I have 17 and so does my wife. I like my 17 and when I get new rime it will be the same size. I think they ride fine on my wife's R57. As for my R53 I can't say because I have different springs and struts. I don't really have anything to compare it to. I do like the way they look. Sorry I'm not more help.
Page 1 of 2
-
wmwny Well-Known Member
I have a set of 17" R90s. They ride okay on my wife's bone stock '06 R53, but when they are on my modded '06 R53, they ride hard, or so it seems. Because Jan tuned my S, the mileage doesn't suffer at all, but on my wife's S, the large rims don't do her any favors. Of course, she drives really slow [yes, MUCH slower than I] and in town only, so that contributes to the lousy mileage. She does like them because of their height [she is 5' nothing and needs a higher ride].
-
Crashton Club Coordinator
My .02 is the 16" wheel tire combination is perfect for a street driven MINI. Yes 16" wheels will give a better ride that 17's. That's what I ran on mine, but as you know everyone has different likes. Since you have 17" wheels use them.
-
Dave.0 Helix & RMW PoweredLifetime Supporter
17's without Run Rock tire's are fine for any daily driver.
Any regular tire will softer than a run flat (rock) which is hard tire. New regular tire's will feel so much smoother and last twice as long a run flat tire's. -
DneprDave Well-Known MemberSupporting Member
And big wheels look cool!
-
The only advantage of 17's is looks, and a higher ride height ...
The smaller the tire diameter, the better the ride and performance is going to be (the gearing is better with the smaller tires, and the loss of unsprung weight works wonders too); smaller tires also cost less. On a daily driver, you'll notice the improved ride; the performance, probably not so much. Like Dave said, if you ditch the run flats that too will improve the ride--a zillion years ago when I still had 17's it made a huge difference. -
DneprDave Well-Known MemberSupporting Member
Naw, Bigger wheels require shorter sidewalls. The diameter of the tire is very close to that of 16" wheels.
Just go to Discount Tire's tire calculator and see for yourselves! -
GokartPilot Well-Known Member
-
mrntd Well-Known MemberSupporting Member
- Sep 30, 2011
- 1,762
- Male
- Sales and Marketing manager
- Ratings:
- +1,763 / 0 / -0
I downgraded from 18" to 17" also the ride and performance improved. There is a sweet spot where the right amount of sidewall gives you a good ride and performs better. I've upgraded different cars over the years and each type of car responds differently depending on it's suspension and weight. So checking what others have done, as you are doing, is the best way to find the right fit for you. Just like not everyone wants to run on coil overs not everyone wants the same thing with their wheels and tires. For Ohio the 17"s will be fine. Now carefully select the right tire as they will play a big roll in your comfort.
If larger sidewalls always performed better race cars would have still have them like they use to. F1 the exception :crazy: -
Sorry, no, I'm talking 15's, and the diameter of the tire I run (225/45/15) is significantly lower than OEM...And it makes a huge difference in gearing/acceleration.
As for the stiffer sidewall of a larger tire, if you get a fifteen with a stiff sidewall, there aren't any issues with rollover once you have tire pressures dialed in. -
One advantage of 17 over 16 is that there is currently a better
selection of good summer tires in 205/45/17 than in 205/50/16.
If you pick 205/55/16, you get a good selection, but with a slightly taller tire. -
GokartPilot Well-Known Member
-
Tires vary in sidewall stiffness, usually the higher the treadwear rating, the softer the sidewall. When you go to R-comps and even more aggressive full on slicks, the sidewalls get correspondingly stiffer. You wouldn't want to run a soft sidewall 225/45/15 on the track, like an all season or regular summer tire, it'll rollover or squirm at reasonable tire pressures. Put on a Nitto-01 or Toyo R888 or RA1, the side walls are stiff enough for track duty, but don't ride as nice as a softer sidewall--although they ride much better than a 17 inch run flat.
Even different tires in the same class have different sidewall stiffness--there is no measure of it other than what the manufacturer says. But chalk and tire pressures usually tell the story. -
-
Having run 17x8 wheels with 215 /45/17's for the last 8 years, I switched to 16x8 wheels this year with 225/50/16 tires, both wheels have the same offset - et38 and I am running the same tire - Continental DW.
The car does feel much more compliant over bumps, the ride is smoother and turn-in felt a bit sharper with the 17's however the car is still very nimble, the 16's are being run at 35 psi vs 34 psi for the 17's. I definitely have noticeably more grip with the wider 16's. One additional benefit - I can brake even harder now with the larger tires. I am happy with my decision. -
BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIsLifetime Supporter
- May 4, 2009
- 2,896
- Professional Facilitator and Alignment Consultant
- Ratings:
- +2,896 / 0 / -0
I'm a HUGE fan of 16" wheels on a street Mini. I've run 15, 16, 17 and 18... and now run 16" on the street and 15" on the track. Bliss.
-
wmwny Well-Known Member
While I have those R90s on my wife's S, I really like the 16" R84s, instead, on that car. It's ok for me to use the R90s on my S, but I prefer the 15" holeys...especially when Dragon-slaying or other twisties.
I'd love to sell the R90s, as well as the R91 she uses as a spare. They are just too tall and their tires are way out of my idea of a bargain when it comes down to replacing them. I have more than enough wheel sets to fill up any of our 3 MINIs needs. I never drive the R50 in snow so I don't have snows for it. The other 2 cars have mounted Blizzaks for when it does, though.
Page 1 of 2