So I see everyone says that there is no problem switching wheel sizes and that the wider tyres will fit the standard "S" lite wheels. Clearance is also not an issue. But I am wondering if you need to make any changes to the computer for these tyres. Aren't they just a little taller than the 205? So wouldn't that cause a problem in the odometer? Or does the car know to compensate ?

 

It should be all good. I'm actually going to do this myself. There are enough people here who have done it, so it can't make much, if any difference in computation. Plus, it's really only about a 5mm difference in height, so not much going on there either

 

I run that size but made no changes.

 

It looks like there is a 1.46% difference between the two: the 205s rev 831.202 times a mile -vs- the 215s at 819.238 times a mile. The sidewalls are 92.25mm on the 205s -vs- 96.75mm on the 215s


You can use this calculator to find the differences:

http://www.maritime.dsm.org/tech/tiresize.html

 

Im thinking about doing 215/40/17's on my future 17's.

The 215/45/17's are a little too meaty for me although they are much
more comfortable than 215/40 or 205/45's.

 

While 215/40-17 will fit, sometimes the tires are more expensive than in 215/45-17 size as is the case with Bridgestone Potenza S-03s and with 215/40 you are at the low end of load ratings usable with the MINI.

This means don't load up your MINI with four adults and all their luggage for a two week trip to Africa while riding on 215/40-17 tires. If you ride alone then you'll be fine. On the other hand with 215/40-17 with a lowered MINI you'd get less rubbing risk than with 215/45-17 (I've seen a little rubbing with both tire sizes and H-sport springs when on the track or autocrossing).

 

hune what would happen if i do get 3-4 people consistently in my car and i decide to run a 215/40 kumho mx next year... crazy rubbing or what? cuze im planning also to put on some coils and lower the car...

 

Thanx for all of the posts and info. I think it will be the 215/45s for me .


Thanx
Cameron

 

I just switched also. Got the SSR Competition with 215/45 on them.

 

Crazy rubbing? Not much, only if cornering hard or if going over speed bumps especially with rear seat passengers.

Bigger problem is low load rating of 215/40 tires and having no reserve for safety. Talk to alex@tirerack to find out more about this. I just replaced my own street tires for 17x7 rims and went with 215/45-17 for this reason.

 

I am happy to see this post. I just bought some new rims this morning and I am now debating between 205/45/17 or 215/40/17 or 215/45/17. I would like an agressive look coupled with asmooth ride, but I don't want them to rub or wear out every few thousand miles. My wheels have a 42mm offset.

 

I have 17" Flik Wasp wheels that I believe also have a 42 offset. I currently run 215/45 Yoko AVS ES 100's. When the tires were brand new I would get some occassional rubbing on the outer edge of the inside rear wheel well liner. These Yoko's are a very "square edged tire". Now that I have tracked the car a few times and "rounded" the corners I have no issues.

NOW, I would like to get shorter spriings and am leaning toward M7.

1. Any notion if this will renew my rubbing issue? I am wondering if the Yoko's were a bad choice in this regard. (LOVE the tires otherwise)

2. When you speak of rubbing, is the outer edge of the wheel well housing where I can expect rubbing with ANY 215/45 when I add the lowering springs?

3. Offhand, are there any recommended "value" summer tires (under $85-$100) that are rounder in profile and avoid this issue?

4. I chose 215 size tires for more bite on the track. (an assumption) Will much be lost if I revert back to the 205 size? I want to avoid a "hard" ride so I think going to a 215/40 series, versus 45, is not an option.

Appreciate input from anyone!

 

I forgot to mention that I do plan on adding some lowering springs at some point in the future. Nothing crazy, just enough to give the car an agressive stance. Since I drive several miles a day, I am trying to find a good compromise between good looks and comfort.

Brad, I know what you mean about the Yokos - they are great tires. I have run nothing but 008s on my classic Minis forever.

 

Ok, yah, I remember reading posts about that load ratings. I usually only
drive by myself, or load up the wifey who's only 110lbs and baby
so that shouldn't be a problem... and don't go too fast when
they're onboard. :smile:

 

Actually Rick, you have that backwards. The 215 is a LARGER diameter, so it would rotate LESS often than the 205. Other than that, everything looks correct.

 

Bob,

IfI am not mistaken (and I could very well be) the 215 is not larger in diameter just wider than the 205. It is 40 that would be smaller in diameter than the 45.

Please correct me if I am wrong as that is how I always understood tire sizing.

The first number is width, second is height from rin and third is the rim size.

Chris

 

The second number is the height from the rim as expressed as a percentage of the width (first number) so a 205/45 would be 45% of 205mm and a 215/40 would be 40% of 215mm.

 

Oops, you ARE correct. I was comparing a 45 to a 45. I did not notice that it was a 45 to a 40. There is actually less of a difference between the two 45's...less than 1.5%. There may be more rubbing with that though.

 

So all these years I have been a blithering idiot! Not the first time I have been told.

OK I feel like an idiot but I am glad I learned something new

So then as a percentage of the total width to keep roughly the same height as a 205/45 R17 you could get a 225/40 R17? or am I crazy?

Wow the things I have learned about cars are amazing here. I feel 10 times more intelligent. My car IQ has been raised from a 5 to a 50. Now if I could only break the national average!

By the way Rick I dig the new stripes on the Boot!!! I am thinking of doing the same on mine!

 

Bob,

I only was right by accident! I did not know about the whole percentage measurement! I always assumed the second number realted directly to the height and not a percentage so that a wider tire with the same percentage number is actually taller from Rim to tread than what I thought as alwasy being the same height.

 

Thanks, I used to have the single stripe in the middle but I took it off and installed the double ones this morning. I got them from ministripes.com because I didn't find these exact (plain) ones from any of our sponsors, which I would go to first. They were only $40 shipped.

Oh, and I learned all the tire sizing stuff from scooter racing of all things. Since it isn't practical to strip a gearbox at the track to change the gearing, we used to switch out the tires to fine tune the final drive ratios.

 

The most useful wheel & tyre info I've ever come across....

http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbi...yre_bible.html


Enjoy

 

A taller OD tire size will lower your gear ratio. Good for highway driving, but not good for accelerating.

Obviously, the opposite holds true for a smaller OD diameter tire.

 

What about 205/40/17? is there such a tire size out there??

 

Yes. Very popular amoungst the Civic crowd.

I had a set of those 205/40/17's on my Pro5 once...it was like rubber bands.
I didn't like them althought it looked great on the car because it was lowered
and just fitted nicely into the wheelwell of that car. I wouldn't use them
on my MINI though.. load rating is too low and you'll need to lower your
car quite a bit to make them look good.