Mini Cooper Lightweight Performance Wheels
A handy guide to show which wheels on our site fit which models. MINI models comes with different wheel diameters as well as different bolt patterns.
Some of the original MINI 17 inch wheels weigh well over 20lbs each! Take a look at these light weight wheels to reduce unsprung weight and improve performance!
REDUCING UNSPRUNG WEIGHT
The "unsprung" weight includes wheels and tires, brake assemblies, the rear axle assembly, and other structural members not supported by the springs. Reducing unsprung weight is the key to improving handling.
The lower the unsprung weight, the less work the shocks and springs have to do to keep the tires in contact with the road over bumpy surfaces. Lot of problems, if not all of them is caused by inertia. Bigger weight means higher inertia. Higher inertia means more workload for shocks and springs to keep tiers on the ground. If unsprung components have a high mass they are harder to accelerate/decelerate and thus it is more difficult for the suspension to maintain a consistent tire load.
An easy way to reduce unsprung weight and improve traction in normal cars is to replace stock wheels and tires with lightweight wheels. Note that as the wheel diameter or width increases, the weight of the overall wheel and tire package increases, thereby increasing unsprung weight. (Click on the following link for the complete article.) http://new.minimania.com/Mini_Cooper...lication_Guide