I'm sure this has been done to death but I need examples and I know not all 225/50-16s are created equal. I am doing away with 17s on my car. I want to go to my R84s I bought a while back and haven't installed. I have been looking and I like the look of 225/50 and I have checked all sorts of tide calculators that say they will fit fine but am not sure. The car is on stock suspension with the exception of Ireland Engineering fixed camber plates recently installed as I got fed up with blowing strut mounts around this town.

Would love to see some examples from you all and suggestions. I want the wider tire look but don't want it to rub but also don't want huge wheel gaps either.

 

I've never been convinced they'd fit so I've never tried. 205/55-16 does fit, and is the same diameter, but I'm worried the extra width will rub.

 

I'm probably more likely going with 205/50-16. 215/50-16 would be awesome but hard to find. Plus 205/50 is recommended by a Mini owner friend of mine who is usually right on the money about these things.

 

215/45-16 - kumho xs
205/45-16 - rs3v2s, a little short
205/50-16 - rs3v2s, z2 star specs, etc.

lot of choices, all more or less as fast. for solid 3 season driving, i'd say continental DW. if you need year round, i'd buy a second set

 

I agree with your friend. I run a 205-50-16 on both our MINIs. For me it is the perfect size.

 

If you're thinking of other sizes, 205/50-16 works well, it what I used for street tires. It is a little shorter than stock so will give you a bigger gap, I don't think its objectionable. The previously mentioned 205/55-16 look too big to me, but you get a much wider selection of tires to use. 225/45-16 also works and is about as big as the 205/50, and is of course wider.