MINI OEM vs Aftermarket Wheels (Part 2)

Sections: MF Feature Jun 26th, 2006 73 Comments

The O.Z. Racing Superleggera, light, strong and aggressive. They’ve been a favorite wheel of mine for quite awhile. When I bought my MCS last year with the JCW wheels, they were the “other” choice I secretly lusted after. This year O.Z. introduced a new wheel that took the Superleggera to a new level. And at 16.8lbs, the 18″ Ultraleggera had my name written all over it. My rational was that, if I’m going to give up my beloved JCWs, I might as well go as light as I can.

I’ll have a full review of the wheels and my new Kumho ECSTA SPT’s in the coming weeks. But until then you can check out some photos of the new Ultraleggeras below.

[Update: Sold!] For those curious, my JCW 18″ wheels are still for sale but I’m guessing they’ll be going fast considering the price I’m offering them at. I’m having a hard time parting with them as I do love the way they look on my car. But alas the tirerack in my garage only has room for two sets of tires and with both winter sets currently there, it’s already full. Email me via the Contact at the top of the page if you’re interested. You can see detailed photos here. I will ship throughout the US if needed.

Once you launch the image viewer simply click the “N” button on your keyboard for next image or “P” for the previous image.

If you’re interested in the Ultraleggera for your MINI, you may want to act fast. After only a couple of months O.Z. is discontinuing the wheel in the 18″ MINI friendly size. I’m told it’s marketing related (whatever that means). Nevertheless if you’re interested follow the link below (you’ll be supporting MF by doing so):

Shop for O.Z. wheels at The Tire Rack.

Written By: Gabe

http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Wondering if the new rims have affected the ride in any way – the limited amount of time youÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ve had them to gauge that is.

Read this comment from earlier today.

Did you treat them/do you have to treat them with any kind of polish, etc to limit brake dust from accumulating, etc? If yes, what do you recommend?

Yes. I used (and highly recommend) Zymol’s detailing wax which can be bought from MotoringFile sponsor, Detailing Concepts.
nrkist

So a 215/35-18 is a smaller diameter tire than the OEM 205/40-18. 215/35 is about 8% shorter. A 215/40 is only 5% taller. Check it out here:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

I think Tirerack defaults to recommending diameters that are no taller then stock to avoid any possible issues. I’m assuming a 215/40-18 with 42mm offset should be ok.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Here’s another link that shows the wheel diameter sizing in regards to common MINI sizes: MINI2 FAQ

However it only shows combos that are relatively close to OEM sizing and how they related to what comes on the car from the factory. The 215/35/18 is almost identical to the stock 15″ size on the Cooper in regards to overall diameter. This and relatively little rubbing issues are why Tirerack recommends them.

215/40/18 should work (and give you a little more protection) but I’d be interested in hearing what sort of rubbing issues people may be having with them (if any).
http://stylizedfacts.com/coruscation/autos/mini/ dc

Shows off the front brakes well.
http://web.mac.com/andrewz/iweb/ Andrew

Can’t wait to hear a review on the Ecsta SPT’s as i am considering buying a set of either these or BFG g-force sport within the next couple of weeks!
nrkist

The 215/35/18 is almost identical to the stock 15ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â³ size on the Cooper in regards to overall diameter.

True, but 215/35 is a good bit smaller than the OEM 16″, 17″ and 18″ sizes for the S. More than 1/2″ shorter than what you were running with the JCWs and 205/40-18s. Hence the reference to a certain low-end clothing retailer by alpha-6 above. ;)
ivor biggun

Just for the record :

The 18′s on the GP weigh in at 19.8414 lbs

thats 9 kilogrammes for those of you reading this in French or Italian
http://news.mini2.co.za timmee

They’re horrible. We don’t like them. They’re ugly. We are not jealous. No. We’re not.
Mike

How much weight have you dropped per wheel, including the new tires -vs- the old wheels/tires?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

How much weight have you dropped per wheel, including the new tires -vs- the old wheels/tires?

The tires are about the same: Dunlops/21lbs vs Kumhos/20lbs. BTW someone over at MINI2 should seriously consider updating their FAQ! The weights they list are very much out of date. The runflats tires supplied with the MINI have decreased in weight substancially over the last few years.

