I looks like I have three choices when it comes to a 205/45R17 tire. Toyo Proxies T1R, Kumho ECSTA SPT, or Dunlop SP Sport MAXX. The Toyos and Kumhos are close to the same price. The tread pattern on the Kumho and Dunlop are very similiar. From what I have seen the Dunlops rank better than the other two with the Toyos coming in second.

If I go with a 215/45R17 I can go with the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3s, which rank close to the best. It's only 1.43% taller than the 205/45R17s. I would really like to put these on the car.

Has anyone made a tire size change such as this?

 

Been running 215/45X17's for the last 2 years w/o any problems. Mine are Yokohama ES100 and really fill the wheel well nicely. The Mini has been lowered and I have never had a problem with rubbing. Good luck w/your new tires.

Craig

 

I've been running 215x45x17 since April - no problems.

 

I have 215 40 on 17'. No problems.

 

i have a feeling there is a typo in there

 

Also been running on 215/45/17s. Going to be getting my new rims and tires tuesday! 17x7 OZ Ultraleggras with BFG KDW'2, cant wait!

 

205/45-17 is fine.

With stock suspension, 215/45-17 is also fine. Better tire selection possible with a little more weight and width. Still 45 series tire so excellent performance with somewhat of a rough ride. If you lower your MINI using lowering springs you can drop about 1" but more will risk some rubbing in the rear wheel arches- nothing major.

Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 is excellent. Not that good on tire wear but really good in the wet or dry.

215/40-17 is also a very common replacement tire but due to 40 series a bit rougher riding and has slightly lower load capacity so not as good for MINI that often carry four people and their gear. More performance oriented than the stock sized tire.

225/45-17 a bit too large, possible rubbing depending on suspension setup.

Non runflats are always going to offer improved handling and comforts over the stock runflats. If you invest in some decently good tires your gains can be quite significant.

Email or talk to Alex@tirerack.com for more info about your choices.

 

X2

 

I'm running some now. But if your roads are crappy, go with the 45. If your roads are smooth, AND you watch tire pressures, then the 40s will work, but they have less sidewall protection for the rims, and with crappy roads you can pinch them and ding your rims. Also, as was mentioned, the load rating is a bit iffy, so keep an eye on the pressures, and run them a pound or two higher than you would the 45s.

Matt

 

What about the Bridgestones RE050A 205/45/17 ?
They rank best..

 

A search at tirerack.com finds

Highest ranked in that category is:
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole position with UNI-T for $135 each
Comes in
205/50-17 140 treadwear AA traction 24 pounds 25.1" outer tire diam.
225/45-17 140 treadwear AA traction 25 pounds 25" outer tire diam.
Not 205/45-17

Test results-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...lay.jsp?ttid=1

Then in 7th place out of 23 and available in 205/45-17 is
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A NO UNI-T with worse ratings for wet traction/handling and much more road noise/ less comfort. Reviews not as good.
205/45-17 $147 140 treadwear A traction 22 lbs 24.2" tire diam.
215/40-17 $162 140 treadwear A traction 22 lbs 23.8" tire diam.
This is not the RE050A Pole position.

Test results-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=50

 

we had 215/45/17 Goodyear F1's and currently run 205/45/17 Avon M500's on the Cabrio. We've got 215/45/17 Nokian WR's on the Coupe.

 

The difference is an UTQG of 140 for the Bridgestones vs. an UTQG of 280 for the Goodyears. If the UTQG codes are correct, the Goodyears should last twice as long. I really like Bridgstone, I had S03 Pole Positions on my Miata and loved them, but 140 vs. 280 is a big difference. Both Tires have AA A ratings.

 

you can't compare those between manufacturers, IIRC. Only among the same makers products

 

Treadwear ratings are notoriously tricky to use for comparison between brands. It's bad enough within the same brand and especially hard to compare with tires that can wear easily such as Max performance tires since the rubber compound is relatively soft.

Your road conditions/surfaces and your driving style plays a bigger role on treadlife than the strict numbers you find on the tires.

I have used the same Bridgestone Potenza S-03s now going on three years. Mine were made in the middle of 2003 and I have about half the treadlife left and the tires are OK for street use. They have been on the track, at driving school, at autocross and used for on and off daily driving.

I'm usually good on them most of the time and I do rotate to other tires to extend their life. I went through a set of Yokohama AVS ES100s in about 12 months early on then changed to the S-03s. If you look at tire treadwear ratings I should have used up these tires long ago.

I have rotated the tires alot and flipped them once to wear the edges a bit more evenly. Flipped means dismount the tire and bring the worn outer edge to the inner side on the opposite side rim, right front tire goes on the left front rim and vice versa.

You can do general comparisons like 400 is likely to wear alot longer than a 200 rated tire. A 140 tire is pretty soft and likely to last about a year. A 280 tire might last 1.5 to 3 years but can be worn out quickly if not inflated enough or if driven hard.

 

I've got 225/45 17 Khumo Ecsta ASX all season... and they're my favorite of everything I've had on 4 MINIs.. (stock suspension on this one, of course)

 

Just switched to michelin pilot PE2's 215/45/17 on s-lites with stock suspension. No problems incredible difference from the stock run flats.

 

Hello
I also change the Run Flat for a non-Run Flat Tyre. I keep the stock 17" measure (205/45/17) and put Continental ContiSportContact 2. I´m very happy with the change, the best ever done so far

Best Regards

 

I have been running 215/45-17 Blizzaks for a couple of winters, no problem. I had the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3s in a 215/50-16 on 16" rims and liked them OK. They were kind of noisy.

 

215/45/17 rides a lot better than the stock runflats.

 

I just spoke with Miles at TireRack.com and he recommended the 215/45ZR17 XL Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position. He warned me about some initial rubbing. He said I could just let the tire rub the excess off or I could use a dremel to take off the excess. I don't want either. Has anyone experienced this rubbing? If so, under want conditions (rough roads, hard driving, etc.)? How significant is the rubbing? Thanks for your help.

 

If you have stock suspension in an MC or MCS then 215/45-17 is not generally going to be a problem with rubbing. Not much to worry about at all.

Once you lower your car about one inch or more then in the rear there can be reduced clearance and some slight rubbing will occur. If that scares you then stick to the stock 205/45-17 tire size.

Slight rubbing is OK and soon the tire edges and inner wheel arch are worn enough that it isn't as bad as it sounds (or once sounded). Trimming is also easy to do with a dremmel tool.

Don't try 225/45-17 as it is even larger outer tire diameter than 215/45-17.

 

This is wrong. Look up the diameter of your OEM tire. I have a 06 MCC with 195/55/16. Specs list the diameter as 24.6.

Now look up the 960AS. Gee can you believe it? Diameter is 24.6.

Unless you told Miles that you lowered your car, a lot, he needs to explain why this will rub because it won't.

 

but there's more to tires than just the rolling diameter. Cross sections vary a lot by brand and tire, with more "square" tires tending to rub a bit more. Check around that you'll find that rubbing for a given tire size is tire type dependant....

Matt

ps, I've run 215-45 17 Goodyear F1s with no issues at all. Lowered a bit as well.

 

I will agree but you are not going to run into a situation with a OEM suspension on any vehicle made by any manufacturer where you put the same diameter tire on and due to the squareness differences it will rub. OEM tolerences are not near that tight. Lowering your Mini opens up all sorts of other possibilities. Good point though and something many don't consider. Another point many miss is that two tires with the same size might and often do have different diameters. Got to check those specs.