tire sizing question
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
For your MINI
205/40-18 fits wheels 7 to 8" wide, perfect for 7.5" wide rim, tire diameter 24.4"
215/45-18 fits wheels 7 to 8" wide, perfect for 7" wide rim, tire diameter 25.7" so this tire size is not good for your 18x8" wheels or you MINI as the tire diameter is too tall and would risk rubbing the wheel arches under load or over uneven roads.
It is important to keep tire diameter as close to OEM 24.4" as possible with OEM suspension. If you lower suspension you will have less clearance and cannot go much taller.
What kind of driving do you do and in what weather? Street use only, how many miles per year, any temperatures under 40, how much rain?
Performance driving at a track or autocross is different from highway driving or urban use. If you drive more than 10-12K miles per year you may want a tire that doesn't wear out fast (and be more grippy), but if you drive less then you can do OK with soft rubber tires. Summer tires only work in warm temperatures, if you drive in cold or light snow you will need All Season tires. If you want good wet grip you need to focus on tires that do better in wet.
Max Performance Summer tire treadwear 300
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
215/35-18 fits wheels 7 to 8.5" wide, perfect for 7.5" wide rim, tire diameter 23.9". This will fit and is slightly wider than you current tires but has a shorter sidewall which can stiffen the ride. Tire diameter is slightly small by 0.5" but that is OK. If you have runflats then moving to non runflats will be an improvement on noise and firm ride quality. The Pilot Sport 4S is a good overall balanced street tire will good manners and good dry or wet performance. It's not a race tire but it will keep up with a JCW MINI. For this tire there is no 204/40-18 and other tire sizes for 18" wheels are too tall.
205/40-18 fits wheels 7 to 8" wide, perfect for 7.5" wide rim, tire diameter 24.4"
215/45-18 fits wheels 7 to 8" wide, perfect for 7" wide rim, tire diameter 25.7" so this tire size is not good for your 18x8" wheels or you MINI as the tire diameter is too tall and would risk rubbing the wheel arches under load or over uneven roads.
It is important to keep tire diameter as close to OEM 24.4" as possible with OEM suspension. If you lower suspension you will have less clearance and cannot go much taller.
What kind of driving do you do and in what weather? Street use only, how many miles per year, any temperatures under 40, how much rain?
Performance driving at a track or autocross is different from highway driving or urban use. If you drive more than 10-12K miles per year you may want a tire that doesn't wear out fast (and be more grippy), but if you drive less then you can do OK with soft rubber tires. Summer tires only work in warm temperatures, if you drive in cold or light snow you will need All Season tires. If you want good wet grip you need to focus on tires that do better in wet.
Max Performance Summer tire treadwear 300
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
215/35-18 fits wheels 7 to 8.5" wide, perfect for 7.5" wide rim, tire diameter 23.9". This will fit and is slightly wider than you current tires but has a shorter sidewall which can stiffen the ride. Tire diameter is slightly small by 0.5" but that is OK. If you have runflats then moving to non runflats will be an improvement on noise and firm ride quality. The Pilot Sport 4S is a good overall balanced street tire will good manners and good dry or wet performance. It's not a race tire but it will keep up with a JCW MINI. For this tire there is no 204/40-18 and other tire sizes for 18" wheels are too tall.
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
For your MINI
205/40-18 fits wheels 7 to 8" wide, perfect for 7.5" wide rim, tire diameter 24.4"
215/45-18 fits wheels 7 to 8" wide, perfect for 7" wide rim, tire diameter 25.7" so this tire size is not good for your 18x8" wheels or you MINI as the tire diameter is too tall and would risk rubbing the wheel arches under load or over uneven roads.
It is important to keep tire diameter as close to OEM 24.4" as possible with OEM suspension. If you lower suspension you will have less clearance and cannot go much taller.
What kind of driving do you do and in what weather? Street use only, how many miles per year, any temperatures under 40, how much rain?
Performance driving at a track or autocross is different from highway driving or urban use. If you drive more than 10-12K miles per year you may want a tire that doesn't wear out fast (and be more grippy), but if you drive less then you can do OK with soft rubber tires. Summer tires only work in warm temperatures, if you drive in cold or light snow you will need All Season tires. If you want good wet grip you need to focus on tires that do better in wet.
Max Performance Summer tire treadwear 300
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
215/35-18 fits wheels 7 to 8.5" wide, perfect for 7.5" wide rim, tire diameter 23.9". This will fit and is slightly wider than you current tires but has a shorter sidewall which can stiffen the ride. Tire diameter is slightly small by 0.5" but that is OK. If you have runflats then moving to non runflats will be an improvement on noise and firm ride quality. The Pilot Sport 4S is a good overall balanced street tire will good manners and good dry or wet performance. It's not a race tire but it will keep up with a JCW MINI. For this tire there is no 204/40-18 and other tire sizes for 18" wheels are too tall.
