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Unsprung weight you are a heartless....

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vballkid77 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vballkid77 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Unsprung weight you are a heartless....
    Posted: June/12/15 at 2:34pm

I haven't posted in awhile, but I have been eyeing some rims for the Mini and thought I would ask the question here.  I have read a ton where rim/tire weight can change the performance of the vehicle a bit and there are people who have posted formulae showing what it could potentially do.  When I was big into stereos/audio I noticed there was a lot of "Oh it makes a huge difference" when actually when I went and listened to a setup it was minimal at best.  The only time I could really tell was when my uncle had his record setup that cost him in the neighborhood of $15 grand using the same tubes in his amp Eric Clapton uses.

For those of you who have upgraded rims, or run different rims winter/track/summer, how much would I notice a change of about 3lbs on the rim per corner?  My mini is running stock 15 R100's right now which when I looked it up seemed unbelievably light at 13.7 or so lbs, most of the lighter weight rims I have looked at (OZ, Kosei, Motegi) are more of the lines of a track rim, not quite as tough but are around 15lbs but a Tacoma pothole could do some damage, so I was looking at a set that was 17lbs had a little more of a unique look and just by eye seemed like it was a but more solid.  I guess my question is if I am more of a go out have some fun in the twisties on back country roads, not so much a track/autocross guy, although I would like to dabble, am I going to notice a large difference at a 3lbs increase?



'11 Justacooper Midnight black//JCW Crossbrace//Lowered on Konis/H&R springs//Konig wheels//DDMWorks intake//more on the way...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote racingbmwm3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/15 at 4:19pm
I have the R93's with winter tires, 14.8lbs, then R83's for my summer wheels @ 20.1lbs each.  Additionally I'm currently running runflats which are definitely heavier than the winter tires.  I don't really notice a performance difference, but I baby the winter tires.  I can definitely tell the ride is better with the 15's, but that is a combo of soft tires, larger sidewall and not runflats.  Steering feel is better with the lighter wheels also.

short answer, if you aren't racing you probably won't notice a huge difference.  you'll notice more difference between tire brands than 3 lbs of wheel.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SuperCoop Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/12/15 at 5:18pm
I switched from the s-lites to the rota RB, it dropped 7lbs per corner, and made a WORLD of difference. 3lb each wouldn't be as noticeable, but you'd still notice *something*.  As racing stated, you'd notice more in quality of tire vs 3lbs per wheel.
Jason - '05 PS/B Cooper S, most packages, 17%, Brisk silver plugs, IE fixed camber plates & Craven STD's, Powerflex trans/dogbone mount poly inserts, 20mm Whiteline rear sway bar, SprintBooster.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vballkid77 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/14/15 at 4:47pm

thanks for the replies, that was kind of along my line of thinking that it wasn't enough to make a huge difference for normal/spirited street driving.  Seems like it I was set up more for tracking it, that would be a bigger deal, looks like its time to pull the trigger on those rims =o)


Thanks all

'11 Justacooper Midnight black//JCW Crossbrace//Lowered on Konis/H&R springs//Konig wheels//DDMWorks intake//more on the way...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SuperCoop Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/14/15 at 8:11pm
You'll still notice it, but not as much as if you lost like 7lb per corner. Choose your wheel weight and tire carefully
Jason - '05 PS/B Cooper S, most packages, 17%, Brisk silver plugs, IE fixed camber plates & Craven STD's, Powerflex trans/dogbone mount poly inserts, 20mm Whiteline rear sway bar, SprintBooster.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SMOG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/15/15 at 6:19am
Originally posted by SuperCoop SuperCoop wrote:

You'll still notice it, but not as much as if you lost like 7lb per corner. Choose your wheel weight and tire carefully


+1
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vballkid77 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vballkid77 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/15/15 at 9:38am

I have been trying to for sure, that's why the question.  The Konigs I am looking at weren't the lightest they make as I seem to remember they had some 17's that were around 15-16lbs but essentially just looked like a 5 spoke, wanted something with a bit more looks to it.  Konig got back to me through their facebook page said they were 17lbs, which is about 3lbs heavier, not sure I was going to find a 17" rim that wasn't going to increase the weight would be to spend quite a bit more on them.  I think these are going to be a good way to meet the pocketbook in the middle

Now to go look at what kind of rubber to wrap them in

'11 Justacooper Midnight black//JCW Crossbrace//Lowered on Konis/H&R springs//Konig wheels//DDMWorks intake//more on the way...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RickB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/22/15 at 4:53pm

Drag-racers figure one pound of rotational weight has the same effect on accelerative performance as five pounds of chassis weight.

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