I'm shopping for lightweight wheels and tires for the MCS I am picking up in July. I believe the OEM wheels and runflat tires which come with the Mini are excessively heavy, significantly hindering suspension performance and handling potential. The sprung/unsprung wieght ratio issue is especially acute with a car as lightweight as the Mini. (For another discussion of this see the thread started by Mark Smith on page 6 or 7 of this forum.)

I would like to drop about 10 lbs. per wheel with a lighter wheel/tire package.

Question: What is the allowable range of wheel offset that will fit the R56? I'm going with 16 inch wheels.

Appreciate any advice - thanks in advance.

 

Do you think having lightweight wheels will also increase gas mileage?

 

Less rotationg mass should require less energy to accelerate and change direction, so yes, there should be some theoretical mileage gain with lighter wheels/tires. But the main benefit wold be in improved suspension performance and handling.

Incidentally, here is the earlier thread on this topic:
R56 w/14lb wheels/sticky tires!!
marksmith

 

I'm sure there are much smarter people than me to figure out how much benefit you can get by reducing unsprung weight, but reducing it by ten pounds per wheel may yield a marginal benefit.

 

I replaced the stock Mini"lites" (NOT) and runflats (heavy) with Centerline RPM rotationally forged and CNC machined, powdercoated (dark silver stock color a close match to MCS dark silver!) and Goodyear F1's, and saved OVER 15 lbs a wheel, resulting in BIG ride improvement, stickier handling, much sharper steering response, no perceptible mileage increase, WAY better looking. These wheels are among the lightest and strongest, due to highly advanced fabrication, made right here in SoCal. WONDERFUL wheels. Check their site, they have some pics of minis w/them and others too.

I also just converted to wtuds/nuts.

 

Thanks for the tip. They look nice. They had an overstock special on the

 

I think the offset range for the R56 is +38 to +50, at least that's what most people are running and where all the stock offsets fall into. As far as finding light wheels, check out wheelweights.net but beware, the lightest ones are forged and pricey! As far as tire weight, several manufacturers list them and so do a few retailers but the info there is a bit more dicey.

 

Congrats! You will love them, but be aware that the polished alu wheels will need an ocasional polish. Lovely, and light!