I would like to put a set of 8 inch wide wheels on the mini. I'd love to do a 17 but i am unsure if i can get away with it. I was looking at the team dynamics wheels. If I can slap an 17x8 under there what would the offset be.

Thanks,
Brian

 

Yes it can be done and it has been done. The ideal offset would be something like an ET37-40 to get the wheels close to the fender. As with any MCS, drop the car too...

 

Dont forget to post pics after it's all done. Damn...8 inch wide rims, that is crazy. My steels are 6 inch wide i think...definantly not 5.5 inch, and not 7 inch...what does that leave anyway?

 

yah....somewhere around 35-40 and 40 might be getting close to rubbing on the inside. 35 will be close to rubbing on the outside unless you stretch the tires to gain some clearance.

With camber adjustments, you could go as low as 20 offset. I've been able to tuck my 8's which are an offset of 14. So really, it's up to you to figure out what you're looking for and how you want them to fit

 

Wide wheels FTW!

 

What are you going to use these wheels and tires for? Street, track, autocross, car shows?

8" is not good for snow but if you have no snow then it is OK.

8" wide rims are not the problem. Not rubbing is the problem since the wheel wells are not all that large. Offset needs to be less but tire diameter needs to be smaller than stock for more clearance.

Think of the big picture and what could fit with the tire selection that you have to work with.

15x8 with 225/50-15 or 225/45-15
16x8 with 225/45-16
17x8 with 215/40-17 or 235/40-17 or 245/35-17

The wider and taller the tire the less it fits in the front wheel well and you can hit the inner liner with the edge of the tire on hard turns. Going straight is OK. Also depending on wheel offset you can also hit the shocks with wider rims so you might need thin spacers and longer wheel bolts.

In the rear you want enough offset to push the tire out to the outiside to clear the suspension parts like lower rear trailing arm and any upgraded rear swaybar you have. +48mm offset is stock so 1" wider rim means you need about 12mm less offset if you want the inner side of the wheel to be about the same as the stock 17x7 wheel position. There is a bit of clearance leeway so the range would be roughly +35 to +42mm. If you go with more offset you might need thin spacers while if you go with less offset then you might have to go with more negative rear camber or you might need to trim the inner wheel arch plastic with a dremmel tool.

It is also possible to use tires that are too narrow for the 8" rim to allow for more clearance. The rims will look wide and tires will be stretched out wide.

The question might be better addressed in the Tire, Brake and wheel forum rather than suspension.

 

I have a 2004 Cooper S with the H-Sport Springs and I am getting ready to get a set of custom 17" wheels. 17x7 for the front and 17x7.5 in the rear what would be the largest tire I could use up front with out having to go through a lo of work to get them to fit.Also what is the largest tire I can run in the rear, I have a set of staggered offset wheels coming rears have a 2" lip so I would like to have a nice set of wide tires out back to compliment the rims. I know this will have not affect on my handling it is just for looks. Thanks and sorry for hi-jacking your post.

 

You gotta give us your intended offsets before we can determine what tire is needed to really make them fit. A 2" lips is gonna be hard to pull off with 17s....i have 2.5" but it pokes a lot.