So I'm about to order some new tires. I'm trying to read everything and process it but some of the info is going straight over my head. So I wanted to know if any body can help me out.

I have a R53(I'm pretty sure its an 05 JCW). It has the stock rims on it now, with 205/45/17. I wanted a little wider and a better ride quality. So I was thinking 225/45/17, is that too wide for my stock suspension. Or should I go with the 215/45/17? I want to start getting into Auto X but the roads in this part of NC has a lot of potholes so I wanted to stick with at least the 45, but I'm not even sure if I'm concerned about the right thing haha.

Thanks for all the help,
Danielle

 

I have 215's on mine, and at full crank they rub a tiny bit on the plastic wheel well liner, so I think 225's would be too wide.

Most people switch from 205/45 to 215/45 with no issues.

 

I looked into this a lot, and read most every post I could find on NAM and the leading UK based board. The posts are inconsistent about the max width, but often didn't say whether it was an R53 (first gen) or R56 (second gen), or their various convertible or Clubman kin. My sense reading them was on R53's there was the likelihood of some rubbing with 225's, while on R56's they likely worked--you could often sense which it was by date of post, something in the autosig, etc.

Putting all this into practice I went ahead and mounted 225/45's on my OEM 17's--but, on an R56. No rubbing front or rear. I also found as I looked at tire choices, in the same nominal size, some tires were 3/10 of an inch larger in the max sidewall width (the widest part that "bulges" out). That can be relevant for several possible rub points. So, I stayed away from the ones w/ the wider sidewall measurements in the 225 group. Since you have an R53 and the first response said maybe a little rubbing at 215, you may similarly want to look at the sidewall width spec (often but not always shown on TireRack's site for a given tire) in looking at your options, plus stick w the 215's. Lots of good choices in either size.

And yes, I like my choice--applicable for either choice, just to what degree. Getting rid of the run flat's was the biggest ride improvement, plus the slightly greater sidewall presumably helped marginally. Fills out wheel well a bit more and cleans up speedo error some. Handling and braking both incrementally better feel too. I was careful on tire weight not to pick one that was any heavier than what I traded out either.