I'm thinking of running lightweight Motegi wheels on my R 56 since I've already dented one stock. Has any one had experience w/ their quality. maybe w/ our potholes I'm asking for trouble,

thanks.

2013 cooper s, Berger JB tune , WMW catless downpipe, Milteck exhaust.

 

Well since you don't list a location anywhere it's hard to determine which potholes you're talking about. We ran a set of Motegi SP10s for about a year in Northern VA and had no issues with them. If one does get dented they're pretty cheap to replace.

 

Where do you live? If you have potholes do they get fixed? Is it a very common occurance?

What size rims are you considering?

If 17" then tire sizes are 205/45-17 and 215/45-17.
If 16" then sizes are 195/55-16, 205/50-16 or 205/55-16

The more sidewall you have the less likely you will easily damage your wheels as long as you are not hitting the pothole going fast. So slow down and be cautious when you are in traffic, during bad weather and at night which are the riskier times to miss seeing a pothole untill it is too late.

Motegi wheels are decent and likely gravity cast alloy in contruction. The lighter the wheel the less strong it can be unless it is forged alloy. Just be careful.

 

Right its not so bad around here we just have a few bad ones but its a small town and I just have to learn them and "curb" my enthusiasim behind the wheel. This mini is like nothing I'v ever driven except for the tired comparison o racing Karts a a teenage. I;m 57 in my 2nd childhood! Do you think the lighter weight will have any effect on acceleration?

thanks,

Terry

 

I have Motegi wheels and have no issues with them at all.

 

From what I understand they are more or less comparable to Rotas, so not terrible wheels but not the best either. Like any other cast rim at that price point, its pretty unlikely you'll crack one if you drive carefully, but I also wouldn't trust them if you live in an area with substantially sized potholes.

It depends how much weight you drop per corner if you want to notice any change in performance. If its just a pound or two, probably not. If you lose 10 pounds per corner for instance, that would roughly be the equivalent of removing a small passenger from your car.

 

Sounds like you will be fine.

I would need the details and specifics of which wheel and tires you would want to use vs the current wheels and tires. The amount of difference would help to determine how much benefit you could expect.

In general any weight you can save from the tire and wheel is good for shorter stops, quicker acceleration, and better more nimble handling.

Since MINI OEM wheels are heavy as are runflat tires, the MINI will do very well with lighter wheels and non runflat tires.

Remember that when going at constant speed there is no benefit of the lighter wheels, only when you change speeds or direction.

 

I'm running on Motegi SP10s in North Dakota, where all the roads are ****. They've held up better than I expected.

 

I had a few sets of Motegis on my Ford Focus when I was sixteen. The clearcoat peeled in less than six months on both. Avoid them.

 

Hmmm. Mine have no issues, but they're also matte finish.

 

I have good luck with Motegis in the past.

 

Mine are also Matte.

 

How do I join the "Midnight Black R 56 Owners Club"? What a cool avatar to let people know what good taste we have! But do you ever get that feeling you want them to stop making them in 12am black now that you have yours?

thanks,

Terry

 

I have a set of Motegi MR119s mated up with my summer tires at the moment. New Hampshire's roads are pretty terrible right now, but I don't run the rims in the winter.

Our roads don't seem to get a whole lot better in the summer, and I had good luck with them last summer.