I'll be upgrading to 17x7" wheels and I'm trying to figure out which tire size to get.
205 or 215?
And if 215, 40 or 45 sidewalls?

Help!

 

Go check this out:
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.dos

See if the different size will throw your speedo off.

 

What I'm really concerned with is if 215/40 or /45 will give clearance problems.

BTW... good site!

 

Well, i htink the 215-45 will work, but each tire will have a little difference in the size. Some brands will only be 7.5" wide, while others may be 7.75" wide (just throwing a number out here, not a fact) and will cause rubbing. On www.tirerack.com, they give exact sizes for the tread width. That will help with determining if you have to go with the 215 or 205 (or even the 40 vs/ 45 sidewall).

 

I've run both sizes . The 215 had no clearance issues and ran a bit softer do the the increased volume. The 40 series lowerd the actuall car a bit more and caused me to rub spped bumps etc more frequently. The 215 series also fill lthedenfer well a bit more if that is of any interest to you. I will run the 215's from now on.

 

I have been using 215/45-17's for almost 3 years now with no problems and I mean NO problems.

I plan to switch to 225/45-17's but will have to shave my inside wheel wells a bit first.

 

[QUOTE=coopercrazy]I'll be upgrading to 17x7" wheels and I'm trying to figure out which tire size to get.
205 or 215?
And if 215, 40 or 45 sidewalls?
QUOTE]

Assuming you have stock suspension and 17x7" rims with offset from +37mm to +48mm then:

-the stock sized tire 205/45-17 works best but doesn't have as good a selection of tires to choose from- still it's good.

- the smaller diameter 215/40-17 tire will fit ok but is better suited for performance applications rather than street driving due to lower profile and stiffer ride quality. It has a lower load rating as well, less than stock.

- the common solution is 215/45-17 which runs a little larger than stock size but is close enough, has good performance and ride quality and good load rating. If you do lower your MINI there is a slight chance for some rubbing of the tire on the wheel wells in the rear but nothing major.
Selection of tires is very good.

For more info try talking to Alex@tirerack.com

 

Do you have lowering springs? If so, which ones?

Thanks in advance,

Steve

 

Guys, thanks for all the info.

I'd like to get Toyo TR1 215/45 on flik rims.
I'm not sure of the width of these and will have to check.
Or I could get the rims and tires separately. I found a place to get 205/45 TR1s.

My car has stock Xlites 195s.
Do I have to change the offset as minihune has noted?
"Assuming you have stock suspension and 17x7" rims with offset from +37mm to +48mm then:"

 

Conehead, I see you have a Quaife LSD, who did the install and how much did it cost, I would like to do it myself but I haven't found a service manual yet to see if I should tackle it myself, I have a 2005 model do you know if it would be a direct fit, I found most exhaust don't fit 2004-05 models.