I need to get a set of wheels just for autocrossing and I'm not sure what to get. I'm in Street Mod because of the pulley so I'm open to anything now. I was thinking Rota Slipstream or Rota GT3 in a 15x7 or would a 16x7 be better. I was looking at this site GTMWheels.com and there prices are great but I have no experice with them. I need a tire that isn't to costly but will still handle good and last a season or so. I'm open to a competition tires but having to switch the wheels at the events will add a lot of gear and time. So are they worth it ? I will be adding a Hsport bar(comp or sport-not sure yet) and the hsport springs soon as well(just thought I would add that in case it changes anyones suggestions).

So my questions are Rota? , 15x7 or 16x7? , tire size-type-brand? , and has anyone bought wheels from GTMWheels.com?

I have read lots of post on the subject but I just want to narrow the answers down. Thanks for any tips!:smile:

 

15x7, you can fit a wider assortment of r-comps.. due to my wilwoods im trying to find r-comps in 16s, and so far the only one in the size i want is the kumho ecsta v710 i think (dont remember if its v700 or 710, i know it is the one with the grooves though), if you are a bit more budget conscious... kumhos will do a great job, someone i knew ran victorracers on 15s on 225/45, major rubbing, but he is consistently 4-5 seconds faster than all of us

rota is hands down a great brand, i run their subzeros on the street, i get nothing but compliments on them

 

Thanks! I'll check the kumhos out.

 

I could just put some good rubber on my 16x6.5 V spokes(17.6lbs). I'm not sure how much more performance I could expect out of the 15x7 Rotas(12lbs). Would it be a big enough improvement to warrent the $480.00 or so dollars? And if so what size tires(for the V spokes) would be good on an auto X course. Thanks for the help. I spent the season as a Street Mod Novice on runflats. I did improve a lot but the tires were awful and they were holding me back.

 

In street mod it's going to be difficult to do well unless you have both much improved suspension and tires/rims.

The cheapest good alternative is use your stock X-lyte 16x6.5" rims and mount Kumho V710 in 215/40-16 size from tirerack at $154 each (in stock).
Ask Alex@tirerack.com if that would be OK since the 215/40-16 size is meant for rims from 7 to 8.5" wide. Otherwise a 16x7" rim is fine and a good source of Rota wheels would be 18racing.com

In 15x7" rims you can use either 205/50-15 (Kumho V710) or 225/45-15 (avon Tech Ra).

 

I know it is hard to do well in SM but I'm really improving as a driver and thats what I was after anyway.

I could still use soon tips on these wheel questions. Stock V spoke or 16x7 Rota or 15x7?

 

There is good and bad about either 16" or 15"

X-lyte rims- cheap since you have them already. Just add tires. Kumho V710 in 215/40-16 is wide enough and is a good tire but won't last much more than about 60 to 80 runs before they are toast. Buy from tirerack, talk to alex about tire options given these rim options.

16x7 is 1/2" wider than stock and will fit the same sized tire as above. You can the benefit of a smaller tire diameter that helps with gearing, low weight, very low profile which is much stiffer and better than with any 15" tire. Rota 16x7 is a little lighter than stock rim weight. You'll need centering rings to adapt to the MINI 56.1mm hub bore.

15x7 is good, light but only a little less than 16x7 when using Rota. Otherwise Kosei K1 TS is about 10.6 pounds in 15x7 for the MINI. Talk to Alex at tirerack. Options on tires mostly 205/50-15 but this is not overly wide and only 50 series sidewall or 225/45-15 but not that much in this size except Avon Tech Ra, Toyo Ra-1, and Hoosiers.

Wider tires and rims are generally good for autocross but without making your camber more negative in the front you will tend to wear out the front tires very fast when driving. Wider tires are also heavier and a little more expensive.

Smaller tire diameter is good when you can get it. 225/50-15 will fit but is not as small as 205/50-15 or 225/45-15.

 

The difference should be pretty significant, Your losing 5lbs of rotational mass on each of the front wheels and depending on the size of the tire you might be giving yourself a smaller gearing with the 15in.

 

I'm using 16" ROTA Slipstreams on my 2002 MCS. Tires are Falken Ziex ZE512s in 205/50R16. Good all-weather compromise, extremely sticky in the wet & OK in snow, but that's for street/road. You'll want something else, I'm sure.

My ROTAs are polished silver. I keep the brake dust down to a tolerable level by using Greenstuff pads on the front:

 

Nice looking MINI. The silver slipstreams look good on the CR. I haven't even thought about the color I would get. I would like to do some brake pads that dust less. These are a mess! How do your Green stuff pads perform?

 

I think I'm going to get the 15x7 Slipstreams in Black. At just over 12lbs and at that price I doubt I can go wrong. Is 40 or 45 a better offset for autocrossing. I will be adding the H-sport springs soon and I don't want any rubbing.

Thanks for the tips.

 

Making decision soon and wondered if any one had anymore opinions.

15x7 slipstreams with Azenis 205/50/15 ---12lbs + 21.2lb = 33.2lbs

or

16x6.5 v-spokes with Azenis 205/40/16----17.6lbs +18.3lbs = 35.9lbs

This is for AutoX only on a SM MCS. Is the 2.7 lbs going to off set the $480.00 or so the wheels are going to set me back?
Any help is great, Thanks!

 

If your in SM i would go with 16x7 Rota Slipstreams with 225/45/16's as you need as much tire as possible. The 16x7's will only cost you a bit more but the difference in tire width should make a bit of a difference. Also go with 40mm offset and 38 if you can get it. You want to go as wide as possible, if you could fit 235's with no rubbing i would even go with that.