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I'm at a pretty big loss as to where to go with my wheels. I currently have some gold/bronze-ish konig ultralight (?helium?) wheels that I don't particularly like - see sig. I'd like to go with a much more European mesh/basketweave wheel.
Like most people, I'm terribly fond of BBS RS wheels, but I'm not dropping $3500 or so on a set. So I'm looking for a decent budget wheel.... but to throw a kink into the plan, I'm not sure what size I even want. I originally wanted a 15" to put some more air between me and the road for a comfortable drive, but looking on discounttiredirect.com, I wasn't impressed with the tire options. Doesn't really seem like there's a good high-performance summer tire for 15s. But then I am having a difficult time finding reasonably priced mesh 17s... What a conundrum!!!
I'd like to keep wheels + tires <$1k or so. Is it even possible to do this with a performance oriented summer tire?
I'm at a pretty big loss as to where to go with my wheels. I currently have some gold/bronze-ish konig ultralight (?helium?) wheels that I don't particularly like - see sig. I'd like to go with a much more European mesh/basketweave wheel.
Like most people, I'm terribly fond of BBS RS wheels, but I'm not dropping $3500 or so on a set. So I'm looking for a decent budget wheel.... but to throw a kink into the plan, I'm not sure what size I even want. I originally wanted a 15" to put some more air between me and the road for a comfortable drive, but looking on discounttiredirect.com, I wasn't impressed with the tire options. Doesn't really seem like there's a good high-performance summer tire for 15s. But then I am having a difficult time finding reasonably priced mesh 17s... What a conundrum!!!
I'd like to keep wheels + tires <$1k or so. Is it even possible to do this with a performance oriented summer tire?
There is way more high performance tires selection for 15" if you own 16" like me. It is all because of gen 1 Miata. Good racing 15" wheels are also very affordable.
I've always been a BBS wheel fan and thought the factory two piece 17" R90's were one of the best looking wheels MINI sold, but they're really heavy at 24+ lbs. I recently replaced mine with a set of OZ's and could really feel the 10 lb. per wheel weight difference. Still, I kept the R90's to throw on every so often because they look so good.
The 16" one piece wheels are better being around 21 lbs., but they're still heavy when comparing to aftermarket wheels. Both were made by BBS, but now the 16's are made by Cromodora. ECS has the 16's on clearance for $125 each.
Another option would be used 17" BBS RG-R's. They're forged and about 16 lbs. Not sure if they're still available, but there have been a couple of sets on here on NAM.
Is it possible for about $1000 for wheels and tires? Yes. The biggest expense will be the wheels. Good tires can be had for around $100 to $150 each.
I concur for the most part with pnwR53. I would say 16 is your best bet for options on wheels and tires. You do have lots of racing tires in 15 but that may be overkill for the street. Tire Rack has an OK selection of wheels and a good selection of tires and it has a somewhat useful-ish gimmick that allows you to see the wheels on "your car" before you buy.
I have a set of 15's for winter and a set of 16's for summer - I do tend to buy tires a lot this way... especially with 2 MINI's and 16 tires...
I go with 205/55-16 for the summer tires - there a lots of max performance summer, extreme performance summer and high performance summer tires in this size and it gives a little bit more sidewall to make the ride a little more comfortable on the streets - from your sig it looks like your are running stock dampers/springs. 205/55-16 would make things a touch softer in the bumpies.
I've always been a BBS wheel fan and thought the factory two piece 17" R90's were one of the best looking wheels MINI sold, but they're really heavy at 24+ lbs. I recently replaced mine with a set of OZ's and could really feel the 10 lb. per wheel weight difference. Still, I kept the R90's to throw on every so often because they look so good.
The 16" one piece wheels are better being around 21 lbs., but they're still heavy when comparing to aftermarket wheels. Both were made by BBS, but now the 16's are made by Cromodora. ECS has the 16's on clearance for $125 each.
Another option would be used 17" BBS RG-R's. They're forged and about 16 lbs. Not sure if they're still available, but there have been a couple of sets on here on NAM.
Those are also super rare wheels even for MINI. Made very well. Look very good.
There is way more high performance tires selection for 15" if you own 16" like me. It is all because of gen 1 Miata. Good racing 15" wheels are also very affordable.
Track tires are one thing - wouldn't have a problem finding those. A good street performance tire is an entirely different animal I'm finding. I really didn't expect to have a big problem precisely because so many coupes, roadsters, and hot hatches have used smaller wheels. I had hankook ventus v12 on my e46 and they lasted me 3 seasons and still could've been flipped. I'd love something like that again with a similar wear rating.
