anybody running BBS RG-F in 15x7" for MCS??

I've also posted this on mini2.com but wanted to broaden the audience since I suspect there aren't that many people running this exact set-up (especially since the bigger-is-better outlook often prevails)

These are available from Tire Rack (BBS Japan, forged 1-piece) with an offset of ET42 and a weight of 10.2 lbs.........and a cost of $308 each.

More expensive than SSR competitions and around 1 lb per wheel heavier (for 15x7").

I really like the BBS mesh style, but I'm not sure whether 15" rims would look "odd". Alex recommended running 205/55/15 for street use. Anybody running this set-up, or similar ? If so, can you post some piccies (or direct me to them).

Any advice ? Would a 42 mm offset be OK on a rim of this size. What would the handling be like with a 55 series tyre; OK for everyday street use ?

Thanks,
Bill.

 

Hi: I'm running the BBS RG-F 15x7 et 42 with bridgestone s-03 205/55-15 and it is great, especially on the street. Bought them from tirerack with alex as sales person. They work great, are forged, 10.6 pounds. I saved about 50 lbs of unsprung weight as compared to the r84 16 inchers with runflats. I love the set up immensly. I just did do a two day drivers ed with this set up, which reallly isn't the best tire size for track use, but it held up ok.

If I were ordering again, I would see if I could fit 225/50 size tires, which would work much better on the track... i know that 225/45 will work, but too small for street in my opinion...

I plan to burn through these bridgestones, and then use these bbs wheels for track use exclusively with track tires in size 225/45-15

I think the bbs wheels will be stronger for street and track use than SSR competition which I almost bought too...

By the way, if you purchase through tirerack, could you ask/confirm with your salesperson, probably Alex, that the wilwood 11.75 inch race brake kit will not fit this wheel... I still am trying to confirm that.

Thanks.... and have fun with this set up if you get it.........

 

Wilwood 492 kit?

We didn't see RG-F fitting

Alex

 

Bill your choice of rims in 15x7 and 205/55-15 tires should work just fine.
I know of an MCS owner with similar set up for rim and tires lowered with H-sport springs used for street only and it's great.

I am also partial to BBS mesh rim style- looks cool. Just costs more than some other choices. 10.2 pounds is pretty darn light per rim.

+42mm offset is fine for stock or lowered MINIs in 15" rim sizes. Just make sure that the tire you select isn't too much more than stock size or about 24.5".

The 205/55-15 is very comfortable for street use and will behave well enough for spirited driving as well. Turn in response won't be as sharp as a 45 series tire but ride smoothness will be better. If your roads are poor then the 55 series sidewall will help reduce potential damage to your rims.


Does your MINI have any red in it?? Goes great with the red center caps.

For tires, which ones are you interested in?
In 195/60-15 I found:
Yokohama AVS ES100 for $74 each 280 tread wear, AA traction 20 pounds
24.2" outer tire diameter, H speed rated
Same tire in 205/55-15 is $78 each and is V Speed rated
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/Sizes.jsp&make=Yokohama&model=AVS+ES100&vehicleSea rch=false&fromCompare1=yes&partnum=96HR5ES100

In 205/55-15 there is a nice selection of performance tires from about $76 on up to $128 each
http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=EZ3&url=/tires/Compare1.jsp&width=205%2F&ratio=55&diameter=15&sta rtIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemar k=1&x=90&y=10&RunFlat=All

 

Well, I couldn't persuade my wife to swop-out her S-Lites for a set of RG-Fs so the only solution was to buy my own MCS !! I have a 2006 on order for February delivery and am still contemplating buying these wheels.

So, I'm desperately seeking some photos of 15x7" BBS RG-F fitted to a MINI or MCS with either 205/55-15 or 195/60-15 tires. I would like some nice side shots showing the entire car (from a reasoanble distance out) to get some perpective of proportion.

After eyeballing a mind-boggling array of different wheels in different sizes, I still think 16" look best, and I'm a little concerned that these 15" rims may look too small.

I know there are a few more people on here sporting these rims since my initial post (over a year ago).....someone surely must have some decent photos......please

 

gr8britwjh, you have a PM.

 

Thanks Richard, you have a reply.

C'mon "Haywood1020" or "lsd05jcw"..........please post up some photos

 

