Just got my new to me 2012 Clubman this Tuesday and I'm already looking to upgrade some stuff! I don't know if it my newness to the world of MINI but I fee like I'm sitting way lower to the ground than other small cars. I even feel like other MINIs sit higher than me. I believe I'm running at stock suspension height. The previous owner bought it used and said he didn't change a thing for the time he had it. It has Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 175/65ZR15 Can I and should I get a taller tire to raise my height? I've scrapped the front lip 2x already leaving gas station lots. That scrape sound is unnerving to say the least. My MINI is my daily commuter. I commute via highway and I live in Northern CA so theres zero threat of snow. Barely any rain. Don't plan on doing any track stuff. Just some roadtrips up to San Francisco and down to LA.

 

I played with this. Went up a little in tire diameter on my 05. But I also went down in "wheel" diameter.

https://www.americastire.com/learn/t...SAAEgJppPD_BwE

From the sounds of what you are saying, I'm afraid you'l have to go much too far in tire diameter to keep the underside off the ground. The tires will/might end up rubbing on the fenders.
Measure the car, find out how far you need to go...up, and then play with the calculator above.

Mike

 

You can plus size to 185/65-15 but it will only raise the ride height by 1/4".

 

Wow. Not worth the money. How about if I went up in wheel size to 16? 17 seems too much for commuting.

 

Yeah don't want to rub. I was just thinking I could go find some 16" wheels and get the aspect tires.

 

Some have fitted 205/55 tires on 16" wheels but that only adds .45" to ride height.

 

Guess I'll just leave it as is. I just have to get used to the feeling and more careful with driveways.

 

If I buy stock 16" wheels would a tire thats 195/55/16 will that change anything about the way my Clubman rides/performs?

 

That's what I put on my 05. Removed the 17" wheels and installed 16" wheels.
Installed 205/55-16" Dunlop tires. My car has been lowered about 1.5". No tire rubbing with that tire and a stock offset wheel. The only driveway my car..."so far" rubs anything on is my own driveway..! And that's just the stock under chassis air dam.
The speedometer is about 2+ mph off now.

Mike

 

Thanks. I think I'm going to buy some OEM Mini 16" wheels and wrap them in the 195/55 and use them as a backup wheel or for when I take road trips. I think I'll leave my 175/65/15 on for regular commuting to work and errand running.

 

Larger OEM wheels and wider tires will increase unsprung weight ... which adversely effects handling.

Sorry but this doesn't make a lot of sense.

Save your money and get 185/65-15 or 195/60-15 tires when your current tires need replacing.

 

Ok. How will the wider tires affect driving performance and gas mileage? If I stay with my stock 15" wheels.

 

A cheaper option may be to just buy a new air dam panel when the current one wears thru . . .

Other than sound, the rub doesn't hurt anything.

My MINI does it too.

 

Negligible

 

Driving performance has more to do with which exact tire you choose than the size alone. If you have two tires of the same model but one is taller sidewall (60 or 65 series) then it usually is more comfortable riding and softer with slightly less responsiveness. 50 series sidewall or less is stiffer and handles better in general but it has to do with sidewall construction and tire tread design, etc.

Gas mileage has to do with rolling resistance and tire rubber compound which can be tweaked for eco use. If two tires of the same type are compared the wider tire will have more resistance and slightly less mpg, the eco tire will usually be better on mpg by 2-3 miles per gallon. Of course air pressure is a huge factor on getting better mpg.

Looking at the bigger picture you have to consider wheel size and possible tire sizes and whether the tire you want for the intended use you need (performance vs Street vs cold weather, etc) comes in the size you want. For example the better Max Summer tires for handling and performance tend to come in 17" wheel sizes and larger. 15" wheels are good for race tires and All Season tire sizes.

175/65-15 is the OEM size but you aren't limited to that for 15" wheels. 195/60-15 is a common tire size that yields many good tires.