My car: 05 R52 MCS JCW convert.

My current tires are the original run-flat tires and the fronts are basically gone, and the rears are maybe 3/32, if that.

Current tires are 205/45/17 on stock OEM rims... they look like this.


My suspension is still the stock sport suspension.

I want to switch to non-run flat tires at 215/45/17. I did a search on this forum, and it seems that a lot of people were able to do it without problems.

However, I ran into this post while searching, and this guy said that the tire rubs. I don't know if that will happen to me. Will that be an issue with me or should I stick to 205/45's?

Also, which brand tires should I use? I'm using a local tire/suspension shop to swap the tires and then do an alignment...I haven't had an alignment done in over two years.

I live in SoCal, so snow isn't a concern. I don't care for track racing. But ride comfort and noise level are very important to me -- my current tires are so noisy that I can barely think and the less said about ride quality, the better.

Basically, my main point in new tires are:

1. Ride comfort
2. Noise
3. Mileage
4. Traction

In that order.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

215's will fit great with just about anything with a offset 40+. 37-40 fits some cars, and others need simple trimming to fit.]Pirelli Cinturato P7 All-season would be the best ride quality/low noise offered in your size. You rotate to all 4 corners of the car to keep it very quiet. Take a closer look to our customer surveys on this tire

 

I like using tirerack to research whenever I am looking for tires, too!

Great reviews and comparisons for all kinds of tires.

 

The best tires I've found for ride and noise so far as Conti DW. I use them in 205/45-17 on our JCW for street use (we have other tires for the track). They're pretty grippy, and the best there are in the wet. Though I'm not expecting to get much more than 22k miles out of them.

We do run 215/45-17 for our track tires without problems.

 

215/45-17 will fit, no rubbing with stock suspension and OEM wheels.

The Pirelli P7 is a great choice. Treadwear 700

Also consider if you want good ride with a little better handling and lower price.

Hankook Ventus S1 noble 2 (ultra High Performance All Season tire)
215/45-17 $105 each, 500 treadwear

Tirerack test results-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=173

 

Thanks for the advice, guys. When I got the confirmation that the tires won't rub, I went the tire shop yesterday. They didn't have Pirelli tires in my size (or hankook), they did have contini sport touring (sp?) Tires in stock. I'm good friends with the guy, and he got me a great price... $83 install price per tire, plus a $60 alignment.

The car feels like a new car now. I didn't realize just how loud the old tires was... I can actually hold a normal conversation without going "what?" every few minutes. The car doesn't feel dramatically more comfortable, but the ride quality is different enough that I'm not having every single crack in the asphalt etched into my spine. The tires have definitely smoothed out the roads.

Next step: replacing the shocks! They're worn too. But that's a couple months from now...one major car purchase is enough for now.

Thanks again!

 

got any pictures of the new fit?

 

That's good to hear.

In 215/45-17 ContiProContact (Grand Touring All Season tire)
is listed at $122 each. Treadwear 500.

Tirerack test result was good-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=138

Tirerack owner survey not as strong but relative numbers will decline as the tire has been available for a long time-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...wws=N&showcm=N