I have a 2007 MCS with 16" Wheels. Everything is 100% Stock.

Here are my options for autocrossing this year:

Option A- Buy a stylish set of [whatever size] wheels for every day, and either move over the TPMS or buy new ones, and get a set of racey-er tires for the stock wheels for autocross. Would remain in G-Stock. ~$800-$1000

Option B- Buy a set of 16" wheels and tires just to autocross on. Would remain in G-Stock. ~$700-$900

or if 15" wheels will fit on my car???? [havnt found 100% confirmation on this]

Option C- I have a set of 15" wheels with Falken Azenis on them [from the old Miata]. Use them to autocross on, and move to STX. Then use the $700-$1000 to mod the car [CAI, Shifter, Springs etc...]


What do you guys think??? Keep in mind im not too worried about being competitive as much as I am having fun...

I am really leaning toward Option C, mostly because I am a college student with not a lot of money, and it would allow me to spend my money slowly on 1 mod at a time. I realize if 15" do in fact fit, thay would not be 1st choice for competitiveness but again I'm not too worried about that.

 

Option D
Run the car as it is save your money and have fun. Learn to drive the car. Show up to the event, turn off your ASC/DSC. Don't overdrive the corners. Slow in fast out. Next year buy a set decent street tires and drive some more. The MINI shines in stock class. The other mods you listed might be cool but they aren't going to make you drive faster.

 

I understand what you are saying. But I deffinately dont want to run on the run-flats. What happens if I screw up I tire? Then I wont have anything to drive on the street.

Plus I have had street, and autocross tires before, and the wear is very uneven...I have never had a more uncomfortable ride on the street.

Thanks for the help JustGo4It, but I just dont want to do that. I like having the comfort of knowing I have a set of wheels and tires just for everyday driving.

 

I don't think your Miata wheels will work on your MINI.

The bolt pattern is correct (4 X 100mm), but the diameter of the MINI hub is 56.15 mm, and I believe the Miata diameter is only 54.1 mm. (In other words, the hole in the middle of the Miata wheel won't fit over the MINI hub.)

You might be able to have the centerbore in your Miata wheels enlarged at a machine shop, but the wheels won't fit over the MINI hubs otherwise.

 

Good eye on the hub thing, however my 15" had plastic inserts, so the hub does fit just fine. However, I tried them this morning and it is such a tight fit that the stick-on wieghts do touch the brakes, so I guess Option C is out . But, a new version of Option D has come to my attention, and I will see how that turns out.

Thanks again for your help guys!

 

Ah - I had mistakenly assumed you were talking about *stock* Miata wheels.

You might still be able to use them with some spacers, or by relocating the wheel weights, but it sounds like you've got another solution, so let us know how it turns out.

As for 15" wheels on an R56 'S', there are some aftermarket ones that will fit, but I don't think any of the stock 15" wheels will fit.

 

Yeah, sorry about that I wasn't very specific.

I hadn't thought about spacers, I bet if I moved the weights and got spacers there would be plenty of room. I'll go do some more test fitting later.

Thanks!

 

You can ask the people who install the tires to use the weights that tap onto the edge of the rims lip. But also, if you're only using the wheels/tires for autocross, and maybe a short low-speed drive to the event, you can get away without having any weights on the wheels at all. Weights only come into play at speeds above 60.

If you already have the wheels and the tires, I'd go for that option. But like JustGo4It said, focus more on your driving and save up for a good GS setup next season.

 

My $.02

I agree that spending money on mods is not the answer but neither is runflats. If you have the money a set of light weight wheels that are inexpensive ( Konig Feather ) and some good rubber along with alot of seat time will do the best for you. I never competed on runflats but have driven on them and there is alot of time to be gained by getting better rubber. I also think that learning the car with runflats is not as good of an approach as to learning it with good rubber...last thing you want to do is drive a series on run flats just to have to learn the car again with the new rubber. Don't get me wrong nothing beats SEAT TIME for getting better times but do the seat time with good rubber. I would also like to add that the 15" wheel will suffer more wheel spin in the turns and the selection of tires is limited to say the least.

BTW My vote is for option B...slap on some Konig feather wheels wrapped with some Azenis RT-615's and kick some butt out there!!

 

Another option that would save a little money now, but isn't a good long-term idea is to just get tires and swap your runflats with summer tires for this season. The cost of mounting and balancing tires twice is probably 1/2 or less the cost of wheels and might give you some time to learn the car and decide what you want to do moving forward.

I was going to do this, but I found a set of used stock wheels on this board that were too good to pass up so now I have dedicated summer/autox wheels & tires.

I would stay stock - you will have fun and be the most competitive in that class over time. I came from STX in a WRX and it's a class that money really makes a difference in your competitiveness unless you are a truly phenomenal driver.

Good luck in whatever you choose - you'll have fun!

 

Why run wheel weights on a wheel set?

I have autocrossed my car two times on the stock run flats. Not very inspiring but since this is my first time in a long time in anything that is not a Honda or Honda powerd or RWD...i have alot to get used to.


Drive it as stock as possible. Then get Koni's and Tires.......

 

I agree about the balancing. I rarely balance my track or competition wheels and tires, even for the track. Most balancing issues occur under STEADY state cruising, and higher speeds.

If you are just interested in practice, put the wheels that you used on the Miata, and run those. Once you have worn those tires out, use them for winters, or sell them off. Then, buy some competiton or summer wheels, and put some R-compounds on the wheels you plan to use for track/autocross use.

 

So I've deffinately went with spacers and Option C...

First autocross tomorrow with the East Tennessee Region at Pellissippi State!!!!

Thanks for your help guys!