Am ordering my Mini S and was going for the 16" but switched at the last minute to 17" (was getting the DCS and xenon so no difference in price) Am somewhat concerned about the posts about too much weight, handling/rough ride problems, etc and wonder if I should go with the 16in. Also, is it the wheel or the tire that is more the problem, i.e. if I eventually replace with different 17in tires, would I be happier?
Thanks in advacne!

 

For maximum performance, 16's are the way to go (17's look better though!). Either way, swithing to non-runflats will help because traditional tires are lighter and can be found with better grip.

 

Yes, finally settled on the 16s. If I feel the need, can upgrade to lighter 17s some day....

 

MERBEL!!! WAIT!!

In the latest C&D Magazine, they tested a JCW car and with the 16 inch wheels they got a skidpad of .83 compared to a previous test with the stock 17's of .87 or .86 i dont remember but the 17 runflats certainly out cornered the stock 16's according to them.

 

It only matters if you exploit the MINI's performance at its top edges. Although weight saving will be noticeable with a more brisk acceleration, but only if you ran heavy for a while and switch to light (or vice versa). Most drivers would never tell a difference.

 

>>MERBEL!!! WAIT!!
>>
>>In the latest C&D Magazine, they tested a JCW car and with the 16 inch wheels they got a skidpad of .83 compared to a previous test with the stock 17's of .87 or .86 i dont remember but the 17 runflats certainly out cornered the stock 16's according to them.

But why do you think they Works car was equipped with the 16's? I believe it was because it DOES make a noticeable difference in acceleration. If you're really concerend with grip, you'll have to ditch the run-flats anyways.

Goin440,
Even if you're gently accelerating form a stop, lighter wheels make a difference, especially on a car geared as tall as the MCS

 

what tires were used in the test??
What conditions?

Alex

 

Yeah, the 17's could have been the performance run-flats and the 16's the all seasons.

In 16" you can get the 215/45/16 Falken Azenis which are highly regarded in the autocross community. I have had two sets on my MINI and they have a lot of cornering abilities.

 

I wanted 16" wheels, even though I was getting the sport package. Got talked into the 17" wheels. After 3 months, bought the 16" V-spokes, after all.

I'm not a high-performance driver, though I've enjoyed some auto-crossing and one day of drivers ed at the track. I've been told that you can get just as good performance with the 16" wheels and the right tire choice as with the 17" wheels. I'm enjoying the 16" wheels better than the 17". That said, yes, if you change out the run-flats on the 17" wheels to a nice performance tire, you will see an improvement.

Good luck!

 

>>what tires were used in the test??

They don't mension it in the article, but the 16 inch V spokes look like they are wrapped in Dunlop 9000 DSST. I'd love to know about the ambient air temps, sunlight and track changes that might have differed in the over 1 year period between the 2 tests

Alex

 

i got the white 16 alloys from MINI. I hate the way they look and want to get a nicer set of wheels. should i get 16s agin?

thanks

 

>>i got the white 16 alloys from MINI. I hate the way they look and want to get a nicer set of wheels. should i get 16s agin?
>>
>>thanks
>>

From a performance (and cost) viewpoint, yes

 

I went from 16" R83's with perf. runflats to 17" Pro-Drives with Yoko Parada Spec2's - huge difference the way the car felt planted on corners, etc. I would attribute it to the tires for one thing. But I switched back to the R83's last week for curiosity's sake, and my gut reaction was that the car didn't feel like it accelerated or handled as well. Now, if I had put non-runflat tires on my R83's - that would be a much better comparison I feel. I would have actually thought the car should feel quicker on the 16's. Outside of damping the ride a bit, that wasn't the case.

I've heard that one reason the car magazines get MINI's with 16's is for better ride feel...

 

>>I went from 16" R83's with perf. runflats to 17" Pro-Drives with Yoko Parada Spec2's - huge difference the way the car felt planted on corners, etc. I would attribute it to the tires for one thing. But I switched back to the R83's last week for curiosity's sake, and my gut reaction was that the car didn't feel like it accelerated or handled as well. Now, if I had put non-runflat tires on my R83's - that would be a much better comparison I feel. I would have actually thought the car should feel quicker on the 16's. Outside of damping the ride a bit, that wasn't the case.
>>
>>I've heard that one reason the car magazines get MINI's with 16's is for better ride feel...

Like you said, you really need the same tire type for a fair comparison - the weight of the heavier run flats are on outer portion of you 16" wheel/tire combo, so their weight impact is increased. Plus, the R83's weigh 20.1 pounds ands the 17" prodrives are 22 lbs, so there's not as much of a difference as you would have seen with the 17.6 pound R84's

 

what is the exact spec. on the factory 205/45/17....17 x 7 or 17 x.7.5 ot was it 17 x8?

thx

 

>>what is the exact spec. on the factory 205/45/17....17 x 7 or 17 x.7.5 ot was it 17 x8?

Anybody know for sure? The official MINI web site quotes both 17x7 and 17x7.5 for the S-Lites.

 

R90's are 17x7 to my knowlege!

Alex

 

>>R90's are 17x7 to my knowlege!
>>
>>Alex
Yes, according to the MINI 2003 Accessories book the
R90s like the Italian job in 2 piece rim by BBS is 17x7" 205/45-17 tire
R85 which is the S-lyte is 17x7.5" and is in the MCS sports package 205/45-17 tire
R84 which is the X-lyte is 16x6.5" and is the stock MCS wheel 195/50-16 tire

 

R85 wheel is 17" x 7" just like two-piece R90 wheel.

OE tire for R84 wheel is 195/55-16.

Quite a few typos in MINI Motoring Accessories brochure

 

If you want to read about Grass Roots Motorsports' experience racing a Cooper S (and their changes back/forth between 16- and 17-inch wheels, see:



They also list their alignment and tire pressure settings.

Jeff

 

Oh yeah--any truth to the generalization that you'll get better handling from a 17x7 vs. a 16x7?

I haven't even been shopping 17" wheels because of driving through pothole hell every day, and because of weight savings. (And because I'll take function over form any day.)

TIA, Jeff

 

if you guys consider 16's, what kind of tires are good to get? (Z-rated perhaps?)

 

>>if you guys consider 16's, what kind of tires are good to get? (Z-rated perhaps?)

This is my reply from an earlier thread:
>>Consider the Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position in 205/50-16 at $140 each Rating 220 AA A

This tire has the best grip of any I've ever used, but wore out in 14k miles of street driving on my WRX.

>>Or Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 in 205/45-16 for $116 each, or in 205/50-16 for $117 each Rating 280 AA A

I've read great things about these, I may try them in the future

>>Or Yokohama AVS ES100. 205/45-16 or 205/50-16 for $78 each Rated 280 AA A

This is the tire I'll be getting intitially to replace the runflats because it's the lightest the tire rack carries - I'm going fot the lightest possible 16" wheel/tire combo.

 

>>Oh yeah--any truth to the generalization that you'll get better handling from a 17x7 vs. a 16x7?

This plots a lack of sidewwall flex against additinal unsprung mass of a larger wheel. 17's may weigh more, but their shorter sidewalls respond to cornering input quicker.

Alex

 

I am going to replace the run flats with Yokahama AVS ES100 205/45/17 on the stock 17" wheels on my MCS. I am thinking that I will experience a more compliant ride and better handling. Am I wrong in this assumption or is this what is going to happen?
Is there any problem mounting these tires on the stock rims that currently have the run flats?