I need wheels (actually I need tires...but you gotta get the whole package, right?).

I've narrowed it down to the Kosei K1 Racing in silver:



I was always planning to get the 16s, but I'm now thinking that maybe 15s are the way to go. Listed below are the pros and cons of 15" and 16" wheels.

15" Pros: lighter weight, less expensive wheels, less expensive tires, more comfortable
15" Cons: thicker rubber not stylish

16" Pros: more stylish
16" Cons: heavier weight, more expensive wheels, more expensive tires, less comfortable

Can anyone give me a good reason to get 16" wheels other than style? Will the 15" wheels really look that goofy? Please. Give me a little help here.

Thank you.

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<DIV ALIGN="center"></DIV>

 

I had the same problem deciding. So, what I did is order the 15" Monza's from AK Tire with Falken Azenis on them. If it looks goofy...I'm only out $700.00
It's a fairly cheap way to find out. If it looks good, hey, I've got a cheap fast set of wheels!! :smile:
They should arrive next week...I'll pic 'ya.

 

coop

i think the shorter sidewalls of the 16s will def help in handling over the 15s

tahts my opinion

mainly i would get the 16s becuase it looks better

 

Thanks Red and Bisch. That's one thing I really wonder about is handling differences. I'm not experienced at driving the same car with different size wheels, so I can't personally speak to the difference of handling. Anyone have first hand knowledge of the difference in feeling between 16s and 15s?

If it matters: I'm driving an MCS. These will be summer wheels for street and track use. I live in downtown Chicago, so the street use is pretty nasty stuff.

Thanks!

 

well i will give you my best impressions

one of my cars has 195/50/15s ride was great and everything..a bit too much sidewall

i upgraded to 205/45/16s way better handling, looks better too..less tire flex

i have friend who has 15s then upgraded to 215/45/16s and loves that

just my personal experience :smile:

 

Thanks again, Red. I guess you're the only person who browses this forum! Less tire flex, eh? For track purposes couldn't that be adjusted with air pressures?

 

your welcome


from my experience with a sidewall of 50 or 55 series..there is more rubber

on 40 or 45 series less rubber..thus less flexx..thus better cornering

then again, ,i am not a racer so what do i know..

just my opinion :smile:

i think 16s are perfect for the car

 

When I buy a set of wheels for track use, they will definitely be 16's. A good set of lightweight 16's allow for a stiffer sidewall that is crucial for cornering. And prices for tires, as previously stated, are much better than buying tires for the current set of heavy but gorgeous 17's that I run daily.

And I too will go with a little wider tire for that extra bit of contact with the road!

 

Yucca,

Have you considered 15s?

 

At one point, I had a set of wide performance tires on 15" rims for my VW GTI. At the track, they had a tendancy for the corners to roll over significantly. I then got a set of 16's that were about the same weight and with the same in a 16" size, the performance was improved.

I do remember that the wide tires on 15" rims sure looked like like fat donuts

 

>>At one point, I had a set of wide performance tires on 15" rims for my VW GTI. At the track, they had a tendancy for the corners to roll over significantly. I then got a set of 16's that were about the same weight and with the same in a 16" size, the performance was improved.
>>
>

this is precicely my point, i guess i am not very articulate..lol

 

I've been debating this issue for months. I finally just deceided not too worry about wheels for now. I hope someone can post pictures of their aftermarket 15" wheels and tires so we can deceide. I wouldn't hesitate at all about the 15" wheels if I didn't think they might look funny with the smaller diameter and larger wheel well gap. Alot of Miata's run 205/50/15's so I think they would be great for the track and 3-4lbs lighter than most 16" wheel combinations and ohhh so much cheaper! I like the AK Tire Monza and the Konig Helium in 15" sizes... I probably won't be able to deceide until I actually see a car with the wheels on it.

 

Well, I was eyeing MINIs with 15" OEMs yesterday at the baseball rally. Man, those tires really DO look like fat doughnuts. I wonder if there were actually "cool" tires on them if they'd look any better. I don't know, but I'm really leaning more towards just sticking with 16s despite all my reasoning above. If handling is improved, then that is really the clincher. I'll post here on what I decide to do.

Super: the wheel well doesn't actually get any wider, because the overall diameter remains virtually unchanged. I think that it just *looks* wider because of the fatness of the rubber.

 

>>Super: the wheel well doesn't actually get any wider, because the overall diameter remains virtually unchanged. I think that it just *looks* wider because of the fatness of the rubber.

This is true when talking about OEM wheels and tires but if you upgrade to performance wheels and tires and go with a 205/50/15 it's about 1.2" shorter.

