i'm looking for the best fit for my mini. please include wheel offset, tire size and how the setup is working for you (any rubbing on fender flares, etc). thanks!

 

well, are you looking for performance, or comfort, or longevity...

For perf. you want the smallest size wheel (less unsprung mass = better performance) that will clear the rotor and caliper.... that being said its nearly impossible to find perf. tires in 15" and 16's are getting hard too.

Do you need to deal with cold weather?
can you store a spare set of winter tires or do you need all seasons?
Runflats or repair kit?

That being said I really like Michelin PS2s (225/45 17) but you need spacers for the offset on our cars... or I've heard really good things about GoodYear F1 GSD3s (come in 215/55 R16 and 205 or 225/50 R16 (watch rubbing with the 225s) as well as 215/40R17... you might want to call our sponsor - Tire Rack to help with the decision making process...

 

jakay,
currently have 17x7 wheels with a 40 offset running 215-45-17 tires and i think the rub the fender flares. what offset are you running and do your tires completely tuck in behind the underside lip of the fender flare? i'm in so. cal. so weather is not that much of an issue.

 

17x7.5, et 45, with 5mm spacers on front, no spacers in back. Tire is a 215-45-17 MX. No rubbing, and yes, my car is lowered.

 

+40 17x7.5 215/45/17 lowered.

slight rubbage on the rear, not enough to dremel.
hit my gallery for picts.

 

"Best fit" is wildly subjective! I've had the following setups:

16x6.5 et48 with 205/45-16 R-comp
16x7 et37 with 205/40-16
17x7 et42 with 205/45-17
17x7.5 et42 with 215/40-17
18x7.5 et45 with 215/35-18
18x7.5 et45 with 225/40-18 R-comp
18x7.5 et42 with 235/30-18

All these combos were run on my R53's when they had lowered suspension from 1 to 2" from stock. The only one that rubbed major was the r-compound 225/40-18's, as they're very wide for their size and an inch taller than stock MINI sizes. I had to sledge the body welting and cut the fender liners like mad to get it to clear at all suspension positions. All my setups were for "OEM+" scrub radius, but no "poke", just flush or tucked.

HTH,
Ryan

 

15 x 6.5 40 offset

Koenig Hurry wheels at 13 lbs over Wilwood 11.75 big brakes on a lowered 05 Cooper S cabrio...plenty of clearance.

General UHP tires 205/50/15...rated at Tire Rack

Pictures can be seen on the Killboy photo site on Deal's Gap 09/21/07. Check the 5th and or 7th pages.

Mick

 

17x7 et 37 lowered 1.5 inches on hsports...

also running 5mm spacers up front.

 

Looking for the best fit for your 2007 MCS cabrio.

Looking at others doesn't make as much sense as looking at your case since the variables are too great with all the different suspensions, wheel widths/diameters and tire sizes.

You think you rub the fenders? Yes you do because you are at the edge of offsets that clear and you have taller than stock tires. What suspension do you have? Any plans to upgrade, how low?

How many people in the car most of the time? How much do you carry rear passengers?

Are you doing any performance driving? Do you commute? Do you care about ride comfort and noise more or good handling and cornering more?

What brakes do you have? Stock or upgraded?

What is your budget?

How do you like your current wheels and tires and why don't you want to stay with them?

When you say best fit I sounds like you are looking for a certain appearance- could you explain the look you are after? Of course this is highly subjective since it doesn't have as much to do with function.

 

Flik FTD's 17in.
205/45-17 Toyo Proxes 4's, no rubbing at factory ride height, factory brakes.

 

Wouldn't this do better in the Wheels and Tires section? Might get better answers and views there.

 

falken circuit specs in 19"
falken Tires size 215/35/19 still has a decent ride.

 

CenterLine RPM 17x7 with Michelin Pilot Exhalto PE2 205/45-17

and

Rota RB 16x7 with Pirelli P-Zero Nero 205/55-16

I have the Rota RBs on now. Just got them. Too early to tell much about whether they are the right size. 55 is 0.4" larger in O.D. while 50 would be 0.4" smaller than stock O.D.

 

do you know what the offset is and if the tire tucks under the fender lip. btw, i really like the stripe. where did you get it?

 

I believe the Rota RBs are 40mm. The bulge in the tire (part that sticks out the furthest) is flush with the outside of the black fender lip.

 

Rota Subzero 17x7.5 45mm offset, 5mm spacer in the front to clear my H&R RSS coilovers, they do clear my wilwoods without spacers, they do rub a tiny bit in the front, but i think it maybe the front airdam rubbing, tires is 215/45-17

track is BSA 303 16x7 40mm offset, 5 mm spacer in the front to make sure they clear my brakes, the 205/50-16 do rub though a tiny bit

 

225/40/18 no rubbing at factory height.

 

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