Hello

I have a few questions. Do 225 width tires rub? I have 16" Oem rims. Trying to use an R comp tire and 16s without spacers

I'm new to Mini and love the using Nitto NT01 for my other car. Currently have a 2009 cooper s hardtop


Thanks

 

I have 215/45/17 michelin A/S 3 's on stock wheels with NM springs. . . look like I might have enough clearance in the back to go with a 225 , but no way on the front the would rub on the struts . . . also depends on what offset your wheels have. . . but I think you will have some issues

 

This is a better question for the Competition driving forum.

No, 225mm wide tires don't rub if you have stock suspension and don't use a wheel which is much wider than 7" with an offset of about 40mm.

If you plan to use stock 16x6.5" et48 wheels then you are somewhat limited to certain tire sizes for R compound tires.

Is this for track, time attack, lapping, driving school/event, or autocross?
Each event may have a tire that is better suited depending on the surface and your suspension/alignment setup.

If you are running stock suspension and stock wheels then it doesn't really make much sense to run a 225mm wide tire like 225/50-16 which is taller than OEM tire diameter at about 24.8".

Generally you want a tire that is smaller in tire diameter than OEM.
Some often used R compound tire sizes with OEM 16" wheels:
205/45-16 Hoosier A6 $249 each, fits 6.5-7.5" rims, 19 lbs, 22.8" tire diam.
215/40-16 Kumho V710, $217, fits 7-8.5" rims, 18 lbs, 22.6" tire diam.
215/45-16 Kumho V710, $220, fits 7-8" rims, 19 lbs, 23.2" tire diam.
225/45-16 Toyo R888, $205, fits 7-8.5" rims, 22 lbs, 23.8" tire diam.

Of these, Hoosier A6 has the softest rubber compound, it tends to wear out fast but you can also acheive a faster time. Kumho V710 is not quite as fast but gives twice the wear/heat cycles. Toyo R888 is a more durable less soft compound more on par with Hoosier R6, both need a two driver car in autocross or higher temps to work their best.

Note that unless you are have suspension set up for performance driving it will be difficult for the MINI to make good use of R compound tires. OEM alignment lacks front negative camber, so you will only be using a portion of the front tires. Combine that with using a 225mm wide tire on a narrow 6.5" rim and you will be pinching the tires on the wheels, limiting use of the shoulder treads. Adding adjustable front camber plates would help but may not be legal for your class if you are autocrossing. Read the rules.

So what is next best if you have OEM suspension and wheels?

Search for Extreme Summer tires, there are a few to choose from in 16" sizes. They won't be a grippy but they will wear better and last longer.

 

Thanks for the response. The offset is 48 and completely stock everything. This is a daily driver and I don't want to modify the car but want to be able to drive to and from non competitive track days.

The Nittos are great out of the box and get faster the closer they get to the cords like the Toyo RA1 used to be. The 888 heat cycle out way before their time. The Kuhmos and Hoosiers are too soft to drive to and from the track.

Is there a OEM 15" wheel for the 2009 cooper s? That would be perfect to get a smaller diameter to change the gearing too.

 

Sounds like this is for track/lapping and you need some durable tires to run with stock suspension and wheels for to and from track without needing to change wheels.

In that case it's going to be a compromise but at least it may be within budget compared to the other tire options.

Kumho ecsta XS
215/45-16 $113 each at tirerack (contact Alex@tirerack.com) In stock, fits 7-8" rims but will fit OEM 16" rim OK, 20 lbs, 23.6" tire diameter gives you slightly lowered gearing which is good coming out of corners but not as good on top end speed.

I know owners that use the XS for track and it works. Plus it's priced right.

Another Extreme Summer tire option is a little more costly-

Toyo R1R
205/45-16 $146 each, fits rims 6.5-7.5" wide, 19 lbs, 23.2" tire diameter

 

Hi,

I just installed 225/50/16, 43mm offset wheels, and have no rubbing on my stock 2007 MCS.

Rob

 

expect a hit on your milage. I went from 215/45zr17 to 225/45zr17 and my milage dropped by 4mpg on the highway. The car also felt a little more skiddish over larger bumps. I ended up swapping the 225's back to 215's. I also thought the car felt slower and less toss able. The 215's felt like the perfect mix of grip, and tossability.

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I have the same tires as you do. I had the 225's on the car and it messed with how it drove too much and killed the gas milage. The car felt like it was having a harder time pushing the extra diameter and width. I switched back to 215/45zr17 92W

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