Sorry to start a new topic, but I didn't want to pollute the light weight wheel and wheel strength topics.

I have 17 S-Lites with Pirelli runflats and would like to move to a better, 16" wheel/tire combo. With regard to wheels, my concern is that SSR Comps might not be strong enough to handle the punishment of I495 and all the other crumbling roads in MA. Thus balancing medium-heavy weight and aesthetics, I am also considering something like ASA JH6s, which look swell on the car and weigh 18 lbs in 16x7. I realize that there's no way to know which wheel is actually stronger.

I want to move to 16" for two reasons:
1. Slightly lighter weight over any 17" of the same wheel.
2. Slightly more sidewall--not for ride quality but for protection.

My experiences on my commutes the past two years have made me leery of buying what might be a weak wheel. The reality is that I'm going to hit potholes, expansion joints, parts from other people's junkers, furniture, animal bones, and scored pavement edges that amount to speed bumps at well over 70. I have already done all of these things a number of times, sometimes expecting the airbags to deploy and the suspension to be torn off. Only my thick runflat sidewalls, a couple of which have been destroyed, have kept my behemoth S-Lites from being bent.

My preference would be for a very light wheel, like the SSR Comp, but if the concensus is that they'll never stand up to that kind of punishment, then I'll save much money and get something like an ASA JH6 or Panasport that, if smashed, at least won't set me back $400.00 per wheel. Perhaps setting aside the Panasports, I'd really like 7.5"-wide rims.

 

The MINI R84 V-spoke (X-lite) is only 17 lbs (16x6.5) and you can source them on eBay quite often brand new with stock OEM Dunlops (runflats) for under $500 (complete set wheels and tires). You have to spend a lot more to outperform it. My favorite 16x7 is the forged BBS RG-F. I think at Tire Rack for $412 each (no tires). Of course, the wheel weighs only 12.8 lbs. You do the math.

 

We are running the ASA JH1 in 16" x 7 and so far no problems. Granted, it's only been 2700 miles and my wifes drives the car, so it is not beaten to death.

pics in the gallery

 

I have a set of the mini vspokes, and can tell you from having them weighed twice on accurate scales (prepping to ship them) that they are not 17.6 lbs, but rather 18.5 lbs.

 

I have 17x7.5 SSR comps on my 03 MCS. Two nights ago a SUV next to me came into my lane and I had no where to go other than stomp on the gas to try and get out of its way. There is a berm along the highway there and both of my tires were rubbing it and scuffed the tires some and the rear rim got a small spot The front got scuff all the way around it BAD but it held up and other than looking bad (my wife noticed it and asked what happened, so I know everyone will see it) it still holds air and is fine. So, the quality of the rim is GREAT and it took a pretty good lick.

Earl

 

The SSRs do get an undeserved rap about being delicate. I've had a set of 17 X 8 Integrals (discontinued) on my A4 for about 4 years. Roads around here are pretty good but I've hit a few pretty good potholes and one time just plowed the right front into the curb due to my own, dumb-*** hurry, and they've held up just fine.

 

The comps are the ones with the reputation, not the other, heavier, models.

I've owned 5+ sets of them, and never bent a rim yet. If I had really bad roads where I lived, I'd think twice about buying a set though (if I were wanting to run a low-profile tire - like my current 215/40/17)

You could still get a light wheel though, without going to the extreme edge... something like a Volk TE-37 for example, or a Kosei K1-TS (cast, but cheap to replace), or OZ Superleggera's. Personally, I love panasports, but not on cars where you have to run a large positive offset (like the mini).

 

We took off our light 16s and put on the stock 17s last week so we can trade our car in. The performance difference is defanitly noticable, and ditching the 17s is the way to go.

Personally, I've had multi-hundred $$ wheels and they are a PITA. I was always worrying about curbing them or if there was too much brake dust on them, etc. Too much hassle. Our current wheels are $100/each Rotas and I could really care less if I have to replace a wheel and they are much less stressfull to drive around on. Maybe I'm getting old and maybe I'm getting lazy, but it's cheap wheels for me from now on.

 

yes sir. jk

for a daily driver, i use either stock or cheepo's too... definitely 1pc
wheels. multi-piece wheels are a biatch to dry.

 

Mr Clean Auto Dry + compressed air = nothing is a biatch to dry But yeah, cheap wheels for daily drivers is the ticket. I could do nice wheels on a weekend car that my wife doesn't drive

 

you don't need compressed air to dry a 1pc wheel and you can dry
even at carwashes with a towel. that's my point. you drive your
car home with your multi-piece from the carwash with water still in
the crevise, you have to clean them off again from scratch.

that's pita.

daily driver for me = carwash place with wipe down service especially
in the winter. and no need to worry about expense wheels getting
blemishes from the detergents.

 

I've had two sets of SSR Comps: one in 18x8.5 on my Audi A6, and one in 16x7.5 currently on my Mini. With 18s on a 4000lb Audi and a short sidewall (235/40), you need to be careful to keep the air pressure up to avoid bending the rim if you hit a larger than average pothole. I did bend them twice, but only because a flat tire or a slow leak had dropped the air pressure. With 16s on a much lighter car like the Mini, I don't expect any problems, especially with a 215/45 or 225/45 size tire at 34-35psi.

