the 205/55R17 has a very limited number of choices with regards to tires. Thinking of swapping to either 215/55 (which is what I'm leaning towards) or 215/50, any thoughts.

 

I run 215/45-17's on my '09 Clubman.....

a 215/50 may be taller than the original tires were....

 

The auto sig probably threw you off. Countrymen are using taller tires. In some cases a bid wider wheels (rims) I guess too.

 

215/45R17 would be too small (4.9% and .6") I'm going by tire calc:

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

215/50R17 is only 1.6%, .2" smaller
215/55R17 is 1.7%, .4" bigger

While the 215/50R17 might be a tad closer, and lighter, the 55s are bigger which is always a litter better in my mind at least with the Countryman, more cushion, and slightly cheating the odometer in your favor. But I'd like to see what others are thinking.

 

225/50 17 there are hundreds of tires available in this size and it's the same width as the optional 18" tires. The diameter is almost identical.

 

Wow, I think that size is as close as you can get with many good choices!

 

Yea but even more are available in 215/55, and I'd rather go a little bigger (better on milage, better cushion), going to wait till fall, but my tire preference are either Nokian WR G2 (only in 215/55) or Conti Extreme Contact DWS (I think both).

 

Has anyone gone 225/50 R17 yet, just want to see if there is any rubbing issues, also will it fit on the OE rim.

 

I just had a problem with a curb and the curb won and cut my tire side wall. I have ordered one exact oem pirelli replacement from tire rack but I am not home (summer vacation) and want it delivered to a different ship address than billing so tire rack may not ship.

So locally I can get 225/50-17; either bf goodrich gforce sport or kumho ecsta asx.

Can I run 205/55 in the rear and 225/50 on the front; obviously in pairs?
Hopefully tire rack comes through but just in case......

 

If you have AWD it would normally not be advised, but many argue it's not as big of deal as is made. It's not only the size (in fact there isn't really much of a difference), but the different tread patterns will have different traction.

If you don't have AWD it would make no difference.

 

So the 225/50/17 is pretty much the same diameter if not exactly the same diameter as the 205/55/17's. 205 to 225 is only a 20 millimeter difference in width. Will that really cause any rubbing issues? I personally plan on going 225/50 Conti Extreme DWS. Does anyone know the width of the factory 17 inch wheel?

Also... once I get the new tires my runflats with about 900 miles on them will be on sale for pretty damn cheap imo. Keep your eyes open for a for sale ad coming soon.

 

Does anyone know the width of the factory 17" countryman wheels? I cant find that info anywhere!

 

17x7 per Edmunds. I am looking at 17x7.5-8 for winter tires, 225-50x17

 

I'm going with 215/55 17 Blizzaks, the newer WS 70 model, for my winter set of oem 17" wheels. I run oem 18's in the summer and the Pirelli P7's summer runflats on there WON'T be going back on.

 

Soooooo, I just got back from NTB. I was trying to purchase the ContiExtremeDWS's in 225 50 17, to make a long story short. The sales person speaks to his manager about the size and the fact that I want my run flats replaced with the DWS's... manager tells him that they cant remove RF's and replace them with non RF tiresl... the manager said that this will void my warranty and that if anything happened to the vehicle suspension wise that NTB would be at fault for replacing the RF's with non RF's. Ive never heard such a thing in my life! He also wasnt sure that the 225's would fit since the car has 205's from the factory! I couldnt believe my ears!

Anyway, the sales guy told me to speak the the dealership about this and see if they would replace the RF's with the DWS's.

Thoughts?

 

Has nothing to do with the suspension warranty; they are afraid of liability if you develop a flat tire, have no spare, get hit on the side of the road . . . Damn lawyers. I had this problem with Costco; eventually got them to see things my way, but it wasn't easy. Suggestion: borrow someone's donut spare, throw it in the back, and point that out to the bozos at NTB. See if they agree to what you want done.

 

Just one....go somewhere else that knows what they are doing!

 

Im going to try a different shop and see what they say. Definitely not paying the dealership to do this for me. Damn runflats... they should be an option, not come standard on cars... I mean wtf is the jack for if you have run flats and no spare from the factory??!?!?! Keep the damn jack and give me some floor mats! lol

 

Lol... exactly what im going to do. I dont know why I keep going to NTB.

 

I doubt it has anything to do with the lawyers. I bet it was a manager trying to increase store sales and an employee who didn't have a clue or they were confused and thought all Run Flats us the PAX system instead of the stiff sidewall system.

 

The problem with Run Flats is that surveys suggest the majority of consumers want them. The first time I had runflats was on my '01 Corvette. I had never been in or driven a Corvette before. So I just thought that a stiff suspension is how the car is (true for the most part). Then I purchased a VW TDI as my daily driver and thought the suspension seemed awfully soft for a compact VW. It wasn't until I decided to put runflats on my VW that I realized there was a big difference.

With my experience in mind, I bet a ton of consumers have no clue how rough the runflats really are.

Michael

 

Yeah the manager came out to look at the car but as soon as he stepped out and looked at the car from inside the shop imediately said, "yeah, I can tell from here that the 225's wont fit" I kind of laughed in disbelief. They went back into the back room and he came back and told me what I posted above. Its just annoying.

 

If the stock rims are 17x7 they would have no problem fitting a 225 tire, I've seen people squeeze 245's on a 7" rim.

 

From what I have researched they are 17x7. If NTB doesnt want my money then i'll go somewhere else.

 

Willie keep me/us posted, I plan on doing this in another month or two, either going with the Conti DWS (had them on a previous car and just a great tire) or Nokian WR G2 (also a great tire I had before the Contis).