I have a 2005 MCS that isn't lowered at the moment - I purchased 17x7 wheels with a +40mm offset - The tires I purchased are 215/40/17 -

From what I've read this sounds like it should fit with no problems stock, but will I encounter rubbing if I choose to do a mild lowering on the car?


Thanks,

Nik

 

I'm no expert on the situation but i just had to look into this myself as i am in the process of ordering wheels and tires...

my short answer is no. you should be ok. I think if you were going to try and run a 215/45/17 you may encounter VERY slight rubbing issues.

 

Thanks for the input prime...I guess worse comes to worse, I can always swap out the wheels or get to trimming!

 

I run 215/45/17 as do many others and experience no rubbing.

 

As do I.

Wish stock suspension, all you have to worry about is wheel gap

 

This is correct with stock suspension. 215/45-17 is taller than stock tires.

Best tire for fit and street use would be 205/45-17 same as stock.

215/40-17 is smaller than stock for outer tire diameter and lower than stock for load rating. The 40 series sidewall is very stiff and jarring on all but the smoothest of roads. If you hit a pothole at speed you can damage your rim, tire, suspension,or shock tower (mushrooming) etc. Be careful.
Your wheel and tire should fit fine.

Once you lower your car you loose clearance in the wheel well and the inner edge of the plastic wheel arch will approach the outer edge of the rear tires. If negative camber is not very much, if the tires are new and not too worn, if the tire shoulder is square and not rounded... then you risk a little plastic rubbing rubber. This rub area can be trimmed with a dremmel tool or allowed simply to rub for a few months and correct itself. It's annoying but not generally dangerous unless you carry heavy loads but with the 215/40-17 tires you're not supposed to carry heavy stuff due to lower load ratings.

If you do lower your suspension and still have the 215/40-17 tires it should still be fine due to the lower than stock outer tire diameter. Your +40mm offset is right at the limit. More offset like +45 would mean the wheels sit further into the wheel wells while less offset means the wheel sits further out and therefore there is more risk of a larger tire to rub. I have 17x7" rims with +42mm offset and 215/45-17 that rub in the rears when I had H-sport springs.

Be careful out there.

 

Minihune - Thank you SO MUCH for the long write up! From your sig on here - It sounds like you might know what you're talking about I don't forsee every carrying too much in my MINI outside of me driving and my girlfriend being a terrified passenger. How big of a difference is there in the load rating between 40 and 45 series tires? I didnt realize there would be such a big change.


I know everyone says the 17in run flats are extremely harsh.....should I expect the 40 series tires to ride even rougher?

 

17" runflats are harsh because the side walls need to be rigid to be runflats plus they are lower profile like 45 series.

Stock tires are 205/45-17 and have a load rating of about 84 or 1102 pounds so that is what you are looking for. Tires do vary a little so you can find 215/40-17 tires with similar load ratings and those are fine. Some 205/40-17 tires will be less than 1100 pounds as are some 215/40-17 like the Yokohama Parada Spec 2 (1074 pounds).

Which tires did you get in 215/40-17? They are probably OK.

45 series tires are often load rated about 1201 pounds as in the 215/45-17.

40 series non runflat tires are OK (similar to 45 series runflats) but have the stiff sidewall. Just be careful when driving on non smooth roads or in unfamilar areas. In the dark it is hard to see trouble/potholes.

Just looking at the most recent load numbers at Tirerack it seems that the ratings are better now than in the past for 40 series tires. I used to see load ratings of under 1000 pounds. Maybe the tires are improving. If so then that is good.

 

Ok, this is great info too...I don't find the runflats to be unbearable in anyway so the 40 series probably won't bother me either.

The tires I purchased areFalken Tires Ziex ZE 512 P215/40R17 W-Speed Rated 87W

Seems like the load rating should be ok!