I just got the SSR wheels the 17x7.5 Type C-RS Offset 42mm. I wanted to know if 225 or 235 would fit on them?

 

What suspension do you have? Stock or lowered and how much lower?

What do you need wider tires for? Track, street use, appearance?

Do you have wet weather or any snow and drive your MINI?

Stock rims are 17x7 with +48mm offset

17x7.5 with +42mm offset is OK with stock suspension but with lowered suspension you have to watch out for any wider than stock tires- there can be rubbing on the suspension parts since offset is nearly the same as stock and tire will be much wider.

225 mm tires are usually 225/45-17 and too tall at 25.1" tire diameter to fit easily.

235/40-17 is better but will fit rims from 8" wide better. They will still fit 17x7.5 just not as good.

A tirerack search in that size shows some good tires possible-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compar...=9&RunFlat=All
235/40-17 has 24.4" tire diameter. Enough clearance for lowered suspension. About 23 lbs each. Vs lighter tire like Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 in 215/40-17 at 19 lbs each.

It doesn't really make that much sense to use a very light rim like SSR Type C matched with a wide and heavy tire unless you are going for looks primarily.

If you want performance then Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R in 205/45-17 would be best, light weight, great handling wet or dry, street or track use.
It will wear faster though.

 

I have H&R lowering springs its a 1.4 drope. I dont know about tires I want performance and looks.

 

With that drop you will need tires that are not larger than stock size- about 24.3" tall.

Best to stick with-
205/45-17
215/40-17
235/40-17

Your choice. Different tires come in various sizes.

Looks is very different from performance. Some tires look aggressive and good but don't do that well for handling.

Unless you have a show car most of us pick tires based on good handling.

Don't forget to get a good alignment if needed to get the most out of your tires and suspension upgrades.

Got an adjustable rear swaybar?

 

Yeah I got the alta swaybar. What tires do you recomend personaly?

 

what do you think about the ssr rims?

 

215/40-17 Falken Azenis RT615



$95 at Vulcan

 

A good place to start would be-
Extreme Performance Summer tires.
Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R in 205/45-17.
Advantage- light, sticky soft rubber- good handling and comfort for street use but soft and wears faster. Tires might last one year.

Otherwise you can look at Max Performance Summer tires
215/40-17 would be a good size to start with. 40 series is stiff - don't hit potholes

 

I am going through a similar thought process for my 2006 MSC GP because I am thinking of selling the 18" GP wheels and going to 17" SSR Type C-RS wheels.

Based on my experience with my 2003 MCS with H&R springs and 17x7 with 38 offset wheels and 215/40-17 tires. I had slight rubbing, under full loading, in the rear and I had to trim the rear wheel well liner. My calculations show that a 17x7.5 42 offset wheel with 215/40-17 tires will be about 2mm closer to the outside edge than the 17x7-38 with 215/40 tires, thus slightly more rubbing but probably OK with trimming.

I do not think that tires wider than 215 will work without major triming to eliminate rubbing. I suggest 215/40-17 tire size for looks and performance.

 

+1 or Hankook Ventus Rs2 Z212 215/40/17

 

What do you think about Yokohama S-Drives?

 

You may want to take a look at Toyo T1-R's:

They are very good for wet and dry handeling. They also are very light and will compliment the weight of your SSR's nicely. The performance is excellent and they look real sharp.

Leo Barrios
leo@edgeracing.com
800-489-5353 x211
http://www.edgeracing.com

 

Like an Es100, but more grip and better road manors - S Drive.

Minihune's sugestion of RE01R was a very good one in 205/45/17

Alex

 

SSR rims are good, costly, light, fairly strong. Could be damaged by pothole so it does makes some sense to use 45 series tires and be careful.

40 series tires will also work but stiff sidewalls make for less comfort and more potential risk for damage from potholes. 215/40-17 is OK.
Comfort and noise can vary with each tire.

Max performance tires also OK-
treadwear from about 200 like
Falken Rt615 and Hankook Z212
Goodyear F1GSD3 and Toyo T1R also popular

What I like about the Bridgestone RE-01R is it's a good size to fit, handles well and has good street manners and comfort. Check out the road conditions in your area, if really smooth with few potholes then you can choose almost any tire.

 

Will a 205 tire look stretched on a 7.5" wheel?

Width-wise, is the 215 a better choice for a 7.5" wheel?

 

205/45-17 fits rims 6.5-7.5" wide, perfect for 7" rim
215/45-17 fits rims 7-8" wide, perfect for 7" rim
225/45-17 fits rims 7-8.5" wide, perfect for 7.5" rim
235/40-17 fits rims 8-9.5" wide, perfect for 8.5" rim

So if you had to choose a tire width for the 7.5" rim then 225 would be best but it is too tall at 25.1" tire diameter to fit the MINI without some rubbing.

That is why the MINI comes with 17x7 rims to fit the right tire size better and to save some weight on both rim and tire.

All four of the above tire sizes will fit 17x7.5" rims. 205/45-17 will look a little stretched but not severely. It will be OK. Mounted on a 17x8 rim it would looked stretched.