Wheel notes

Factory wheels
All HS Coopers must run on 15 X 5.5" or 16 X 6.5" wheels (with the correct offset, of course). These are the only sizes available from the factory. Many dealers are putting on accessory wheels and charging significant surcharges. However, these are not legal unless they are the exact same size and offset as the factory wheels. Here's the total list: Here are some specs. from Mini USA that were given to me by Mark Chiles here in FL. He also runs solo II and wanted me to forward this to the people on the list. These are all the wheels currently provided by Mini USA. The specs and weights are listed. According to this information and the rules that state that the offset can not deviate more than 1/4 inch from the stock specs, it seems that a 44mm offset is the limit as to what we can offer. If anyone has any information they care to add please do so. As for now, We will be assuming that 44mm is the propper offset. Style R81 (7-hole) 5.5Jx15 - 1512458 & 1512459 = 5.45Kg Offset = 45mm (Cooper w/ all season tires) Style R82 (8-spoke) 5.5Jx15 - 1512347 & 6756674 = 6.9Kg Offset = 45mm (Cooper w/ all season tires) Style R83 (5-star) 6.5Jx16 - 1512348 & 1512349 = 9.1Kg Offset = 50mm (Cooper w/ performance runflat tires ) Style R84 (V-spoke) 6.5Jx16 - 1512350 & 1512351 = 8.0Kg Offset = 50mm (Cooper S w/ all season runflat tires) Style R85 (S-lite) 7x17J - 1512352 & 6757859 = 11.4Kg Offset = 50mm (Cooper S w/ performance runflat tires or all season runflat tires ) Style R86 5.5Jx15 - 6755809 = 6.8Kg Offset = 45mm (Accessory wheel) Style R87 5.5Jx16 - 6755814 = 7.5Kg Offset = 45mm (Accessory wheel) Style R88 6.5Jx16 - 6755811 = 8.9Kg Offset = 48mm (Accessory wheel) Style R90 7Jx17 Two-Piece - 6755813 = 10.95Kg Offset = 48mm (Accessory wheel) 5.5Jx15 Steel Wheel - 1511414 = 6.7Kg 3.5Bx15 Space Saver - 1509164 = 5.75Kg
End: Dealers
Begin: Aftermarket wheels
Enkei made the RPO1 in 16x6.5 and now they don't. They weigh 14.5 lbs each and they were about 120 bucks each (thats 480 for 4). The gentleman at Enkei said they've "sort of discontinued" that size but they'd bring it back if they get enough interest. So call Enkei with your interest if you genuinely want a light(er) and cheap(er) wheel! Garfield: Yep, I've got the last two sets...literally! One set for my Falkens, one for my Hoosiers. Now my Falkens are a legal deep water rain tire for National events.
SSR (Speed Star Racing)'s Competition model wheel, available in two finishes at TireRack and other fine retailers. Do not mind the five-bolt pattern in the stock photography. Anthracite with machined lip, available in sizes 15x6 15x6.5 15x7 16x6.5 16x7 16x7.5 17x7.5 18x7.5 ----------------------------------------- Silver with machined lip, available in sizes 15x7 16x7.5 17x7.5
Specs for The NZO wheel: Model 050 16x6.5 et44mm 5.8kg Michael Filippello
These are the weights measured by our test department and recorded on the engineering drawings. The supplier must produce the wheels within a weight tolerance of +/-300g. I hope this helps. Regards, Kevin
Light and cheap may be hard to find. Ultra light Forges Magnesium, not for a mini budget, maybe not even for a Ferrari budget! Light, this means forged, aluminum. allowing much thinner wheel center sections and thinner rim cross sections. The problem is the tooling cost a fortune, and your stuck with one style for each tool. New style, new tool! A few companies forge a flat blank generic center section and then have a selection of a few CNC designs that they can cut into the center section. But that means Mill or Lathe time which means more money. Spun aluminum outer rim halves; (like the typical 3 piece alloys.) These are made like pots & pans, a thin pieces of aluminum spun and forced into the shape of the rim half. Rim halves are very thin and light. But labor intensive. You must bolt the inner outer and center section together. But you have more flexibility in wheel widths. Cheap: Sand cast wheels, These are the bulk of the wheels on the market. You make a tool that will appeal to the masses. Your design allows for enough material (heavy) to make it as stong as possible, This way you can opt. to machine it for almost every car on the street, from Mini To Suburban. As long as the center section can support the bolt pattern, and the offset has some extra material to machine off. These are every wheel manufacturers dream, the "fit all" wheels. and if you can run 500,000 wheels before the style goes away your in heaven. They can make light cast wheels, they just have to engineer them with plans to only put them on the lighter cars, say 2500-2700 lb. If you want light, watch the european manufacturers they will typically design with light cars in mind. BBS, O.Z. I'll watch for some, tell me what is thew lightest Cast wheels you've found, and I'll ask the suppliers as they offer us the wheels. Our luck the worlds lights wheel will have some stupid looking Teddy Bear cast into the center hub, like the Ronals from a few years back!!
wheels: 16x6.5, 4x100, 56mm ctr bore, 44mm offset, 11/16ths caliper clearance, around 10-11lbs, black/white/silver, less than $275/each.
the r90 wheel:
Volk CE-28N wheels under 6.5 lbs
WheelSpecs.com has some wheel specs, but alas, no weights.
rayswheels.co.jp has a full volk catalog.
For $200 each, Enkei RP-F1 Also used on Miata From Good-Win Racing. May weigh 9.7 pounds each (more than a pound lighter than the Superleggeras) on a calibrated postal scale, and they'll take a beating. 'Run a car backwards up the curbing at 50mph on a local road course earlier this season, and did nothing but minor cosmetic damage to the wheel which took the brunt of the impact'. They're inexpensive, ridiculously light, and ruggedly built.
Monza in white or silver
Webb Motorsports stock the AK Monza and suspension sets.
RSpeed nice web site for some wheels and tires.
Mini Mania / Tire Rack wheels
Street Touring: Your options for STS are up to 7.5" width and 225 tires, for STX it's 8" width and 245 tires. It's technically better to run the 15's for unsprung weight and rotational mass. BUT, you still have to give in to tire size. In 15's, you should either run the 205/50R15 Azenis or the BFG T/A KD in a 225/50R15. We've got both to run, and I'm finding the 225 BFG quite bouncy (bigger sidewall) if the pavment has undulations. The other option, and I'm getting closer to thinking it's the best, is the same setup I have for the street, the 215/45R16 Azenis. This gives you a decent width, probably the same as the 225 BFG, AND a stiff lower profile sidewall. In the wheel department, well, it's obvious to me what the best available is, the SSR in 15x7.5 (the 8" is the wrong offset) or the SSR in the 16x7.5 . Most people are willing to give up the 1" of width for the cost of the Monzas, or HAVE to.
CarBoy in Houston, TX sells Volk racing wheels.