What did you do to your MINI today?

Not quite today, but earlier this week I lowered, fitted a JCW spoiler and new wheels!

 

Looks great what wheels are those?

 

Sparco Trofeo 18 x 8 ET45

 

With the 18's are you seeing any significant range decrease? I am debating between 17's and 18's.

 

Actually the range had improved!
Either way I’m not fussed about range, only use it for commutes and the odd long journey like today I did a 90 mile round trip and still had 15% left

 

Don't the 18" wheels throw off the range calculation because the wheel diameter is bigger? The sidewalls don't look shorter than the 17". And what about the TPMS sensors, do they need to be adjusted?

 

Maybe a 1 or 2 mph Speedo difference, TPMS sensors all work fine

 

I brought him/her home


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs

 

Congratulations on buying one of the few remaining SEs available! (cars.com says the count for new SEs is down to 307 in the continental US.)

 

Thank you!! It was used and I’m in Canada but…I feel like the “Congratulations” still stands lol


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs

 

Hankooks 195/55/16 temperature 60-70 F. This is my average range only on SPORT mode 80 miles highway speed 65/75 and 40 miles short trips 4-5 miles around city total 120 miles and still 20 miles left .My drive in SE is always like I steal a car and I wander if I’m on green mode how far I will go ?

 

Absolutely it counts: you brought home an SE that someone else gave up. . (Unthinkable to me.)

 

I made a set of 15" wheels go on my SE for autocross. I am significantly faster. Even more fun to drive like I stole it. I don't care about wheel gap...

 

i really love this mod ...i think you mentioned shaving callipers a wee bit any pics so i can follow your lead ..cheers

 

Don't smaller wheels provide a smaller pavement/tire-contact patch than larger wheels? I assume reducing unsprung weight doesn't offer any advantage on a smooth autocross track. Not being a competitor, I'm curious what advantage the 15-inch wheels you chose provide:

• Lighter weight and smaller diameter for reduced inertia, hence quicker acceleration?
• Ability to mount stickier tires that come only in 15-inch diameter?
• Ability to use wider wheels/tires without causing body/chassis interference?

 

There is light contact patch reduction compared to larger diameter tyres. For the same width and optimized pressures, the contact patch is approximately inversely proportional to the tyre load rating. Stock 16s are 1201lbs. 205/50-15 are 1168lbs, 225/45-15 are 1201lbs. 16" autocross were 1168lb So, my contact patch is about the same. Except that the autocross tyres tend to be somewhat wider than street tyres, so may be able to run lower pressures.

Class rules limit wheel width and offset, so I can't take advantage of wheel poke to put enormous tyres on.

Tyre availability is a big factor. The choice in 16" is way smaller than in 15".

Lighter wheel/tyre weight will help a bit with acceleration, but not as much as some 'experts' will tell you. It also help keep the wheels on the ground. How much is again, a bit contentious, it depends a mainly on how good the dampers are. Lighter wheels do make a huge difference to ride. This course is relatively flat, some are quite bumpy. Lighter wheels also reduce gyroscopic effects, so I can yank on the wheel at speed and it will turn faster. Power steering obviously helps this factor disappear, but it does affect feel.

The smaller diameter does make a difference to effective gearing. These tyres are 3% smaller than the 16s I was autocrossing on, and 7% smaller than stock tyres. That is quite noticeable.
One last advantage, they are the only legal way to lower the car in street class. That means less weight transfer and less roll. Both of which help with both handling and ultimate lateral grip. Shorter springs will mess up stock geometry and cause more roll of the stock stiffness.
I don't know how much the different tyre model, reduced weight and smaller diameter are individually contributing, but the overall package feels just great.

Take all of this with a pinch of salt, I'm sure as hell not the fastest guy out there. I'm just quicker than I used to be.

 

It's great that you can see a measurable difference resulting from the considerable planning, spending, and belt-sanding you did. I'm glad to have you and your MINI Electric out there showing competitors what this unique car can do.