I’ve seen the JCW wheels on scale at 22lbs and change – we’ll call it 22.5lbs. I haven’t actually weighted my Ultraleggeras yet but they are listed at 16.8lbs. So you’re talking roughly 8lbs of a difference (with both wheels and tire factored in) at each corner. Certainly an improvement but it’s not like I’m coming from S-lites.
GSKChicago

Is 21 or 22 lbs for a tire considered good? Considered heavy? What is considered amazingly light?

Same with wheels – what is considered exceptionally light?

Then, at what dollar cost would something like that go for? If these questions are even realistic.
http://stylizedfacts.com/coruscation/autos/mini/ Coruscation

The TireRack display ads in Grassroots Motorsport (GRM) show wheel weights. 15 lbs per wheel would be relatively light for such a big wheel.
MINIAC

BTW someone over at MINI2 should seriously consider updating their FAQ! The weights they list are very much out of date. The runflats tires supplied with the MINI have decreased in weight substancially over the last few years.

I beg your pardon …

The only runflat tire in the FAQ which exceeds the weight listed at the Tire Rack is that of 205/40-18 Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST, whose 27 lb weight was quoted by the manufacturer.
agross

the wheels look great. i was considering them my self. i found a deal on another wheel on closeout. enkei rp02. $75.00 a wheel. 15.4 lbs. mounted with 215/45/17 hankook rs2. the stock wheels and tires ( 16′s v- spoke?) on the digital bathroom scale were 41lbs. the new wheels came in about 38lbs. not much of a weight savings. but the 5 spokes are much easier to clean. i have hears that for every 1 pound of unsprung weight on the wheels is equal to 8 pounds of static weight. is that true???
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

I beg your pardon ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦

The only runflat tire in the FAQ which exceeds the weight listed at the Tire Rack is that of 205/40-18 Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST, whose 27 lb weight was quoted by the manufacturer.

Sorry I didn’t mean to downgrade the effort that is takes to maintain the MINI2 FAQ. I send countless people over there all the time and look at it as one of the must have bookmarks in the MINI world.

15 lbs per wheel would be relatively light for such a big wheel.

15lbs would be incredibly light for an 18″ wheels – there’s only a couple that I know of. For a 16 or 17 that number is more common. For an 18 it’s generally hard to find anything under 18-19lbs.
nrkist

15lbs would be incredibly light for an 18ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â³ wheels. for a 16 or 17 that number makes sense. for an 18 itÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s hard to find anything under 18-19lbs.

Centerline RPM in 18×7 weighs in at just under 15 lbs. This is a forged wheel at ~$300 a pop. I ran these for a while. A very nice bit of kit.
MINIAC

Sorry I didnÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t mean to downgrade the effort that is takes to maintain the MINI2 FAQ.

No worries …

Just called Dunlop to double check weight on Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST. This time I was quoted 21.6lb. FAQ updated.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Just called Dunlop to double check weight on Dunlop SP Sport 01 DSST. This time I was quoted 21.6lb. FAQ updated.

Well done!
http://www.hubertus.net/mymini/ Philip

I like the badge better than the wheels ;-)

(MINI2 Germany members have ordered another 40 or so badges via RudyT)
DrDiff

Gabe,

I was wondering about the center cap. How secure are they? A friend has Koing Rewinds and lost 3 out of the 4 center caps at the dragon this year.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

I was wondering about the center cap. How secure are they? A friend has Koing Rewinds and lost 3 out of the 4 center caps at the dragon this year.

As secure as the stock ones on my s-lites.

True, but 215/35 is a good bit smaller than the OEM 16ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â³, 17ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â³ and 18ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â³ sizes for the S. More than 1/2ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â³ shorter than what you were running with the JCWs and 205/40-18s. Hence the reference to a certain low-end clothing retailer by alpha-6 above. ;)

Worth noting; my 205/40/18s rubbed in the front. Nothing terrible and obviously something MINI lived with when engineering the steering stop but enough to push me in the direction of the 35s.
Tmini

Excellent Choice, although I prefer the 17″ in graphite, lighter and easier to keep looking clean…

http://www.momentumphoto.net/events/bmw/06may/sat/1055d/images/BMW06_BIR05_300.jpg

Sorry I don’t have a “sitting still” picture, but this just proves that they look good going fast on the track also…

T
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