Originally Posted by RB-MINI
I've always been a BBS wheel fan and thought the factory two piece 17" R90's were one of the best looking wheels MINI sold, but they're really heavy at 24+ lbs. I recently replaced mine with a set of OZ's and could really feel the 10 lb. per wheel weight difference. Still, I kept the R90's to throw on every so often because they look so good.
The 16" one piece wheels are better being around 21 lbs., but they're still heavy when comparing to aftermarket wheels. Both were made by BBS, but now the 16's are made by Cromodora. ECS has the 16's on clearance for $125 each.
Another option would be used 17" BBS RG-R's. They're forged and about 16 lbs. Not sure if they're still available, but there have been a couple of sets on here on NAM.
RG-R is way out of my price range new. Probably fairly difficult to come by used/good price/decent condition. I also don't LOVE them. They're a fairly aggressive mesh, less of a basketweave. For whatever reason I'm crazy about basketweaves... It's just so classy.
Originally Posted by Thought of a good one
Is it possible for about $1000 for wheels and tires? Yes. The biggest expense will be the wheels. Good tires can be had for around $100 to $150 each.
I concur for the most part with pnwR53. I would say 16 is your best bet for options on wheels and tires. You do have lots of racing tires in 15 but that may be overkill for the street. Tire Rack has an OK selection of wheels and a good selection of tires and it has a somewhat useful-ish gimmick that allows you to see the wheels on "your car" before you buy.
I have a set of 15's for winter and a set of 16's for summer - I do tend to buy tires a lot this way... especially with 2 MINI's and 16 tires...
I go with 205/55-16 for the summer tires - there a lots of max performance summer, extreme performance summer and high performance summer tires in this size and it gives a little bit more sidewall to make the ride a little more comfortable on the streets - from your sig it looks like your are running stock dampers/springs. 205/55-16 would make things a touch softer in the bumpies.
I could definitely go 16s. They'll probably be the best compromise, actually. So then... to just narrow down to a specific wheel. Rota, Klutch, enkei, xxr? Which put out a decent product, fairly light weight, and decent price?
Originally Posted by drewstermalloy
Rota makes some wheels you might like that are fairly cheap.
Rota MC:
Their website has a lot more options though.
:drool: LM reps from rota? I would rock those in a heartbeat. I can't find ANY for sale, though.
Wheels are like religion. Say something wrong and you can ruffle a lot of feathers. What I don't get is why most the gen 1 Mini owners chose 17", especially the stock wheels that weigh a ton. For DD I would think 16" offers the best balance of all factors. But hay, wheels and grills are the biggest fashion elements on a car.
CSP - I am currently running Yokohama V105 Sport 205/55-16 on my 16x7 Pannasport wheels. I bought these wheels used for $600 (with tires on them) from a friend who sold them to me at that price as a wedding present. Their tread rating is 240. I really like the tires; they are great on the street and track. They are "Mercedes Spec" tires. I take that to mean that they were designed for a car that weighs about 900 (or more) pounds more than my Justa. The tires have a max load rating of 1365 pounds which is more than half the total weight of my car. They are lasting A LOT longer than I thought they would...
Before I had dedicated summer and winter tires I had several sets of "Ultra High Performance All" season tires - which seems like a long series of contradicting terms...
My list of tires of summer only tires -
BF Goodrich - not sure which they were they came with the Pannasports - they were good, but not worth getting again. 205/50-16 - lasted 3 summers.
Goodyear F1 GS-D3 - nice tires, good at the limit but not all that talkative when you get near the limit. 205/50-16 - these are not made in 16 inch anymore, only 17 and 18. Lasted 3 summers.
Yokohama V105 Sport (Mercedes) - out of these the summer only tires, I like these the best. Communicative up to the limit and when you start to cross - they scream like a scared child. I find this to be a nice feature. You only need to hear them scream once and you know where the limit is by sound alone. Again tread rating 240. These are the stickiest tires that I have had. Great load rating and come in speed ratings of W (168 mph) and V (149 mph). Mine are the W rated tires. Lasting, so far, 3 summers and will seemingly last at least one more from thread depth.
As for wheels... I have nothing to offer. I have been looking very unsuccessfully and exceptionally sporadically for light (as in less then 15 pounds) and cheep 15x6 or 15x7 wheels for track day use.
i have 16in OZ ultraleggera and 16in SSR type C.
i like the fatter sidewalls for these cars and helps the ride not be as harsh.
You can get a used set for about 700 with tires.
i have 16in OZ ultraleggera and 16in SSR type C.
i like the fatter sidewalls for these cars and helps the ride not be as harsh.
