I'm looking for some 15X7 wheels for autocross. I've found the Falken "Hanabi" at edgeracing.com. They're only 11lbs and $95 per wheel, which is the lowest price *by far* that I've found for wheels that light, but the problem is, I really don't like the way they look.

My favourite lightweight wheel as far as looks go is the BBS RG-F, but they're only 0.8lbs lighter, and they're $349 each, which is an additional $1000 for a set of four.

The Kosei K1 is better-looking than the Falken, and only $25 more per wheel, but they're 2.5lbs heavier per wheel, so I'd be paying more money for heavier wheels, for no other reason than the fact that I like the looks better.

The SSR Comp is a featherweight 8.8lbs per wheel in the 15X6 size, but I can still fit a 205/50-15 on them, which is the tire I'm planning on using, even if I get a 15X7 wheel. But at $300 per wheel, the 2.2lbs reduction per wheel adds over $800 to the price for a set of four.

Lastly, the Motegi Traklite is 0.6 pounds lighter than the Falken, but is $550 more for the set.

So, by any rational standards, the Falken is the way to go. I'd only be using the wheels for autocross, so looks shouldn't matter, but they still offend my aesthetic sensibilities.

Has anyone else bought wheels they thought were unattractive, just because they were a good value for the performance? Did they end up "growing on you" over time, or did you just not care because they were track-only wheels?

 

I say that since its for autocrossing, go for the fugly wheels, i mean youre gonna be going really fast acroos all those curves that nobody will be able to see how they actually look!!

 

Word! (1st time I used that on NAM) If you arn't going to be riding around on the ugly rims all the time, save the money, don't worry about the looks, because when you win who cares what shoes you have on .

 

Get the ugly ones. They are most likely going to get beat up anyway. If I could find some decent ones for very cheap, as in to ugly to sell, I wouldn't care if they were hot pink and lime green. I'd run 'em.

 

Counldn't agree more. Bang-for-the-buck is always one of my top 3 considerations in any purchase decision. It sounds like you're going to be serious about your ACing, get the wheels that help you the most. Besides, when your driving, you can't see the wheels. When you can see them, it just urges you to get back in the car so you can't see them any more.

 

Ugly rims actually make you go faster on an autocross course. I think.

 

Thanks for all the replies - I think you are all correct that since they're going to be track-only, "ugly" doesn't matter. And I can take the money I'll save and put it toward a set of coilovers instead.

This is going to be great, because going with the Falken wheels means that I can get wheels, tires, the new M7 coilovers with camber plates, a swaybar, and adjustable rear lower control arms, all for just a tick over $3,000.

STX, here I come!

 

I went to www.edgeracing.com and looked at the Falken wheels. They are really ugly. I noticed the bronze ones are sold out, but they still have silver ones.

Better get them now .

 

i took a peak at the falkens just now too, the bronze ones are rather fugly, but i dont think the silver ones are that bad. and spinning it looks like theys have a cool effect.

 

The bronze ones have been sold out for months, possibly because they're slightly less-ugly (although I may be the only one that feels that way). They seem to have no shortage of the silver ones, though.

The thing that kills me is that since they have a directional spoke pattern, they won't even look the same between the right and left sides of the car. The wheels on the driver's side are going to look "backwards" to me.

But like the other posters said, I won't be able to see them from inside the car...

 

Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is ugly. So do as you want and let the world be damned.

 

Get the ugly wheels and a rattle can of flat black. You can't see the wheels from inside the car anyway.

 

low pressure sounds decent. forged is of course the best for strength. However, autocross doesnt matter as there are no bumps. nice cheap wheel.

 

I just found on another forum that the Hanabi 15X7 with a Falken Azeni RT-615 205/50-15 tire weighs in at 26 pounds total. Pretty sweet, considering my stock web-spoke wheels are something like 23 pounds each, and I don't even want to know what the stock 205/45-17 runflats weigh!

 

right, wat you can't see doesn't exist.

 

Or get a can of flourescent orange and be "in your face" about the fugliness. Anything looks prettier when it's winning.

 

When you are zooming around the track, it will be a blur, anyway!

 

They're only ugly if they're on a vehicle other than the MINI. ;-)

 

Just a couple questions here… Your sigline shows a MCS, but do you actually have one or is it a Cooper? What class do you or intend to race in, stock, modified? Are these a locally sponsored thing or is this SCCA or NASA sanctioned?

I ask these because the rules are very strict if it’s SCCA or NASA. If it’s a local club I don’t think it matters because they make their own rules.

If you are going to run a MCS you can not use 15 inch wheels and compete in stock class, only 16 and 17’s. To run 15’s will put you in modified or street class and if you do not have any true mods other than 15 inch wheels I guess you’d have fun but you won’t be competitive with the others.

Check the rules out for whoever is going to sponsor your events because it will let you know what you can and can’t do to you MINI.

 

Not a chance. Somebody (on the other forum) needs to check their scales. Do the math, the Falken Hanabi wheel weighs 11 lbs each, plus the Flaken Azenis which weighs 21.2 lbs each, equals 32.2 lbs each. Even shaved, the 205/50-15 Azenis would still weigh about 18 lbs each. 26 lbs is either a very poorly calibrated scales or wishful thinking.

I almost got the 15" Hanabi/Azenis combination for my Miata, but Edge was having a sale on the Enkei RPF1 which weighs 1 1/2 lbs less so I got those instead. Still not sure if it was worth the extra $400 or so for the (slightly) lighter Enkeis. I'd second the recommendation for the Hanabis and a can of black spray paint. If you can't stand the way they look, spray-bomb them flat black.

-Keith

 

The car is a 2006 MCSC, as depicted. As for classing, I'm getting ready to move from GS to STX, so the 15" wheels will be fine there. I mentioned this in post #7, as well as some of the other mods I'm doing when I move to STX, but this thread has had a lot of posts in a short time (thanks, NAM'ers!), so I can understand if you missed it.

Thanks,

 

Lot's of deals on http://www.good-win-racing.com/ - looks like they are clearing out inventory before the spring auto-x season starts (always a good time to buy!)

Konig Hurry on clearance for $79 each (15x6.5) - click



Konig 'Bright-Lite' - 12lbs for $89/ea - click



a few more, all at the same price and weight

 

those black ones are lighter than 12 lbs I am sure for it.

I think like 10.x lbs. I have picked them up before and they are lighter than the first wheels you showed. They are excellent racing wheels and can fit some brakes.

 

You can always put a brown paper bag over them so nobody can see Oh wait ... thats another subject

 

look like prelude rims