you
opt for the factory ride height.

Those RT's look nice too.. the large double spokes hide the rotors
pretty well.

I've had the HT3's on my other car a long time and and those wheels
look very nice too...almost a factory finish look. :smile: but it will still
reveal your brake rotors.

 

Do the same thing you do with shoes: try them on and then drive up next to a really big mirror and see how they look

 

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but you guys are on a topic that I'm still agonizing over. I think I've settled on CR/CR w/blk bonnet stripes (seems pretty rare) and I think I'm pretty sure I want mesh wheels (for all the reasons mentioned above, and I think they are very stylish).

I saw the R90s up close at the dealer and decided I didn't want them (too pricey, for one). I thought I really liked the ASA AR1 as a nice, low-priced wheel - until I saw them here. I just really don't like the look of them here - is it me, or do they just not look as nice as the first picture (sorry to whomever owns this car - just my opinion here).

I'm wondering if maybe they are a different color and that's what's throwing me off - or maybe the tire/wheel well size. If I could get anything, I'd really look at getting BBS LM's as I really like the 'flat' look of the mesh, as opposed to the curve on many others, as well as the 'dish' look (my last rears were 19x10 ).

Help! I need some ideas that won't break the bank - a tire/wheel combo of <$1500-1600 or so would let me order them ahead of car delivery. Much more than that and I'll probably need to wait a little.

Doug

 

Here's an idea:

Buy the BBS wheels you like so much and immediately have the Run-Flat tires from the MINI installed onto them.

Then, sell the stock wheels and buy new performance tires once you sell those.

Have your cake and eat it too

 

I say go with the SSR's in 16"!



_________________
'04 MCS w/ 16" SSR's, Scorpion Exhaust & Pilo intake.

 

To steal an idea from Colin Chapman- "first add lightness"

 

grave- the reason you probably didn't like the ASA's on that picture is because
they are 16's, using tires with broad shoulders, and the car is not lowered.

If you use 205/45/16's and lower the ride, it will look very nice... or opt
for the 17's. I use the R90's and they are pricy...but then again, if you're
going for dressup, 2pc wheels are a very nice choice. If you're going for
performance, ASA's will probably be better due to lighter weight.

Just talking from a 3rd person's persepective. The R90's are awesome
to me (biased), but they are pretty heavy wheels. :smile:

 

Or, you could be insane and have 3 (or more) different sets of wheels and tires to use for different conditions.

Here's what I have:

R-90's and Yokohama ES100's : Daily Driver fashionable set

V-spoke (X-lite, R84) and Falken Azenis : Dragon, canyon, noncompetitive track set

NZO Monzas + Hoosier RS03's : Competitive track set

 

>>Here's an idea:
>>
>>Buy the BBS wheels you like so much and immediately have the Run-Flat tires from the MINI installed onto them.
>>
>>Then, sell the stock wheels and buy new performance tires once you sell those.
>>
>>Have your cake and eat it too

If I could get the BBS LM's in the right size and bolt pattern, I'd definitely consider them, but I don't think they're available to fit the mini.

>>grave- the reason you probably didn't like the ASA's on that picture is because
they are 16's, using tires with broad shoulders, and the car is not lowered.
>>
>>If you use 205/45/16's and lower the ride, it will look very nice... or opt
for the 17's. I use the R90's and they are pricy...but then again, if you're
going for dressup, 2pc wheels are a very nice choice. If you're going for
performance, ASA's will probably be better due to lighter weight.

You may be right, but those wheels looked very dark compared to the shiny silver pictures at TireRack. I'll definitely be getting 17" (I wouldn't mind 18's ), as I think 16" just doesn't look aggressive enough. Wish I could see some in person - buying via the Internet can be tough sometimes.

Doug

ps - thanks for the advice.

 

sorry to thread jack, but ken your R90s look great, a huge improvement over those chunky 5-spokes you had before. I've been thinking of picking up a used set and putting some street tires on and then mounting R-compounds on my Rotas once the current Yokohamas wear out.

 

Ok, it's down to two choices:

- 17x7 Mille Miglia HT3 Light Grey
- 17x7 O.Z. Superleggera

I'd be fine with the looks of either one of them, the only thing bothering me is weight.

I know the MCS needs all the help it can get taking off. Having said that, it doesn't seem that I'd be making much of a weight saving at all by going with the HT3.

It's 21lbs vs 15.5lbs on the O.Z.

That's 6.5lbs of rotating weight on each wheel...

I'm going with the Yokohama Parada Spec-2, I LOVE that tread pattern. Can't beat the price either, and people on here have said a lot of good stuff about them.

Thoughts?