 

Being originally from Chicago, I would lean twards 15's. Living in Wicker Park,
impact avoidance was impossible. I venture back regualrly with 17's, and I love them but I have to pay very close attention to road uniformity.

Alex

 

I have heard that the 15's won't fit the S because of the bigger brakes. I have a Cooper and so the 15's for my snows fit fine. It seems that several of the posts are 'future' purchases so you might want to test fit the rims before actually purchasing them.

Anyone want to trade a set of factory 16" five spokes for some 17" R90's?

 

I had 15"s on my mini and I noticed the mini sat a lot lower and had a different stance then when I put the 16"s. With the 16"s the mini looked and felt higher...

 

>>I'm not experienced at driving the same car with different size wheels, so I can't personally speak to the difference of handling.
>>
>>If it matters: I'm driving an MCS. These will be summer wheels for street and track use. I live in downtown Chicago, so the street use is pretty nasty stuff.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>

IHMO, I think you would not be able to tell the difference between 15" and 16" on the track. Better to start small. When it comes down to it, it really depends on who's driving.

_________________
-goin440 IB/IB MC on 17" Volks

 

>>I have heard that the 15's won't fit the S because of the bigger brakes. I have a Cooper and so the 15's for my snows fit fine. It seems that several of the posts are 'future' purchases so you might want to test fit the rims before actually purchasing them.
>>
>>Anyone want to trade a set of factory 16" five spokes for some 17" R90's?

The brakes on both MINIs are identical. The 15" Cooper wheels will fit no prob.

 

>>I have heard that the 15's won't fit the S because of the bigger brakes.

NOT TRUE!

Brakes on a Cooper and Cooper S are exactly the same. No difference.

I'm going to put aftermarket 15's on my Cooper. I read in SCC that they did that on their S because the felt that a MINI should have small wheels. They thought a MINI with large wheels looks to cartoonish. I agree.

For day to day driving (but with good performance) I'm going with 15's and 215/50's.

-Rob

 

>>>>Super: the wheel well doesn't actually get any wider, because the overall diameter remains virtually unchanged. I think that it just *looks* wider because of the fatness of the rubber.
>>
>>This is true when talking about OEM wheels and tires but if you upgrade to performance wheels and tires and go with a 205/50/15 it's about 1.2" shorter.
>>
>>
>>
>>

Here is a list of tires fitting within the range of the speedo. [copied from MINI2]

+-----------+-------------------+
| TIRE SIZE | DIAMETER |
+-----------+-------------------+
| 195/55-15 | 23.44in (595.5mm) |
| 205/40-17 | 23.46in (595.8mm) |
| 215/50-15 | 23.46in (596.0mm) |
| 215/45-16 | 23.62in (599.9mm) |
| 195/50-16 | 23.68in (601.4mm) |
| 185/60-15 | 23.74in (603.0mm) |
| 215/40-17 | 23.77in (603.8mm) |
| 205/55-15 | 23.88in (606.5mm) |
| 215/35-18 | 23.93in (607.7mm) |
| 175/65-15 | 23.96in (608.5mm) | * Stock
| 225/45-16 | 23.97in (608.9mm) |
| 205/50-16 | 24.07in (611.4mm) |
| 225/40-17 | 24.09in (611.8mm) |
| 225/35-18 | 24.20in (614.7mm) |
| 195/60-15 | 24.21in (615.0mm) |
| 205/45-17 | 24.26in (616.3mm) | * Stock
| 215/55-15 | 24.31in (617.5mm) |
| 195/55-16 | 24.44in (620.9mm) | * Stock
| 185/65-15 | 24.45in (621.0mm) |
| 215/50-16 | 24.46in (621.4mm) |
| 215/45-17 | 24.62in (625.3mm) |
+-----------+-------------------+

Also, note: Wheel offsets play an import factor in clearance.


_________________
-goin440
IB/IB MC on 17" Volks

 

Heres the sport compact cars MCS with 15"s. I think it looks cool.

 

>>Heres the sport compact cars MCS with 15"s. I think it looks cool.
>>

Gotta watch 'em curb entrances though. Good on looks, but practicality.... [atleast around my hometown]

 

>>>>I have heard that the 15's won't fit the S because of the bigger brakes. I have a Cooper and so the 15's for my snows fit fine. It seems that several of the posts are 'future' purchases so you might want to test fit the rims before actually purchasing them.
>>>>
>>>>Anyone want to trade a set of factory 16" five spokes for some 17" R90's?
>>
>>The brakes on both MINIs are identical. The 15" Cooper wheels will fit no prob.
>>
Thanks for the info. I had heard of problems with people claiming the wheels didn't fit over the brake calipers. Maybe they had done the big brake mods already.

 

Wheels fitment between stock MC, and MCS are identical.

Alex