I currently have 5.5" OEM Rotator Spoke rims with 195/60/15 tires. Almost all 15" rims I'm finding are 6.5". How would using this size rim affect my tires? With a wider rim do I lose sidewall height? And "most" this size have a 40mm offset. How would that work compared to what I have now?

 

A 195/60R15 can be applied to rims with widths between 5.5" to 7". If you mount them on a 15x6.5, the sidewall of the tire will stretch a bit than what you are seeing right now with the 15x5.5. This will not affect the tire at all, just give it a stretched look. You will lose a bit of sidewall height if you stretch, but that depends on the size tire you use. Also, a 40mm offset will work fine on a 15x6.5 wheel for your Mini. It may push the wheel out a bit, but that also depends on what offset you are currently running on the 15x5.5.

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

 

Thanks. I wonder what the current offset is with the OEM rims.

 

From the Mini2 Forum:

15" R101 Rotator-spoke ET45 15.7lb

Hope this helps...

 

Geez I looked all over and couldn't find that. All I found was this.
I wish the Miata.net guide went further to show offset. I know less means more of a stance but how much does that change in this case since the rim is wider too?
Yes, I'm new to this!

 

jw34, it's not clear what you are asking. Did you want to go to wider 15" rims and keep your current tires? Get both wider rims and tires?

15x7 is a popular rim size and readily available. I have 15x7 rims with 42 offset and use 205/55-15 tires. The sidewall height is equivalent to OEM. For any given rim size there is usually a tire size available that will give you overall diameter (i.e. sidewall height) very close to OEM.

The MINI2 info on OEM wheels/tires is here: http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?f...factory_wheels

 

Sorry, yes I was hoping to keep the current tires and used them with the wider rims. Right now the 195/60R15 is a little larger than the OEM tires and they look better with the gap (almost the same as 16" OEM wheels/tires) and ride nicely. I'm concerned about how much the tire will stretch on a larger rim and what that will do to the gap (sidewall height) and ride. Also how much the offset will differ from what I have now.

 

I have 195/60/15 on BBS RGFs in 15X7 - works very well.

 

Do you have any photos of those on your MINI?