205/40-18 fits wheels 7 to 8" wide, perfect for 7.5" wide rim, tire diameter 24.4"
215/45-18 fits wheels 7 to 8" wide, perfect for 7" wide rim, tire diameter 25.7" so this tire size is not good for your 18x8" wheels or you MINI as the tire diameter is too tall and would risk rubbing the wheel arches under load or over uneven roads.
It is important to keep tire diameter as close to OEM 24.4" as possible with OEM suspension. If you lower suspension you will have less clearance and cannot go much taller.
What kind of driving do you do and in what weather? Street use only, how many miles per year, any temperatures under 40, how much rain?
Performance driving at a track or autocross is different from highway driving or urban use. If you drive more than 10-12K miles per year you may want a tire that doesn't wear out fast (and be more grippy), but if you drive less then you can do OK with soft rubber tires. Summer tires only work in warm temperatures, if you drive in cold or light snow you will need All Season tires. If you want good wet grip you need to focus on tires that do better in wet.
Max Performance Summer tire treadwear 300
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
215/35-18 fits wheels 7 to 8.5" wide, perfect for 7.5" wide rim, tire diameter 23.9". This will fit and is slightly wider than you current tires but has a shorter sidewall which can stiffen the ride. Tire diameter is slightly small by 0.5" but that is OK. If you have runflats then moving to non runflats will be an improvement on noise and firm ride quality. The Pilot Sport 4S is a good overall balanced street tire will good manners and good dry or wet performance. It's not a race tire but it will keep up with a JCW MINI. For this tire there is no 204/40-18 and other tire sizes for 18" wheels are too tall.
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
Yes, the very tall 215/45-18 will likely rub.
You didn't mention 225/40-17 or 17x8" et45 so I assume this is now what you are considering.
Compared to OEM 17x7" et48 MINI wheels the new wheels will be 9.7mm closer to the inner suspension and poke out 15.7mm more. With a tire size that is taller than OEM there is risk for rubbing but if tire diam. is small then it will have more clearance but also a larger wheel gap.
225/40-17 is a race tire size, it fits rims 8-9.5" wide, perfect for 8" wide rim, tire diam. 23.8" so it will fit (might be close)
Hoosier A7 Treadwear 40
Hoosier R7 Treadwear 40
Continental ExtremeContact Force Treadwear 200
Note that Hoosier A7 tire is very soft and meant for time attack or short autocross. It will last in prime conditions about 6 events or less then as it ages and heat cycles the rubber compound will harder and the performance will drop off. Two drivers will accelerate the aging. Heat cycling the tire before first use helps to harden the rubber compound to make it more durable, tire rack offers a heat cycle using rollers which don't wear out the rubber. Some try to heat cycle by driving the new tires on the street but I have found the heating up of the tires is uneven with rear tires hardly getting hot and outer tire treads getting hot faster.
Hoosier A7 is a road course or track tire that is more durable, it takes longer to get hot enough for best grip but it is not very durable if driven on the street or to events on public roads. None of the race tires are good in wet so be very careful.
Owners may use street tires to get to events but carry the race wheels and install them once they arrive.
Continental ExtremeContact Force is an Extreme Summer tire that can be used at track events or on the street. But it is not as soft or grippy as any Hoosier and will wear out fast if driven on the street. For street use it can be firm riding, noisy and not as good in wet, it is not for any cold weather.
For track use and durability you can also consider Toyo Proxes R888R treadwear 100
235/40-17 fits rims 8-9.5" wide, perfect for 8.5" wide rim, tire diam 24.4", $254 each and can be driven on the street for limited miles. It's noisy and firm riding, not for wet.
You didn't mention 225/40-17 or 17x8" et45 so I assume this is now what you are considering.
Compared to OEM 17x7" et48 MINI wheels the new wheels will be 9.7mm closer to the inner suspension and poke out 15.7mm more. With a tire size that is taller than OEM there is risk for rubbing but if tire diam. is small then it will have more clearance but also a larger wheel gap.
225/40-17 is a race tire size, it fits rims 8-9.5" wide, perfect for 8" wide rim, tire diam. 23.8" so it will fit (might be close)
Hoosier A7 Treadwear 40
Hoosier R7 Treadwear 40
Continental ExtremeContact Force Treadwear 200
Note that Hoosier A7 tire is very soft and meant for time attack or short autocross. It will last in prime conditions about 6 events or less then as it ages and heat cycles the rubber compound will harder and the performance will drop off. Two drivers will accelerate the aging. Heat cycling the tire before first use helps to harden the rubber compound to make it more durable, tire rack offers a heat cycle using rollers which don't wear out the rubber. Some try to heat cycle by driving the new tires on the street but I have found the heating up of the tires is uneven with rear tires hardly getting hot and outer tire treads getting hot faster.
