So last summer, I bent one of my S-Lites thanks to my city's not so wonderful paving crew. It produced a fairly small wobble, noticeable on the balance machine, but enough to be noticed in the handling. The S-Lites are my summer wheels, so I didn't really do anything about it until now.

A friend of mine sold me an S-Lite this week, just in time for the summer wheels to go back on for AMVIV. I had a look at the back of the "new" S-Lite, and I noticed it was noticably different on the back of the spokes. They have the same part number cast in them (---352), but my S-Lite looks lighter on account of the hollowed out portions. My MINI is a 09-2005 build.

So the big question: can I use this wheel in conjuction with my other wheels and not affect the car, especially when it is on the front axle?. I imagine a (perceived?) difference in weight on opposite ends of the car would not be good, especially on the transmission.

Please have a look at the attached pictures. The clean one is my "original" wheel, the dirty one is the one I bought.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?p=907027

One is made in Czechoslovakia and the other Hungary, but both are made by Ronal and both are R-85s. It's very doubtful you would notice any difference, because probably both are very heavy, though the exact weight of the Czech wheel has not been documented here. Can you weigh both wheels after the tire is dismounted?

The made in Hungary ones seem to be more common.

 

Since the dimensions of the wheel and tire will be the same, the only potential difference is the weight, as BFG mentioned. If they are within a pound or two of each other, I wouldn't worry about it. But you should weigh one of yours and the "new" one just for the sake of it so the rest of us can know about it as well.

 

I recently discovered a bulge on the inside tire wall and corresponding bend on the inside rim of my right front.

I have stock s-lites w/Goodyear 17" runflats.

I have no idea how this happened . . . as I watch the strut tower discussion I certainly pay close attention to impacts on my front suspension.

My question is this: Does anyone know if such damage to the inside rim of s-lites can be repaired . . . and if so does anyone have any recommendations?

Whether I replace the rim with a brand new one, I'd like to get the original fixed if at all possible.

Thanks

 

Can you weigh both wheels without tires?

 

I have an 04-2005 build with the 17" Hungarian wheels as pictured on the right. I only know this because I was cleaning the wheels last weekend in preparation for two new Pirelli 205/45/17 runflats ($525.00 later...) I pick them up today and will mount this weekend. Spring is here. :-)

 

I have the Czech rim dismounted, I just need to find a reliable scale somewhere to weigh it.