You can get a used set for about 700 with tires.
I doubt you can find used 16" SSR type C for $700. Counterfeit may be. Neither of your set of wheels are what OP looks for. He wants basket weave that is polar opposite of your two sets that are simple radial spokes.
Slowly I have been come to realization that today you can get very cost effective light wheels from the lesser brands, especially for lightweight, low power cars like Mini and Miata. Many same wheels are sold under different names, or similar wheels made in the same China factories. The flow forming manufacturing technology seems to be damn good. If you look at the Miata world, you will find tons of affordable and light wheels. For me BBS and the like is like fashion brands.
Wheels are like fashion goods, pay more and you are likely not to get more performance.
Last edited by pnwR53S; Oct 27, 2017 at 10:22 AM.
Reason: added $
There is way more high performance tires selection for 15" if you own 16" like me. It is all because of gen 1 Miata. Good racing 15" wheels are also very affordable.
Now that is the damn truth, I miss how absolutely dirt cheap it was to mod my old NA.
I'm still working on trying to find 15 inch wheels for my R53 because I've given up on the cost and availability of 16 and 17 inch wheels and performance tires.
Now that is the damn truth, I miss how absolutely dirt cheap it was to mod my old NA.
I'm still working on trying to find 15 inch wheels for my R53 because I've given up on the cost and availability of 16 and 17 inch wheels and performance tires.
Here are some selections at 949racing. I also have seen a lot of Miatas running Team Dynamics at the track. I wish they have 16"s as is my wheel dia choice.
From: Portland, OR *currently in a temporary email address
Wish I could be of help, I'm still stuck fixing stuff, so I've never bought wheels. I have seen really good local deals on Craigslist and OfferUp. Just type the "4x100" and browse. Sometimes you find stuff in the $300-400 range. Lots of cars share our bolt pattern, so it's actually a pretty good place to start.
In any case, Professor's car from back in the day is sort of my inspiration for "eventually".
Here are some selections at 949racing. I also have seen a lot of Miatas running Team Dynamics at the track. I wish they have 16"s as is my wheel dia choice.
CSP - I am currently running Yokohama V105 Sport 205/55-16 on my 16x7 Pannasport wheels. I bought these wheels used for $600 (with tires on them) from a friend who sold them to me at that price as a wedding present. Their tread rating is 240. I really like the tires; they are great on the street and track. They are "Mercedes Spec" tires. I take that to mean that they were designed for a car that weighs about 900 (or more) pounds more than my Justa. The tires have a max load rating of 1365 pounds which is more than half the total weight of my car. They are lasting A LOT longer than I thought they would...
Before I had dedicated summer and winter tires I had several sets of "Ultra High Performance All" season tires - which seems like a long series of contradicting terms...
My list of tires of summer only tires -
BF Goodrich - not sure which they were they came with the Pannasports - they were good, but not worth getting again. 205/50-16 - lasted 3 summers.
Goodyear F1 GS-D3 - nice tires, good at the limit but not all that talkative when you get near the limit. 205/50-16 - these are not made in 16 inch anymore, only 17 and 18. Lasted 3 summers.
Yokohama V105 Sport (Mercedes) - out of these the summer only tires, I like these the best. Communicative up to the limit and when you start to cross - they scream like a scared child. I find this to be a nice feature. You only need to hear them scream once and you know where the limit is by sound alone. Again tread rating 240. These are the stickiest tires that I have had. Great load rating and come in speed ratings of W (168 mph) and V (149 mph). Mine are the W rated tires. Lasting, so far, 3 summers and will seemingly last at least one more from thread depth.
As for wheels... I have nothing to offer. I have been looking very unsuccessfully and exceptionally sporadically for light (as in less then 15 pounds) and cheep 15x6 or 15x7 wheels for track day use.
As you can see, the 205/55's really fill the wheel wells - no more minding the gap here! The second photo is crap but it is prior to me putting on the coil-overs which did lower the car about an inch all around.
The 3rd is "at speed" at PIR in Portland. This is in the chicane and the slowest corner and those are the Panasports.
The Panasports are 16x7. I do not know the offset. That being said. There is only about a 1mm clearance between the front calipers and the wheels. Since these are the street versions, they are heavier (about 17 pounds) and do not deflect on heavy cornering. They never touched the calipers at all. I will say that the center caps on the Panasports were nice but one didn't fit tightly and was lost.... somewhere, so I only have three left and run without them on.
I'll look for better photos. I know that I have some on an external HDD.
