I'm thinking about changing my 16" V-Spokes for 17" S-Lites on my '02 MCS. Why do or don't I want to do this?

...Les

 

You most likely don't. The S-Lites are far heavier. If you don't do any driving for fun, just a commuter or cruiser, you can do it for looks alone but the weight difference is substantial.

 

I agree with what Jenn B said & add the ride will get a lot harsher if that matters to you.

Chuck

 

s-lites are cool looking. for a stock car, i think the 17's look better.

imho.

 

agreed, 17s look much better, unless you spend major money and get wider 16s and wider tires to fit on those, for a street car, 17s are far better. Again, all these weight obsessed people.....

Look at Ken's car, he is on 16x7.5s, and it is so hard to tell if it is 16 or 17 unless you look at the car closely from the side. That is the 16s I like, but other than that, 17s are much better looking, and s-lites have that retro look.

 

I think the s-lites look icky...don't like them at all. Like the v-spokes so much more. Plus, I have heard from several folks that since they are so solid that its harder for the brakes to get any air to cool down. But, if you like them and are OK to sacrifice a bit to the weight and smoothness of ride, go for it or look for another aftermarket wheel

 

Another reason I don't much like 17's S Heavies or any 17 for that matter is because the 17's are more susceptible to road damage. Not much of a sidewall to protect the rim. Real world roads have pot holes & lots of them.

Chuck

 

i had them both ... don't do it. The S-Lites might be a little more visually appealing, but ... uff ... don't do it

 

Ok, let's see if I got this right......heavy......good lookin'....harsh ride.....good lookin'......icky.....good lookin'......low profile concerns......good lookin'.....

Anything else I need to consider?

...Les

 

you forgot brake cooling (or lack of!!)

 

Don't forget better gas mileage with the 16s!

mb

 

The 16's that you have are the lightest of the original Mini 16" wheels. Stay with them. They look and work just fine. Unsprung rotating weight is the worst weight of all and weight hurts you all the time in everyway. I took off the S-Lites and went with standard 16's and they work way better. The difference is really noticable. I thought something was wrong with the Mini. It drove like a pickup truck with a snow plow on the front. I thought maybe I needed lower and closer gear ratios and a more responsive steering system and stronger brakes. Now with the 16's and normal sport tires everything is fine. Also if you are not sliding the tires no need to go wider. You will just have more rolling resistance and higher cost. Tune your car for how it gets driven.

 

I had the 17's on both my 03 and 05 MCS..........drove a car with 16" V spokes. Guess what's coming on my 06 next week?? The car feels quicker with the 16's. The wheels are lighter and if you get better MPG thats a bonus. I am still going to get a set of 18's for the summer.

 

again, brake cooling, correct, but only on track and/or autocross, street, perfectly fine.

 

Alright......lower gas mileage.....good lookin'........hot brakes (track).....good lookin'......potential poor handling......good lookin'....

Harsh I can deal with....I'm used to driving TR6's, MGB/GTs, old Jeeps.....but I really don't wish to introduce any handling compromises.....my little blue MINI handles sweet as it is.

The S-lites are somewhat reminiscent of the mini-lites I used to have on my classic Mini.......but they were quite lite (obviously smaller even at 12"s).....I think maybe I'll just get another set of V-Spokes with a bit wider tire.

I guess I should hook-up with Alex and see what's rollin' in wider width within the runflat family. You'll have to pardon me but I like the runflats, so I'll not be convinced otherwise. I know what I like and that's what I like.

But you know, thanks mucho for you all's input. That's one of the nice things about this board.

.....Les

 

Just an addt'l 2 cents - For all the reasons stated above, I would stay with the 16 in. vspokes - plus I personally think they look great on the S - the mini is a very small car, and to each his own, but proportionally, 16 inch rims are just right on this car . . . sometimes we just want something different because its different - there are people spending nearly $400 a corner to buy Wedsports rims from tire rack that to me look just about like the vspokes.

 

I believe there are some fantastic options out there for wheels that are reminiscent of classic minilites that are also light weight. I agree, it is a great look, so what you want is something that works on both levels...looks and performance. I don't have any specific suggestions but look around here on NAM...folks have some pretty awesome wheels that would work nicely.

 

The wheels that look like the old Mini Lites and are high quailty and light weight are the Pannasports: http://www.panasport.com/street.html.

Not only are the runflats harsh but they introduce a handling compromise as their inflexibility leads to skipping over bumps and direction change. Going wider with runflats, and using the extra traction, only increases the chance of ending up someplace you don't want to be.