Is anyone using a taller tire to increase the clearance of the mini. I am researching the possibility of a rally look. I thought driving the occasional gravel/dirt road would be nice with a taller tire.

any thoughts......

 

You might talk to Alex@tirerack.com about your options.

Stock suspension makes sense- you'll need wheel gap.
Don't load down your MINI and even making it lighter would be good- remove the back seat or use the rear seat delete kit.
Trim the plastic on the lower front edge of the bumper for more clearance
Add a fan protector or metal under the front to protect the engine

Taller tires can help a little but more narrow and only a little taller would make sense. Knobby, even winter tires (Non studded) are possible.

17" is too large and wide.

Start with 15" or 16". Select a tire size first that might work. Max tire diameter about 24.9 to 25.1 is safe with stock suspension for left over wheel gap in case the ground is quite uneven.

205/55-16
205/60-15
195/65-15 Kumho Ecsta ASX UHP All Season $49 each 420 treadwear

A taller size might also work if you can keep the offset fairly high on the wheel and go more narrow to fit into the wheel well.

Maybe 15x5.5 stock rims with
205/65-15 tires 25.5" tire diameter one inch taller than stock.

 

In terms of tire height I went from 175/65/15 to 195/60/15 on OEM 5.5" rims. If I go to a 15 x 6.5 or 7" rim will I notice any visual difference in the tire diameter or sidewall height? I wouldn't want the gap to get any bigger than it is and lose what little I gained going to a larger tire.

 

195/60-15 tires fit rims 5.5-7" wide so change of rim width is fine and you won't see much difference with a rim change. 24.3" tire diameter is essentially stock.

Wider rims will look more aggressive and while good for street use might get bogged down in loose dirt or mud a bit.

 

I also see that the offset is 40 for most 15 x 6.5 & 7" rims. I would imagine I'd have a little wider stance over the 45 I currently have?

 

Yes, less offset means the wheel sits closer to the outside of the wheel well.
If tire diameter is smaller then less offset can work but if you want taller then you'll need to stay closer to stock offset within limits. The wider the tire and rim the less clearance you have with any taller than stock tire- it can be very tight. Less wheel gap also means less room for suspension travel with heavy loads and uneven road surfaces, you'd have to slow down to not rub or bottom out.

 

As always, thanks for your input minihune.

In my case with the 195/60/15s there's sill a whole bunch of clearance. Even though they are slightly taller than stock I would hope going from from 45-40 offset and wider rims wouldn't cause problems.