17" or 16" wheels?

[Francesco]

With all due respect I think you guys, who are laughing at the sales person who said you could take the insert out of the runflat, may be wrong. I was watching a show on TV about a week ago that was explaining how runflats work. Apparently there are some runflats that have an insert inside the tire. I'm not saying that the ones on the Mini are of this type but according to the documentary there are some that work this way. Just two cents.

[nonsequitur]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bilbo Baggins

I went with the 16" X-lite wheels, R-84, as they are the lightest wheel available from the factory for the MCS.

Accurate, but you also got a set of the R-81s that generate a wheel/tire package of 26lb per corner, definitely lighter than the R-84s.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bilbo Baggins

I purchased a set of "take-off" 15" 7-hole wheels (R-81) and tires for the winter. Narrower tires rock in the snow.

You're correct here too; a smart package for the snow.

Have you considered running them in the summer as an experiment? I've been curious from the beginning in 2002 if the R-81's on a Cooper S would simply fly. I'll bet, based on same-day experiments with my Cooper using different wheels and tires, that you would get surprising results using the R-81 wheel with a good summer tire (like the Falken Azenis Sport! ): [much] better acceleration, better braking, but softer less precise turn-in on the Cooper S. Just curious. Drop me a PM if you try it next summer.

[GrFa]

Quote: Originally Posted by nonsequitur

Accurate, but you also got a set of the R-81s that generate a wheel/tire package of 26lb per corner, definitely lighter than the R-84s.

You're correct here too; a smart package for the snow.

Have you considered running them in the summer as an experiment? I've been curious from the beginning in 2002 if the R-81's on a Cooper S would simply fly. I'll bet, based on same-day experiments with my Cooper using different wheels and tires, that you would get surprising results using the R-81 wheel with a good summer tire (like the Falken Azenis Sport! ): [much] better acceleration, better braking, but softer less precise turn-in on the Cooper S. Just curious. Drop me a PM if you try it next summer.

I am a former 03 S owner. I had 17 inch s spokes with and without runflats. I also had a set of r81s for the winter. I had the all season good year runflats. In my case, the funflats actually rode better than the yokohama avs es100s that replaced them. The yokohamas did have sharper turn in though and generally better grip. The r81s with even the stock continental touring tires that come on the cooper are a blast. They handled well in the snow. The difference between them and the heavy s lites is immediate. The ride is compliant and nice, although looking back it felt a bit disconnected. Acceleration was definitely quicker, braking was about the same due to so much less grip.

Right before I sold the car last January I had been running the r81s for a good two months. I thought that they were pretty fun and that I generally liked them better than the s spokes. However, when I put the s spokes on before I sold the car, expecting to be disappointed, I wasn't. The car felt so much sharper and so much more connected. I traded the car in either the next day or the day after my last romp after changing wheels.

I only got the r81s because of the summer tires on the s spokes. If I had gotten 16s which only come with all seasons I might have been just so happy being in the middle. I never did get to try a set before selling the car. In my mind the 16s, due to the decrease in weight, will accelerate and brake better. But being that they are a lower profile than the r81s they will most likely be almost as sharp as the 17s.

One thing I ignored was ride quality. When this is factored in the r81s(15 inch stock cooper wheels) rode the nicest due to low weight and lots of tire and the 17s rode the worst due to their heavy weight and slim tires. The 16 is probably the best of both worlds, that is why they come stock on the MCS. The 17 is just a fashion accessory. Ask yourself whats more important...all around performance(the 16s) or sharper style(the 17s).

I hope I was of some help. Sorry for going a little long. I am sitting here merely dreaming of a bone stock no options 05 MCS to replace my 97 M3 which has always seemed boring after stepping out of my 03 S.