Hoosier A7 is a road course or track tire that is more durable, it takes longer to get hot enough for best grip but it is not very durable if driven on the street or to events on public roads. None of the race tires are good in wet so be very careful.
Owners may use street tires to get to events but carry the race wheels and install them once they arrive.
Continental ExtremeContact Force is an Extreme Summer tire that can be used at track events or on the street. But it is not as soft or grippy as any Hoosier and will wear out fast if driven on the street. For street use it can be firm riding, noisy and not as good in wet, it is not for any cold weather.
For track use and durability you can also consider Toyo Proxes R888R treadwear 100
235/40-17 fits rims 8-9.5" wide, perfect for 8.5" wide rim, tire diam 24.4", $254 each and can be driven on the street for limited miles. It's noisy and firm riding, not for wet.
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Yes, the very tall 215/45-18 will likely rub.
You didn't mention 225/40-17 or 17x8" et45 so I assume this is now what you are considering.
Compared to OEM 17x7" et48 MINI wheels the new wheels will be 9.7mm closer to the inner suspension and poke out 15.7mm more. With a tire size that is taller than OEM there is risk for rubbing but if tire diam. is small then it will have more clearance but also a larger wheel gap.
225/40-17 is a race tire size, it fits rims 8-9.5" wide, perfect for 8" wide rim, tire diam. 23.8" so it will fit (might be close)
Hoosier A7 Treadwear 40
Hoosier R7 Treadwear 40
Continental ExtremeContact Force Treadwear 200
Note that Hoosier A7 tire is very soft and meant for time attack or short autocross. It will last in prime conditions about 6 events or less then as it ages and heat cycles the rubber compound will harder and the performance will drop off. Two drivers will accelerate the aging. Heat cycling the tire before first use helps to harden the rubber compound to make it more durable, tire rack offers a heat cycle using rollers which don't wear out the rubber. Some try to heat cycle by driving the new tires on the street but I have found the heating up of the tires is uneven with rear tires hardly getting hot and outer tire treads getting hot faster.
Hoosier A7 is a road course or track tire that is more durable, it takes longer to get hot enough for best grip but it is not very durable if driven on the street or to events on public roads. None of the race tires are good in wet so be very careful.
Owners may use street tires to get to events but carry the race wheels and install them once they arrive.
Continental ExtremeContact Force is an Extreme Summer tire that can be used at track events or on the street. But it is not as soft or grippy as any Hoosier and will wear out fast if driven on the street. For street use it can be firm riding, noisy and not as good in wet, it is not for any cold weather.
For track use and durability you can also consider Toyo Proxes R888R treadwear 100
235/40-17 fits rims 8-9.5" wide, perfect for 8.5" wide rim, tire diam 24.4", $254 each and can be driven on the street for limited miles. It's noisy and firm riding, not for wet.
You didn't mention 225/40-17 or 17x8" et45 so I assume this is now what you are considering.
Compared to OEM 17x7" et48 MINI wheels the new wheels will be 9.7mm closer to the inner suspension and poke out 15.7mm more. With a tire size that is taller than OEM there is risk for rubbing but if tire diam. is small then it will have more clearance but also a larger wheel gap.
225/40-17 is a race tire size, it fits rims 8-9.5" wide, perfect for 8" wide rim, tire diam. 23.8" so it will fit (might be close)
Hoosier A7 Treadwear 40
Hoosier R7 Treadwear 40
Continental ExtremeContact Force Treadwear 200
Note that Hoosier A7 tire is very soft and meant for time attack or short autocross. It will last in prime conditions about 6 events or less then as it ages and heat cycles the rubber compound will harder and the performance will drop off. Two drivers will accelerate the aging. Heat cycling the tire before first use helps to harden the rubber compound to make it more durable, tire rack offers a heat cycle using rollers which don't wear out the rubber. Some try to heat cycle by driving the new tires on the street but I have found the heating up of the tires is uneven with rear tires hardly getting hot and outer tire treads getting hot faster.
Hoosier A7 is a road course or track tire that is more durable, it takes longer to get hot enough for best grip but it is not very durable if driven on the street or to events on public roads. None of the race tires are good in wet so be very careful.
Owners may use street tires to get to events but carry the race wheels and install them once they arrive.
Continental ExtremeContact Force is an Extreme Summer tire that can be used at track events or on the street. But it is not as soft or grippy as any Hoosier and will wear out fast if driven on the street. For street use it can be firm riding, noisy and not as good in wet, it is not for any cold weather.
For track use and durability you can also consider Toyo Proxes R888R treadwear 100
235/40-17 fits rims 8-9.5" wide, perfect for 8.5" wide rim, tire diam 24.4", $254 each and can be driven on the street for limited miles. It's noisy and firm riding, not for wet.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
edgar_fletcher
R56 :: Hatch Talk (2007+)
10
Jan 18, 2012 06:47 PM