What are the maximum tyre specs that can be fit in the 17" CrownSpoke rims of a 2008 MiniCooperS?

 

I'm running 215/45/17's on my 17x7 challenge spokes, which should be the same width as your crown spokes. If you go to tire rack (or another site), you can look up the specs for the tire that you are interested in. The tire manufacturer will tell you the range of the rim width that works with that tire size.

Mike

 

In tire rack, it will not discriminate what rims im using to give me options on tires!

 

At tirerack.com it is under the 'specs' header, you get a chart that has a column for 'rim width range'. Here is one example:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ot+Super+Sport

By the way, running the widest tire possible on a wheel is not necessarily better for performance. Stick to the recommended wheel width on charts like these.

There is also a 'tire and wheel' section of the forum under 'minis in general' where you may be able to find more info.

Have fun,
Mike

 

I want it the other way round. I want to know what tires will fit in my crown spoke rims. not what rims will fit the specific tires!

 

255/80-17 for tallest tire, 275/70-17 for "max" specs on a 17x7 wheel. Keep in mind that at no time have you specified you want a tire/wheel combination that you could actually fit to a MINI. There are many threads here discussing what tires fit the car in stock or modified condition.

 

Sorry i did not specify that im not interested in height but in width. Right now im wearing 205.45.17 on the oem Crown Spoke rims. Can the tire width be wider? 215 perhaps or more? And if it goes wider what happens to the tires height? The height of the 205.45.17, is it the same as the height of the 215.45.17?

 

I suggest reading Tire Rack's FAQ section about tires for your height and width questions. It's all very simple, once you read the info.

Why do you want wider tires?

 

I want wider tires because from the rear the 205 width looks too thin! The wider, the more macho and sporty the mini looks!

 

You can go with 215/45-17 or 215/40-17.

Wheel and Tire Fitment Considerations - The MINI Wiki

 

You "can" go with up to a 245 pinched on a 7" wide wheel, but I would find wider wheels. 7s aren't enough to get a meaty tire on there, if that is your goal (not really recommended unless looks are all that matter to you).

 

245 is way too thick! I think 205/45/17 is perfect as far as side wall height is concerned. On the other hand, 215/45/17, is a little too tall in the side walls. The proportions of the first (205) are perfect for my liking. Could 215/45/17, have the side wall height as the 205/45/17? How can i measure the side wall before purchase, so i can decide?

 

The sidewall height (in mm) of any tire is product of the first two numbers (width and aspect ratio) of the tire size divided by 100, so both sizes have the same sidewall height.

 

Sorry i rephrased the question, i had given wrong numbers!

 

You need to read Tire Rack's info. The sizing is very simple and they spell out what all the numbers mean for you. A 245/40/17 has less sidewall height than 225/45/17, and is 20mm wider.

That said, you can fit a 225/45/17 on your current wheels (widest I would go on a 7), or get wider wheels and you open up the option for sizes wider than 225. I have seen 235/40/17s on a street Mini, and even wider on autocross/track applications (with 8" or wider wheels). For both performance and looks, it's better to have more wheel width than less--pinching tires reduces their effectiveness, to put it simply.

 

Since both tires have the same aspect ratio (45) the 215's would have 4.5mm more sidewall since they are 10mm wider.

As in my previous reply ... Sidewall = Width * Aspect Ratio / 100