Alex & other tire/wheel gurus - I have an '06 Coooper on order, with the new standard 5 spoke "Rocket" wheels (14.8 lbs). I like the look of these rims, and if I keep them on for a while, I'll probably use up the 175/65 contis before switching. I know this is a 5.5 inch rim. After researching, I note that to keep approx. the same overall tire/rim diameter, it looks like either 195/60/15 or 205/55(?)/15. Car is strictly going to be driven on the street - no tracking. Want high mpg, decent ride and good handling. I know that the 55 or 50 series aspect ratio is preferable from handling standpoint, but 5.5 width rim seems really narrow for 205mm tire. Suggestions?

 

Oops, forgot the other part - If the 15 inch wheels just don't do it for me in person, I want to go with 16 inchers - I like the vspoke mini rims (17.6 lbs. as I understand) but I'm really intrigued by the SSR comps. Alex tells me that the 16X6.5 comp is hubcentric to the mini, but only available in straight anthracite. I really prefer the comps in either silver or anthracite with polished lip. Is there really any issue on a non-tracked car with using hubcentering rings? And for seat of the pants street performance, is there any tangible advantage to the 11lb. comps over the vspokes?

thanks,

 

Bump

 

I took delivery of my new '05 MC about a month ago, and in addition to the stock 15" 7-hole wheels, I got a second set of the stock 15" holes and a set of the 15" Rocket wheels off of ebay. I mounted some 195/55-15 Toyo T1R's on the stock wheels, some 205/50-15 Kumho 710 race tires on the spare set of 7-hole wheels, and still have the stock 175/65-15 tires on the rockets.

I went with the 195/55 Toyos for several reasons. I felt that 205's were a bit wide for street use on 5.5" wide wheels and the 195/55 Toyos were only .5 lbs heavier each than the stock 175/65 Conti's, but a lot stickier with almost an inch wider contact patch. Some of the 205/50-15 high performance tires were 5 lbs or more heavier than stock, and for an MC, that would mean a noticeable less in seat of the pants felt power. The 195/55-15 tires are only 2% shorter than stock 175/65 size, and the speedometer and odometer error is very small (2%)

If/when I get the money, I will go with 15" SSR wheels, my stock 7-hole wheels are light at 12 lbs each, but the 15" SSR's are only 8.8 lbs each. As to whether or not you'll feel a difference between a 17.6 lb wheel and an 11 lb wheel on a MC, my experience would say yes. On other cars I've owned, I had multiple wheel and tire sets that varied in weight by 5-10 lbs each wheel/tire. I wasn't able to feel much of a SOTP difference in a 2-3 lbs difference per corner, but when the difference got to be 5-6 lbs or greater (this was on a 2500 lb FWD car with 150 hp), I could feel the difference. Even though I'd only save 3.2 lbs each with the 15" wheels, the weight savings coupled with a wider wheel (6" or 6.5" wide) would be worth it IMO.

-Keith