1) does a Lease on a Mini have any restrictions on doing HPDE events with it?

2) do 15" wheels fit on a Mini?

3) what's the widest tire that can fit under a Mini on a 15", 16", and 17" rim?

4) I plan to get a 22mm rear sway bar to help slide/rotate the car. Would the DSC try to fight the sliding/rotation induced by the sway bar?

Thanks for the help

 

Excess wear & tear... if you break something, you're gonna have to fix it. It will use up some parts faster than "normal" - tires and brakes most immediately

Some do, some don't.

Lots of variables, mostly rim width and offset. I run 16" x 7.5" with 215/45R16 tires and it fits just fine.

Also, for the same width listed on the tire, some manufacturers tires are wider than others.

The DSC will interrupt a little. If you are lucky and get a suspension setup that is truly neutral, the DSC will leave things alone for the most part. But most setups are not totally neutral. Leave the DSC on at first. When it starts hurting more than helping, turn it off. For the first few laps (days?) at a track, the DSC is helpful because it will let you know what corners you are not being smooth on. As a newbie, if you trip the DSC on the track, it's probably because you're trying too hard, not because the DSC isn't letting you have any fun.

 

I would probably get an extra set of wheels/ tires, brakes, rotors for the track


would 15" fit on a 2007 MCS with normal brakes?



do you think 225/45/15 or 225/50/16 Toyo RA-1's would fit without rolling the fenders?

 

anyone know any insurance companies that cover HPDE events?

 

Insurance probably not, don't spend your money on mods yet the MINI stock will do everything you what it do for now. Spend your money on more schools, then mod what you can hit all the apexes and know what more you want from the car.

 

Some do, some don't. I think most 15" alloys will clear the front brakes. But, some don't.

For 15" wheels and RA-1's, go with 205/50R15. It's the spec miata size, so they're available cheap(ish). Unless cheap doesn't matter to you as much as it does to me, then, perhaps trying 225/45/15 sould make sense.

I haven't tried 225/50R16 RA-1's personally, so I don't know.

 

If you have not done any DE don't get R compond tires yet. You'll be alot safer of street tires to start. I had an instructor tell me there is nothing scarier that a newby on R componds. You street tire will be just fine to start off with.

 

The 15" wheels will not fit over the rotors of the 2007 MCS as they are larger than the 2002 - 2006 MCS. At least for the MINI wheels. You might be able to find some aftermarket wheels that fit.

As for tires you want to keep the overall diameter no larger than stock, approximately 24". Anything larger will slow acceleration and raise the center of gravity. A 225/45-16 would be a better choice at 23.9". The 225/45-15 would be a dramatic change at only 22.9"

 

On my MINI, I run 225/45-15 Toyo RA-1's- they fit with tons of room with stock springs, I have not tried them on a lowered car. This tire size works wonderfully on the track drops the car a bit and improves gearing!

I have test fitted a couple sets of 15" aftermarket wheels on a friends 2007 MCS and they fit just fine- 15's are possible on a R56.

Jason

 

thanks for the help guys!

I've done 6 HPDE events with NASA in a Honda Challenge H4 Integra and my 300HP FWD Talon.

I don't plan to mod it except for the rear sway bar.

I was thinking of running on Azenis RT615's first before I got RA1's as well.

 

I have 225/50R16s on JCW suspension with no rubbing.

 

Sorry, I missed the 2007 part. 15" wheels are going to be trickier for 2007 cars than it was for the earlier cars.

 

not your fault, I didn't mention it in my first post