The MotoringFile Mailbag is a new feature where we pick one of the many email questions that we get weekly and first, answer them to the best of our abilities, and then, pose the question to our highly educated readers. Our first question in the series comes from Charlie:

Question: What is the benefit/downside, of 17 inch tires vs 16 inch. I'm wondering if the ride is better or not. I haven't had a car with 17 inch tires in many years and never in anything as small as a MINI? Do I go with 16 or 17 inch? I've purchased an S with a January delivery.

MotoringFile Answer: Obviously this question is somewhat dependent on what you're going to be doing with the car. However if it's just going to be used on the street with some occasional “spirited” driving here are my suggestions. I personally love the look of the optional MCS 17″ wheel and tire combo and would opt for that every time. They fill the wheel wells great and give the MINI's handling a sharper, on edge feel. However there are several downsides if you go with this choice.

First the ride is slightly worse than with the standard 16″ wheels and tires. Also the weight of the OEM S-lites (odd name considering) is over 24lbs each! However there are several things you can do to make your decision easier. First off ditch the runflats and get conventional tires for increased ride quality while to losing some of that weight in the corners (runflats are much heavier than standard tires). You may also want to make sure you have a good tire repair kit on hand if you go this route (not to mention a good cell phone). If wheel weight is an issue you could also go with lighter OEM wheels (R99s for example) or aftermarket 17″ rims and keep your standard 16″ rims (with all season tires) for the winter driving season if you live in a northern climate. If you live somewhere that gets an abundance of snow you might also want to considering dedicated snow tires for the 16″ wheels.

Or if none of that sounds exciting to you and the above just sounds like a hassle, you could go with the standard 16″ wheels if you like the look. While they won't feel as razor sharp as 17″ wheels, they're cheaper, lighter, and more comfortable.

Now, let's hear your thoughts on this…