Light is great...no doubt, but whether a 15" looks good to you has a lot to do with your frame of reference. I have 17" R99s and 16" R84s (winter option), and my R84s have been on the car a month now. In that time, I still can't get use to how small they look. I guess my frame of reference is 17". While I would like to go to smaller wheels to save weight/$, I can't get by the fact that to me they look totally out of place on the MINI S. Therefore, I've convinced myself that 17" is the way to go (18" gives no runflat option and the sidewall is brutally shallow). I've also come to the conclusion that the weight savings is a hair-splitting proposition for real world driving. Knowing you have lighter wheels gives great internal satisfaction, where you'll never know it from the butt dyno comparison to other slightly heavier aftermarket wheels, like the O.Z. Superleggera. Anything under 20 lbs. is good/step in the right direction IMO. Interestingly, the current 17" BBS offerings for the MINI S are all over 20 lbs (CV, RD, RF, RX), except the ultra-expensive partially forged LM, and it's just barely under 19 lbs. Sure, other BBS will fit, such as what you're looking at, but they aren't considered matched. I've also concluded that there is an acceptable degree of offset options, as long as the tire doesn't rub. BBS does sell the RW in 15x7, and it's a specific match for the MINI. Darn good looking too. On a side note, BMP sells a 20mm spacer (5mm, 8mm, 10mm, and 15mm as well) for the MINI S and that to me (20mm) is what I consider extreme. That would push a stock V-spoke much further out than a 17" O.Z. Superleggera with a ET37. BMP is considered reputable, so I would hope they wouldn't advocate a product that would destroy bearings. To your 15" question, if I were buying one I would want the outer diameter of the tire to appoximate the stock 16/17" tires. That would keep the gearing normal, but the extra sidewall could adversely affect spirited cornering. It's all just a big compromise isn't it? Here's to wishing BBS and O.Z. would make more 16" and 17" wheels in offset +45 to +50.

Cheers!

 

My wife's MCS came with the OEM S-Lites (she likes the style) and we switch these out for the winter months with 16" steelies from Tire Rack.....maybe it's all in my head but I believe I can feel a difference in "go" and "stop". Here. we're saving around 50lbs total (since the S-lites have the 30lb all-season tires !!).
Switching from the X-Lites (which I've ordered) to something like the 15" RG-F or even 16" SSR comps will save about 40 lbs total compared to the X-Lites; I've got to believe that will also make a noticeable difference.
Saving 40 lbs in unsprung weight isn't such a big deal if you're driving around in a 997, M3 or Corvette etc. but in an MCS improving power-to-weight is probably more cost-effective than shelling out $$ on expensive mods (i.e. above & beyond the basic pulley, CAI, exhaust modsetc.).
I agree, if BBS made the RG-R or RG-F in 16" with a decent offset (ET40 to ET45) I would be first in line

 

You're absolutely right, Stevie, frame of reference is the key. I got my car with the 16inchers got used to them and loved them from the start. I like them so much that I bought another set - one for street, one for track (steelies for winter). I've never appreciated large wheels on a MINI, to me it is just odd. If they made your r99's in a lighter 16in. version, I'd probably buy them since the design is definitely nicer than the r84.

mb

 

Here's a pic of the wheels on the previous owner's car.

 

^what size tires on the ESE car?

 

The tires are 205/50-15, as listed on the EuroStylesEast website. The car is also lowered. When I was shopping for my own wheels, the 15x7 RG-F was one I considered, but like Bill (gr8britwjh) I was also frustrated at not being able to find pictures on a MINI with stock tire diameter and stock spring height.

 

i just checked tirerack...they only have those in 16x7 now

 

Are you shopping on the website for a Cooper S? The website only lists 15" wheels if you enter as a regular (non-S) Cooper. Also you have to select the standard (not runflat) option.

 

Lily Von Stoop: Is it twue what they say about 15"'s?

Oh its twue! Its twue!

The 15's with the 205/50/15's make the mini a completely different car.

Additionally, the smaller wheels make it look a lot more like a classic mini.

Why didn't I do this sooner.

 

So what do you do about the speedo as it will read way too fast with those tires?

 

It is a bit fast, about 3 miles an hour. But , I have a gps to keep things straight.

Additionally, My stock 17's were slow. So the two should cancel each other out, as far as keeping the milage on the car "Honest"

When, I burn through these, I will go to 205/55/15.

Should be no problems there.

 

I'd already seen Brian's "for sale" photos before I made my request for additional pics on a non-lowered MCS. They do look great on this car, but again because of the drop and the artsy angle of the shot it's difficult to get a true size perspective .

The day I buy something else will be the day that hundereds of photos of the 15" RG-F appear on NAM......I can guarantee it .

 

I will post shortly. Stock suspension

They do look kinda small thought.

I bet they look much better in 17.

But they feel sooooo good as 15's.

 

Thanks Haywood and remember; it's not the size that matters, it's the performance .

Believe it, or not, the 15" RG-F with 205/55-15s are dead-nuts-on in terms of rolling diameter relative to the 15" Holeys with 175/65-15. BTW, they don't make these in 17". The largest they sell is 16" but they've got a really aggressive ET35 offset which isn't all that good for the MINI.

Plus, if you stick a set of Toyo T1-R tyres on there, you shed a whopping 44 lbs relative to a set of 16" X-Lites with the standard all-season runflats !

Dunno, one minute I'm all hung-up on shedding weight to improve performance and the next minute I'm thinking what the Hell, I'll just buy a set of 17" OEM R99s and be done with it

 

 

 

Bigger Wheel Gap? Yes

But it is now a completely different car.

Night and day from the S-Lights with Runflats.

Speaking of which......

Anyone checkout the Marketplace?

 

Damn! I think they look really, really good! I always drive down by your area.........i'll look out for your. You'll be easy to spot now.