Need your opinion on this topic. I have read two articles talking about the harsh ride with the run-flats. I read you get quite abit of "Grip & Dart" with the 17's. One article suggested getting some light 16 inchers and putting a non run-flat tire on them. Has anyone replaced the run-flats? Please let me know which way I should go. Going to place a MCS order soon. Thanks

 

There is also a weight penalty with the 17's. I went with the standard 16s (still runflats). This killed off the Performance package but I expect better performance - both starting and braking as well as less ride harshness.

There are some good reviews around - I think it was Car and Driver that tested with the 17s and the MINI was not a contender. Then they got a hold of a MINI with 16s and it made a BIG difference in performance.

I live in a new neighborhood full of construction (ie NAILS) so the runflats will be an asset to me. Once they wear out I may consider something lighter.

 

but the 17's look so much better!! :smile:

 

18's or 19's

 

>>but the 17's look so much better!! :smile:

1. Of course, aesthetics tend to be very subjective... (I don't dislike the way 17s look, but I don't believe they make the car look that much better, either.)

2. Priorities play a huge factor - generally this leaves one with an aesthetics vs. performance decision (but not always - and at that point you are generally faced with a cost issue ).

For more feedback browse (or search) the Tire and Wheel Forum - there are a number of threads discussing the run-flats.

_________________

 

The 17s are gorgeous!



See?

 

1st off, welcome to the MCO!!

If you want performance, get the 16's

Enjoy!


Motor on!

 

I agree with you on that point!

 

Curiosity's got me. So what are you after? Perf or Looks?

 

>>1st off, welcome to the MCO!! :smile:

 

I picked "show" over "go", opted for S-lite's

I will, however, also pick up a set of lightweight 17's for summer/autox usage.

Good luck!
Ryan

 

18's or 19's

 

Then don't get the 17s. There are sctions on Route 66 (what still exists) where the pavement is in pretty rough shape. I think the 17s would be give an uncomfortable ride.

 

Thanks to all who placed their comments on the wheel/tire topic. Looks like I might go with the 17" S-lite. I will also buy a 2nd set of 16" wheels/tires from Tirerack for those road trips I will take. They seem to get alot of my business! Thanks again. :smile:

 

I don't see why people are so against the 17s... sure, it rides a bit firm, but its not unpleasant at all - has everyone been driving Buicks their whole lives? The performance is great. I can do a 30 degree corner at 30+ mph while staying in the right lane, the best I ever did before was in my old Beetle, at like 22, understeering across the road.

 

>
>>It's hard to tell you which way to go. You haven't specified you desire.
>>
>>If you want performance, get the 16's
>>


I'm confused by everone saying the 17's are for looks and the 16's are for performance. If the 17's only offered looks wouldn't they be standard, no the 16's? And if you wanted a performance upgrade wouldn't it be the 16's offered in the Sport Package, not 17's? Is everyone joking or is something bass ackwards here?

Thanks,

Craig

 

The 17's are just so very heavy that they kind of kill the performance of the car. I am going to get the sport package with the 17's even though I know it will hurt the performance of the car. I will give up a little performance to get all the other features of the Sport package. I just plan to buy another set of wheels, either 16's or much lighter 17's, and then use my factory 17's for my winter tires.

I am planning on doing the anthesis of the White wheels/mirrors/roof by doing black wheels/mirrors/roof.

 

I would say the extent to which the 17's kill the performance of the car is highly exaggerated. Personally I have the 17 S-lites with run flats and I find the handling performance to be outstanding. I also happen to like the added road feel of the lower profile tire.

Granted a 13lb wheel aftermarket wheel would no doubt add to the performance (expecially braking). But even with the "heavy" S-lites this car is highly nimble, and will out handle virtually anything else out there. I have done some very spirited canyon driving with the MCS and find it astonishing how well it performs. I would hate to see anyone worry about ordering the sports package thinking they were giving up the best thing about this car, the handling performance, just for the good looks of the 17s. Not to worry :smile:

 

GET 15 INCH CONVENTIONAL TIRES.

they are now a recently added option for the MCS

The ride quality should be much better than the run flats

 

Is it specifically the weight of the 17" S-lite wheels that makes performance less than optimal, or is there something inherently performance-limiting about having a higher diameter wheel in general? In other words, would 17" aftermarket wheels that weighed the same as the 16" MINI wheels yield similar performance results?

TIA

 

I opted for the 16" V-spokes w runflats (Dunlop) on my 03 MCS (3500 mi), and can offer this perspective:

only during pre-purchase test-driving was I able to compare 16" and 17", both w runflats. I subjectively preferred the 16" for 2 reasons: slightly more compliant ride, and (again subjectively) MUCH zippier performance (as in livlier). The 16" combo is much lighter than the 17" combo, and the 20 lbs you save on the wheels compares to about 80 lbs non-rotating mass on the chassis.

personally I also prefer the looks of the 16" V-spokes over the 17" ones.

finally, I have heard quite a few people talk about tramlining problems with the Pirelli euforia runflats that come as standard on some 17" rims. With the Dunlops on 16", I have had no problems whatsoever with tramlining. However, this is more likely an issue of tyre rather than size or rim type.

Even with the 16" rims on runflats the ride is harsh (on our horrendously bad TX roads), but within reason. I do like the safety of having runflats. I have worried however about getting replacement tyres if I have an unrepairable puncture while on a long road trip. On the web I found only two stores in the fgreater Houston area that were recommendedn installers for runflats (you need special gear).



Cheers!

 

I am planning to order my MCS with out any package so I can keep the 16"s that come on the car and then I'll add alacarte all the other options in the Sports Pack. I do not want the added weight of the 17"s. And some will think I'm crazy because I do not want the added weight of the sunroof or nav system either. I figured that if I got the Nav system and sunroof and the 17" wheels, It would almost add the weight of another passenger in the car. It will be bad enough to take someone motoring and try to show off without the added weight of options.

I like the look of MG-BGT's MINI. The white roof and the 16" white wheels really rocks!

 

>>I don't see why people are so against the 17s... sure, it rides a bit firm, but its not unpleasant at all -

I've always owned small cars. The ride of the MCS is a little stiffer than I've ever had. But that's what you get to gain the handling. However, I am not against the 17's. They look great and make the MCS look the look. However, I wasn't prepared to have to pay extra to get 16's at the time of my order (yes, MINI North Scottsdale wouldn't let me get the 16's and the performance package unless I paid extra...sucks, but that's life). So when time comes when the tread is gone on the 17's, I plan to get 16's.

 

>>I'm confused by everone saying the 17's are for looks and the 16's are for performance.

Rotrational mass. Remember that Physics class you said would never apply to anything in your life...now it does.

>>If the 17's only offered looks wouldn't they be standard, no the 16's?

Name me one compact car that comes 17" wheels standard. 14's are standard on all the compact cars I've seen.

>>And if you wanted a performance upgrade wouldn't it be the 16's offered in the Sport Package, not 17's?

Not when a marketing department gets involved. All rationality goes out the window when they get involved. :smile:

 

>>I would say the extent to which the 17's kill the performance of the car is highly exaggerated.

Have you ever had 16's on your car? If you haven't then you need to visit with those who have. Many who have made the switch from 17's to 16's have commented that it was the #1 performance gain of the car.