Hi ppl~~ i got a new set of rim . but i'm not sure which tire should i get.
i kinda like the wider looking style, but i'm not sure will 215 be ok? do anyone know~?

 

i don't know personally what size is "too big" for the mini without rubbing... but i DO know that 215/45 vs. 205/40 is quite a difference. you're looking at a much meatier tire with the 215/45, being wider, and having more sidewall. the 205/40 will be a lower profile, most likely stronger tire, but won't provide as much of a contact patch as the 215 would. i know this probably doesn't help much, but hey... i'm not a mini driver! so what would i know! lol.

 

I've had 215/45/17s on my MINi for over 10k miles. No rubbing and they look fantastic. They actually improved my speedometer accuracy. Highly recommened.

You can see some shots on my Remus exhaust review page:
bridger.us/mini/exhaust/


_________________

 

I bought the 205/45/17 size tire for the street. The 205/40 is too small and will introduce error in your speedo and may affect your DSC,ABS,etc. The stock size of 195/55/16 or 205/45/17 give the same basic diameter. Going to the 205/40 would reduce that by too much...

195 / 25.4 x .55 x 2 + 16 = 24.44" STOCK 195/55/16
205 / 25.4 x .45 x 2 + 17 = 24.26" SPORT 205/45/17
205 / 25.4 x .40 x 2 + 17 = 23.45" NO GOOD
215 / 25.4 x .40 x 2 + 17 = 23.77" OK

Tirerack can point you in the right direction and their website has a good document which explains the above calculations...

I think the rule is no more than 3% difference from stock. The 205/40/17 is a tad over 4%.

The 215's will be more expensive and may not buy you much in performance. Besides, they will be stiffer and offer less protection to you new rims if you should hit a beefy pothole or such.

 

>>I bought the 205/45/17 size tire for the street. The 205/40 is too small and will introduce error in your speedo and may affect your DSC,ABS,etc. The stock size of 195/55/16 or 205/45/17 give the same basic diameter. Going to the 205/40 would reduce that by too much...
>>
>>195 / 25.4 x .55 x 2 + 16 = 24.44" STOCK 195/55/16
>>205 / 25.4 x .45 x 2 + 17 = 24.26" SPORT 205/45/17
>>205 / 25.4 x .40 x 2 + 17 = 23.45" NO GOOD
>>215 / 25.4 x .40 x 2 + 17 = 23.77" OK
>>
>>Tirerack can point you in the right direction and their website has a good document which explains the above calculations...
>>
>>I think the rule is no more than 3% difference from stock. The 205/40/17 is a tad over 4%.
>>
>>The 215's will be more expensive and may not buy you much in performance. Besides, they will be stiffer and offer less protection to you new rims if you should hit a beefy pothole or such.

TireRack are the ones that recommended the 215/45/17 size to me. The extra sidewall (in comparison to the stock set-up of the 17&quot has made the ride actually better than my previous set-up (205/16/45). I would definately talk to them.

 

thx thx~~ for all the advice..~~

i will post some pic when i got my new rims on~~

 

I have Toyo' Proxes T1S's 215/45-17.
No rubbing, no issues....
They fill up the wheel wells and have a great look.

Peace,
D

 

What about 215/40/17"s? I'm pretty ignorant about tires, but a tire guy recommended this for Mini's....Anyone using those or see a problem with that spec? Thanks

 

>>I have Toyo' Proxes T1S's 215/45-17.
>>No rubbing, no issues....
>>They fill up the wheel wells and have a great look.
>>
>>Peace,
>>D

Hey Dennis,

Have you put springs on your car? Wondering if the 215/45-17's would still clear everything with a little lower spring (HR) than stock. Also, I'm sure you said it before somewhere else, but what's the offset on your wheels. I'm looking for a set of 17" S-lites now which I will put non-runflats on and mount on my car when I get it. Then save the 16s with R/Fs for long trips through the middle of nowhere.

Cheers,

James