Hey guys and gals!

I'm a long time reader and a first time poster but anyways, here's my question..

I've got my stock wheels and tires on right now...175/65/15..

I want to switch to 17" inch wheels with 225/45/17...is this possible?

 

That tire is going to a bit taller and wider than an OEM 17. Stock size is 205/45-17 but tons of folks run 215/45-17.

 

That's possible, but maybe not advisable by many. The 225/45/17 would be 1" larger in diameter than your 175/65/15, and the 225 width is just at the point where some MINIs experience rubbing.

The larger tire alone would weigh about 8# more (each) than your OE tire. If you stick with OE 17" wheels, that's about another 9# added at each corner, but lightweight aftermarket wheels would reduce that weight gain by several pounds. Even so, I think you'd notice a significant reduction in acceleration and braking performance compared to your 15" setup. Others' opinions may vary, but I don't think the R50 has enough power to effectively turn and slow heavy wheels and tires. BTW, the R50 that won SCCA H Stock at Nationals was on 15X5.5 wheels.

We have a R50 with 16" OE wheels and I've seriously considered going to a wide 15" aftermarket wheel in order to reduce wheel weight without losing width. Considering available tire sizes, however, a lightweight 16X7 wheel might be the better compromise.

Oh, welcome to NAM.

 

Thanks for the replies!

What wheels do you suggest? This is just my summer car. I refuse to drive my baby in the winters here in Ohio. Mind you, this car sits for 6-7 months of the year so I don't want to get crazy with the price!

 

It is all about what you want to do with the MC. I have an 05 MC and have done a lot of suspension stuff to autocross andd track the car. I run 205/50-15 Bridgestone Potenza RE-11's for the track on the 15" "holies", I love this set-up. I run 185/65-15 for the street, much softer ride on the Ohio roads.

I have seen 17" stock wheels on MC non- S, because drivers like the look, go for it! Have fun!

 

r50auto:

You might go to www.tirerack.com, enter your car data, and click on wheels. You'll see a long list of wheels that will fit your R50. You can then select (click on) whatever diameter wheels you want to look at. Preferred wheel styles vary widely, but below are a few of the lightweight 16" wheels (what I suggested for a R50 previously) that some on NAM have chosen for one reason or another.

Enkei Racing RPF1: 16X7, et 43, weight 13.7#, price $207 (on sale now). One of my favorites.

O.Z. Alleggerita HLT: 16X7, et 37, weight 13.8#, price $259 and up, depending on color (many flavors are offered). Another popular choice.

TR Motorsport C1: 16X6.5, et 44, weight 14.4#, price $114. One of the few in a 6.5" width, so legal for SCCA H Stock autocross.

Coming in May: Kosei K4R: 16X6.5, et 45, weight 12.8#, price $159. Looks like it's aimed directly at the H Stock autocrosser, and an attractive option.

BBS wheels are very good, but also very expensive. There are also several popular wheels for MINIs that Tire Rack doesn't carry; Rota is one.

In general, very light weight wheels cost more. A few pounds more or less per wheel probably doesn't make a significant difference in most applications, but 5 or more pounds per corner on a R50 would probably be noticeable.

 

You're the man! Thanks a lot!

 

Not wheel advice, but, if you put your car into hibernation for the winter, you might want to consider a battery tender (if you don't already have/use one). Your battery will thank you come spring.

 

225/45/17 did not fit my R53 it rubbed badly. I would keep the 175/65/15 for winters though and browse a set of 16's from the Tire Rack site.

 

Go on...
(Tell me more)

 

I don't drive it in the winters but I think I'm going to go with 16's anyways, cost effective and I'm not trying to look like I'm in the fast and the furious!

 

16s are the way to go style wise. It is proportionally correct, in my eyes. I had s lites on my car when I first got it, and now have two sets of Daytonas (one for winter tires). Plus the weight penalty is a killer. I'd love to try a set of "holies." I'd probably switch. My winter tires are slightly taller than my summer, and even though they are lighter (summer are runflat), man the car just runs so much better with the stock size. It LOOKS nice with more tire on the rim, and filling up the well more, but you can't see that from the driver seat.

 

I heard that they rub also so I went with 215 45 17 on my r53 and am considering 215 45 18. 215s seem to work well. 225s aren't worth the risk of rubbing