I have the White "Daytona" 5 spoke 16"x6.5" wheels and Kumho run flats right now but as the wheels weigh in at 20lbs. each and the tires weigh in at 25-26lbs. each I'm thinking of trying to see if I can get some money set aside so that by spring I can get a set of "Konig Backbone" wheels in a flat black that are 16"x7" and weigh in at 14lbs. each and some dedicated summer tires. I have been looking at Nitto NeoGen VR in 205/50/16" as they are several pounds lighter, and will just get a tire plug kit and use my compressor in a emergency. And use the wheels and tires on the car at present for winter driving. I figure it should make the car handle better and also plan on doing a back seat delete to save 35-40 lbs. there. I remember that on my Race bikes that every 10 lbs. you can eliminate is like adding a H.P. to the engine for nothing. and with the 15% Supercharger pulley and the A.T.I. Super Damper crank pulley is a 2lb. saving in weight it should realy wake the car up. comments or recommendations welcome.:cornut:
Sounds like a good plan. Both wheel and tire combo if it's just for street use. I usually recommend either Nitto Neo Gens or Hankook Ventus V12 Evos. Seen both perform very well for the "spirited" street driver of MINIs.
Lighter rims will make the car feel more "playful". I was so amazed by the change with my 15' winter rims/tires, i have been toying with finding lighter 16's for a few years...but my 16's are the lightest oem 16's....so i have held off...keep finding other stuff to buy!! I have heard that reducing rorational mass gets you 4x the payoff of static, so tires and rims are a more costeffective way to improve things imo than many others!! For tires, many folks have been surprised with some of the "general" tires, now they are owned by conti....one thing to watch for...many of the more popular cheaper tires have soft sidewalls, ok for the street, but a bit soft for track/suto-x use imo.
Lighter wheel/tire package pays off several ways. Weight, unsprung weight, rotational mass both going & stopping. I too felt that my MINI gained a few pony's once the winter tires went on, holies with Pirelli snow controls. Lost cornering grip in the dry should pay dividends in the snow..
Sounds like a good plan also. It is a night and day difference dropping over 10# per wheel. I have had good luck with both of these tires. The neo gens wear better against camber than the v12 evos in my experience.
Thanks everyone for the reply, I had thought this would be a added benefit to the mods that are in progress at the present time.