What are the benefits/drawbacks between a 16" vs a 17" wheel on an MCS. The X-Lites weigh a ton and the run flats seem harsh ride wise. Any advice/opinions would be welcome.

 

The first question you have to answer is how will you use the car? If your going to autox in a stock class then your pretty restricted on wheel sizes and offsets. If your not competing than you have more options. Will you ever want to go to bigger front brakes? If so you'll need the 17" wheels to clear them. My personal choice was 17 x 7.5 Kosei k1's with 205-40-17 Kuhmo mx's. This combo is about 1" smaller in diameter than the s-lites with Pirellis and 14# lighter per wheel/tire. I know a lot of the people on this web site don't like this small a tire because it gives you about 3.8% speedo error. My budget is not unlimited so this package was a good compromise between cost and weight. The whole package was $1147 delivered from The Tire Rack.

Good Luck

2003 MCS brg/blk, options 1,2,3, and Black Panther leather

 

17's have a more dramatic look. 16's being lighter perform slightly better. 17's tend to provide a firmer ride than 16's. In theory the shorter sidewalls on 17's will respond quicker to cornerining input. The question is show, or go however I belive that with a light and stong (like the SSR) 17's inch wheel you can maintain cosmetic appeal, and likely increase performance.

Dan

 

>>What are the benefits/drawbacks between a 16" vs a 17" wheel on an MCS. The X-Lites weigh a ton and the run flats seem harsh ride wise. Any advice/opinions would be welcome.

My opinion is the less weight further away from the center of rotation is ALWAYS good. 16" by nature have less weight towards the outer edges than do 17"

 

Dan

There was talk of the SSR's being bent on the racetrack. I'm wondering if this is true and if this problem was taken care of.

The rim's in question were the SSR comps. They were used by Turner Motorsport - these are the folks that said they bent.

 

Any wheel can be bent, with the appropiate degree of abuse.

I will quote a previous post for thsi responce. Durability is relative.

Wheels gain their strenth from one of 2 ways, sheer mass, or cunstruction process/ alloys. For example And ssr weighing 15 lbs is as strong as a gravity cast wheel weighing 20 lbs (example numbers) If pothole X will bend the SSR, it will bend the gravity cast counter part. Now A tank wheel, also cast, weighing in at 25 lbs hits pothole X, and recovers unscathed. All wheels can bend.

I drive comps as daily drivers, and love them. I will autocross to avoid potholes.

Alex
>>Dan
>>
>>There was talk of the SSR's being bent on the racetrack. I'm wondering if this is true and if this problem was taken care of.
>>
>>The rim's in question were the SSR comps. They were used by Turner Motorsport - these are the folks that said they bent.


_________________
Alex xt 294

formerly "dan"

800-428-8355

www.tirerack.com

alex@tirerack.com

MCO tire and wheel forum Moderator

 

>>Alex xt 294
>>
>>formerly "dan"
>>
>>alex@tirerack.com


WOAH! When did this happen? Dan did you change names, or is Alex our new Tire Rack Rep?

 

>>>>Alex xt 294
>>>>
>>>>formerly "dan"
>>>>
>>>>alex@tirerack.com
>>
>>
>>WOAH! When did this happen? Dan did you change names, or is Alex our new Tire Rack Rep?

I am about to clear this up

Alex

 

>>The first question you have to answer is how will you use the car? If your going to autox in a stock class then your pretty restricted on wheel sizes and offsets.


Would a SSR comp 17 be allowed in stock class for mcs? If not what would
thank you.



:smile:

 

Ugh once again no clear cut answer. 16 vs 17 which is better. Seems like a simple question. But never a clear answer

 

For Scca G stock auto cross, this post identifies the correct SSR comp, we're waiting on for stock class competition. As far as the Spec Mini seires, the will be using a 17 inch size.

Alex

>>>>The first question you have to answer is how will you use the car? If your going to autox in a stock class then your pretty restricted on wheel sizes and offsets.
>>
>>
>>Would a SSR comp 17 be allowed in stock class for mcs? If not what would
>>thank you.
>>
>>
>>
>> :smile:

 

The reason is that ever motors priorties are diffrent. 17 are form, 16's are function. Its about one's personal balance of the 2, and what they seek to achive by the upgrade. Think of it like voting.

Alex

>>Ugh once again no clear cut answer. 16 vs 17 which is better. Seems like a simple question. But never a clear answer