So I ordered my 17x7 O.Z. Ultraleggera's with a 37mm offset. They said on the phone that a 215/45/17 will not fit with the O.Z.'s on my 03 MCS. They said that 205/45/17 is the biggest tire size that I could roll with that I wouldnt have rubbing issues. Is this true? I am not dropped now but will have coilovers in the next 2 months and the car will be low. What size do I want. Thanks people...

 

The Et 37 offset on the ultraleggeras will cause rubbing issues with the high profile 215/45/17's. You'd be better off with 40 series tires. Lowering your car a lot will cause rubbing issues though. 37 offset puts the outer edge of the tire right about where the plastic fender comes down, so there isn't much clearance.

 

My car was fine with the 215/45's before I lowered it with M7 springs. After I lowered it both front and rear rubbed. I might have gotten away with it with lesser drop springs, but the M7's drop 1.5"s. Also I was running to much neg. camber. I went to 40's and everything is cool . Go with the 40's.

 

except when lowering and adding camber (which happens from lowering). This brings the wheels in and will (probably) clear. Tire Rack doesn't want the liability and there's a chance it will rub with that offset.

 

Yup... with a drop though it'll rub. I rubbed with less offset and JCW springs when I had 45's. You COULD run a lot of camber, but then your tires will wear unevenly. I'd go with 40 profiles or pick different rims.

 

Yea, didn't think about the camber issue. I've always had camber arms so it was never an issue for me, I always tweaked my camber when I lowered the car.

 

if there is any rubbing, it will be on the plastic and easily dealt with. I'd run 215/45 and 17x7ET37 on my car, prepared to trim if necessary. to the OP.....if you want 215's and don't want issues, run 215/40/17. Very common size and looks good too:

 

I run 215/45/17's on S-Heavies with 5mm spacers and TSW springs without rubbing except in fast hard turns with a dip in the road and very little then, zero rub on a track!

 

Well the wheels have been ordered. What are my options now? If I drop to I just have to shave plastic or whats up? What offset would be ideal for a low drop? 45mm?

 

PGT's post ^^^ says it all.

 

"Easily dealt with." Does this mean I am going to be able to be very low with my 205/45/17 ultraleggeras with a 37mm offset?

 

You can go low, you'll just rub without trimming. Pop off the panels and dremel them.

Keep in mind the lower you go the more stress you put on your axels. After a certain amount of stress they'll just fail.

 

that setup is the same as stock, but 10mm outboard...almost half an inch. personally, I'd run 215/40 before 205/45, especially on a lowered car, but if you are at all worried, stick to 205's.

17x7ET42 is considered the optimal compromise....splits the diff between stock and aggressive fitments.

I'm running 15x7ET37 on my car, but with 205/50...no rubbing issues but them it's way shorted than stock too

 

How low do you suppose I could go before having to trim?

Appreciate all the help...

 

that depends on how much camber you run. if you are not doing camber correction, you probably should look at that before trying to get too aggressive on lowering.

I have Cross coilovers and put my car about an inch lower than stock (maybe not even that much). There's no performance benefit to lowering the MINI...it's all looks. The car has such a short stroke to begin with, unless you are running a coilover like the Cross that maintains stroke regardless of height, you are hurting performance

 

I thought you wanted to go with 215's? If your going to do a rim/ tire upgrade, I would go with a wider tire, looks meaner, IMHO .

 

I agree. I'm going to have to change the order if that is possible. I may cancel it all together if it will too much hassle...

 

Also...a dumb question...I'm new to suspension so can I just adjust camber once I get coilovers? How do I do this?

 

this is a 215/40 right? on what rim width? i'm also having the same tire-choice dilemma with a 17x7.5 +45 wheel and don't now if i can pull off the same look as the Mini below with 215/40 and just Eibach pro-kit springs

 

Some coilover systems (The good ones) allow camber adjustment in the front, others don't. For the rear you will need to install rear camber arms (Unless your car is an 05-06, in which case you will have VERY little adjustment).

 

The overall tread width depends on the type of tire. There are some 205 width tires with tread that is actually wider than a 225 width tire.

Look at the tire specs, 205, 215, 225 means nothing.

 

How much do you look to pay for coilovers with camber adjustment? So in a simple sense I could got with these O.Z.'s, get some camber control, and be able to run a ~1.5 inch drop and not have any issues with a 215/40 tire?

 

Megan's have camber adjustment, they're linear, and cheap (Under $1000, I think about $850 new). They're going to be stiff though.

Cross/JIC Magic are some of the best out there, but at $2300 you pay an arm and a leg for them. They also have camber plates integrated, full adjustability, and linear springs. These will be more forgiving on the street when dialed back, and will handle better when dialed up.

 

How stiff for the Megan's?

Again, so with some camber adjustment, those O.Z. wheels and the 215/40 tires I could get a ~1.5 inch drop without rubbing or major issues?

 

You can specify different spring rates for most of the major coilovers out there. The Megans are just damped in such a way that the car tends to feel more stiff, almost bouncy even. It's about as good as it gets for a "Budget" coilover though.

You should be able to get 1.5 inches of drop with those wheels and tires provided you're running some camber. 1.5 inches of drop is going to make you bottom out a few times a day though.