R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006) Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53) hatchback discussion.

R50/53 Are the S-lites really that heavy?

Old Jul 16, 2006 | 08:42 PM
  #1  
hctiev's Avatar
hctiev
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From: JoCo, KS
Are the S-lites really that heavy?

How much does one S-lite weigh without the tire? I know that run-flats are heavy, but will changing rims really make a difference if you don't change the tires? Just curious.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2006 | 08:47 PM
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Yes they are THAT heavy. No changing the wheel without a performance non-RF will not make a HUGE difference. Though anytime you decrease unsprung weight you help improve performance.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2006 | 08:53 PM
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So what are we talking here - 25lbs per wheel or more? So with the run flat it's about 40lbs total? Am I in the right ball park?
 
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Old Jul 16, 2006 | 08:58 PM
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I lost a phantom passenger....

When I went from S-lites and Runflats to SSR Comps and non-runflats, I lost something like 15 lbs. of rotational mass at each corner. The cars' performance after the swap was the way it would perform after a passenger got out of the car. Not to mention the elimination of ride harshness....
 
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Old Jul 16, 2006 | 09:00 PM
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no,runflats are listed at 22lbs so you're looking closer to 50.i've just posted a thread on the wheels/tires forum about runflat weights that may interest you though.
pip.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2006 | 09:24 PM
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first thing I did on the car was change to SSR 14# wheels (GT7) and Dunlop non-run-flats. Other than the 15% pulley, the best mod I made. i don't know the exact weight difference, but the performance difference was very noticeable.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2006 | 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by hctiev
So what are we talking here - 25lbs per wheel or more? So with the run flat it's about 40lbs total? Am I in the right ball park?
When I sold mine the shipping weight was 60lbs per wheel and tire.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2006 | 11:03 PM
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Maybe I lost two phantom passengers....

Originally Posted by jfunkmd
When I sold mine the shipping weight was 60lbs per wheel and tire.
When I removed the S-lites and Goodyear RSA tires, I wondered why they felt so heavy.... No wonder I got improved acceleration and braking from swapping the SSRs and non-runflats....
 
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Old Jul 17, 2006 | 11:39 AM
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From: Space Coast
per mini2.com faq, 25lbs per corner.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?f...heel_tire_tech
 
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Old Jul 17, 2006 | 12:17 PM
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Okay okay, so they're 25lbs per corner. Nobody's said what the weight of these other non-RF and wheel combos are! 24lbs?
 
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Old Jul 17, 2006 | 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by techno99
per mini2.com faq, 25lbs per corner.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?f...heel_tire_tech
Cool my X-Lites are only 17.6!
 
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Old Jul 17, 2006 | 02:08 PM
  #12  
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Rotational mass is much different than static mass. I have a formula for computing a comparison (it's a relationship between weight and location of weight within the radius) but I believe it came out to a 3.5:1 +/- ratio of rotating mass at a 17" diameter versus static weight. So getting rid of the S-lites and runflats is similar to losing a very fat girlfriend!
 
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Old Jul 17, 2006 | 07:05 PM
  #13  
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I weighed mine just to see the difference betwen th S-lites and my new Kosei wheels. The S-lites came in at just ounces over 25 pounds each! The Koseis were appeox. 14.5 pounds each - huge difference, one I immediately felt on the 'ol butt dyno. Do yourself a huge favor and change to any one of many lightweight Mini wheels available.
 
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Old Jul 17, 2006 | 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by cmyk
Okay okay, so they're 25lbs per corner. Nobody's said what the weight of these other non-RF and wheel combos are! 24lbs?
Never weighed everything separately, but the combination of 5zigen wheels, which claim a weigh of 15.5 lbs and Pirelli p-zeros was 37 lbs per corner (if memory serves). I lost about 13 lbs per corner, which feels like driving a different car.
 
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