Title says it all, I've been having trouble finding what makes the most sense for my new 2011 jcw.

If i've read correctly from my searches, I could run 225's on the stock rims, but how much room do we have down there for wider rims and tires? The goal down the road is to race in autox in the STX class which has a max of 9in wide rims and 265 tires, but what will realistically will fit under there?

thanks in advance,

 

I wouldn't run 225's on your JCW simply because 225/40-17s are nearly impossible to find and 225/45-17s would be too tall and would probably rub.

Keeping the stock 17x7 wheel your best bet would be to run a 215/45-17. If you moved up to a 17x7.5 or 17x8 wheel you could then run 235/40-17s no problem if you wanted to go that wide. I'm running 235s myself with no problems.

I've not heard of anyone running anything wider than a 235, but I could be wrong. If so, it's very uncommon.

 

I am running 225/45 17's on JCW Challenge rims. Presumably you could do 40's if you want closer to stock diameter (I didn't and limited tire choices there). Pretty tight near front shock tower area and at inner fender liners.

Beyond 225's the tire spec's typically call for wider than 7" wheels. Don't know outer limits, other than I expect you would need to reduce offsets to max it, though offsets and widths are interrelated.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but I have heard cases where people rubbed against their fenders or suspensions even with 215/45/17 on stock suspensions either when they have 4 passengers or under hard driving at the track from weight transfers during hard braking.

 

Thanks for the quick replies, I guess I'll stick to the 215's for now then size up on my rims for wide tires when I have money... any one have any luck with pulling the stock runflats and reselling them? Mine barely have any miles on them!

 

When I read all the posts I could find, I would find that sometimes as what seemed like the game of telephone of 5th hand information. Many posts in the tire forum don't make clear if it is a gen 1 or gen 2 MINI either. My sense/guess is if there is an issue, it is with gen 1's. Again, w/ a gen 2 and 225's on my car, no rubbing so far over a couple thousand miles now, tested at full lock, and people in car, and careful monitoring for any abrasion of fender liners. Net, it's a go, at least for the majority of 225's that don't have the broadest sidewalls. That's also in a 45 profile that pushes up the diameter and would make rubbing on the inside of the fender lining more likely in front at full lock. Close, but it does not touch at all.

 

what tires are you running?

 

225s don't fit on the Jcw stock wheels. Last time I trust the internet on tire fitment. 205 re011s here I come.

 

What tires are you using anyways? I know that for a given size, every manufacturers don't produce tires quite the same. In some cases, a 225/45/17 tire from one manufacturer may be smilier in size to a 215/45/17 tire from another manufacturer. They just make their measurements differently and hence the differences.

I have been hoping to use a 215/45/17 tire for a long time...but I just didn't want to take on any risk!

 

Well, Dunlop Direzza Z1 starspecs don't work. I think I'm going to upgrade to much wider rims with a different offset and see what I can get in there. But that will take time and money

 

You can fit Dunlop Direzza Z1 starspecs at 215/45-17 without any problems on stock JCW wheels. I had that exact same size on my stock JCW wheels without any problems whatsoever. The starspecs are one of the most popular MINI tires currently on the market and one of the best tires money can buy for its intended purpose. 215/45-17 is also one of the most common tire sizes that owners are putting on their MINIs after ditching the rock hard run-flats.

Again, I personally would avoid 225/45-17. My opinion, even though they may fit, is that they stray much too far from stock tire/wheel diameter which messes too much with your gearing and also creates a bit of a truck tire look since there will be so much sidewall showing.

Don't only focus on tire width and completely ignore sidewall height.

Here's a good link to use when deciding on tires: http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp

Here's a good link on the principles of tire plus-sizing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus_sizing

Good luck!

 

specifically the "Porsche" fitment variant, in 225/45-17. There are three variants, the Porsche being in the lower middle price wise, and it is the lightest of the three. When I went through the TireRack site, many had the about same sidewall diameter (when it was listed) as the Michelin. Didn't see much variance in the diameter for a given tire size. Some though were 3-4 tenths of an inch wider at the sidewall (bulge) as I recall, including some of the well regarded Conti's. I stayed away from those, while still emphasizing weight and ratings (for a summer tire) generally. Already run PS2's on a high end Audi. Most all seasons (at least the ones that weren't wider in the sidewall) were several pounds heavier too.

 

I cant figure out how to delete this

 

I rolled these out at the tire shop this week. Wadda you think?

 

Just a few questions...what suspensions are you using with the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Starspecs in 215/45/17? Did you just use them for street or did you use them for track and/or Auto X as well? I am hoping your answers can give me enough confidence in purchasing these tires!

Thanks in advanced!

 

Currently I'm running the Nitto NT05, 235/40-17, on Rota RB wheels with the TSW KW V2 coilovers. Before that I had the JCW suspension with a set of Goodyears that were 215/45-17 on my stock JCW rims with no problems.

I also had the Goodyears on my car briefly after installing the KWs before my Rotas arrived. There were no problems.

Stock tire size on the R56 is 205/45-17 which is ~24.3" in diameter. The 215/45-17 is ~24.6" in diameter, so the difference is hardly even noticeable.

Since the R56 will fit 225s and even 235s, the tire width on 215s isn't even close to being too wide.

I'd bet most R56 owners upgrade to 215/45-17. I may even go back to that size too when my 235s wear out.

Here's a good thread: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-your-jcw.html

You shouldn't have any problems whatsoever with the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Starspecs in 215/45-17. The Direzzas are great tires from what I've heard.

 

Roll them back in. Please. Do it for The Children...

 

^

 

I have a 2011 Mini S with 17'' the two piece wheel black and silver rims, was wondering what the widest tread tire I can put on?

 

Wheel width/offset?

For me: 2011 Factory JCW w/ JCW Suspension, stock 17x7 Challenge wheels
Ditched OEM Runflats w/ 1100 miles on the car – local tire dealer took them on a warranty claim of ‘poor ride’ for a full credit towards the purchase of Continental DW in 215/45x17. Two trips to the Tail of the Dragon as well as several family vacations on the Conti’s without any rubbing issues.
Those tires were done and now have Michelin Pilot Super Sports in 215/45x17. Did MOTD this year on them. Ran the car fairly aggressively and had no rubbing.
Now looking at 17x7.5 or 8” wheels in black for something fairly light and that I don’t find too fugly or expensive and 235 tires (Michelin Pilot Super Sports again) for the replacements when the current Michelins are done.