BTW, I chose this wheel size for the same reason you did: light weight and taller sidewall, and 6 months later, am still happy with my choice. The only potential downside is that there aren't as many tires available in the sizes I want.

 

All, I am currently debating a new wheel, and was thinking 18s, but kenchan, I was checking out your ride and the 16s look really nice (odd, since I was really getting into the low profile thing...). Do you feel you guys have given up any performance by dropping to a 16?

kenchan, in particular, your setup is very similar to mine (h-sports'll be on soon), and I like the look. Are there any angles you've looked at the car and thought "hmm, that just doesn't look right?"

Thanks

 

There are tons of threads that have discussions regarding larger vs. smaller wheel diameters. You will not give up performance if you drop to a 16 in. wheel, actually, you'll probably gain performance. It is likely that the 16 incher will carry less weight, and it's rotational mass is closer to the center of the wheel.

Handling? I guess that depends on what tire and what size you choose.

The discussion/argument (like all others) comes down to what YOU need: softer ride, more tire filling up the wheel-well, lighter wheel, cheaper tires, etc...then go 16. Like the way a bigger wheel looks, not too concerned with unsprung weight, ok with paying more for a rim, like lower profile tires, etc...go with 17.

Man, there's so much more, but do a search and read everyone's opinions.

Me, I love the stock V-spokes. Got me two sets of 'em for summer and track driving. Oh yea, if you want a BBK, you'll probably want 17s.

mb

 

thanks. no, the car looks great from every angle.

and performance is also quite improved with this setup.

 

I have a set of 16x7 SSR Comps, and a set of Kosei 17x7 K1 TS's. For a simple motoring-around wheel, I'd never consider the financial outlay for SSR Comps. It's extreme overkill for the street, and I actually had problems with the offset hurting my wheel-bearings.

Now I'm running on the Koseis, and I do worry more about bending a rim, but at $200, it's not as big a worry.

I'd strongly suggest staying away from $400 wheels if you just want to drop some weight.

Consider:

16x7 SSR Comp (11lbs) & Avon M500 215/50R16 tire(23lbs): 34lbs
17x7 Kosei T1 KS (14.1lbs) & Kumho ECSTA MX 215/40R17 (20lbs): 34.1lbs

I gained 0.1lbs with my 17" setup. Your results may vary. Of course, I lost a ton of sidewall.

I think there are some better 16" options that you could couple with a 215/50R16 tire (for sidewall protection) for your climate.

 

SSR Comps are nominal/economical tuner wheels for enthusiasts. if you
can't afford them dont bash it, just stay away from them and enjoy your
set that makes sense for your budget.

if you get the wrong offset breaking your wheel bearings, that's your fault.
my car has been running on them for over 15k miles with no issues wat
so ever. in fact, ive hit plenty of nasty bumps and pot holes with no issues.

if you want to play it safe, just keep your car bone stock.

 

When I was wheel-shopping, I ran across a TireRack Q&A that indicated that as far as the TireRack was concerned, SSR Comps did not have a higher warrantee replacement rate nor a higher rate of ordering one wheel at a time vs. other wheels. They view single-wheel orders as an indicator that a wheel might have needed replacement.

I bought them in 15x7" which I use with 205x55 tires on my MCS. The combo is 29.5 lbs., a huge improvement over stock.

 

I'm not sure I understand you, there. How does one go about ordering the wrong offset? I've only seen one version of the 16x7 SSR Comp, and no range of offsets from which to choose. 16x7 is a relatively popular size, and shows up on the TR site as being perfectly compatible with the Cooper.

I agree, though, that in about 15K miles, I had experienced no deformations, even with one unplanned off-roading adventure...

 

which offset do you have? also, if you use anything other than stock offset or
stock width (tires included), you are going to wear the wheel bearings faster
than what MINI considers "normal."

 

are they pissing you of Ken? BTW, remember what we talked about couple of days ago, i did it. Hopefully thursday i should be on them

 

congrats, berky!!! big thumbs up! anthrasite?


not pissed. just wondering why some people buy
things they can't afford and later cry about it.

 

 

lol!!!

 

I have THE offset: +42. Of course, my Kosei's supposedly have the same offset, but the track is visibly different, so somebody somewhere fibbed on their wheel specs. Yes, the joke is on me, apparently, but the Kosei's don't click, and the track is much closer to that of the 16x6.5 stock R83's (+50ET).

<rant>It's funny: I don't go through my day feeling like an idiot under a microscope; only when I'm here on NAM am I made to feel like sharing an opinion will subject me to the scorn and ridicule of people who share a common interest. Why is it that, in order to post an innocuous recommendation, one must have the Bentley Manual, Wikipedia, Brian Beckman's "Physics of Racing" series, and the last year's worth of Road & Track on hand to back up--or rather: defend--the simplest of statements?

I believe the SSR's caused a horrid noise that my dealership wanted to attribute to my Wilwood brakes. I took the SSR's off, and the noise went away. Looking at the car, it's obvious to the most casual glance that the SSR's made for a much wider track, even though they're theoretically identical in spec to the Koseis.</rant>

And I still think the OP should avoid expensive wheels if (s)he's not entirely convinced that they'll be right for the car.