I just installed M7 Springs on my '04 MCS. I have Flik Wasp wheels (offset 42) with 215/45-17 Yoko AVS ES 100 tires.

I am now getting tire rubbing on the outer edge of the inside wheel well liner when hitting large bumps (rear only). I realize I need to go back to the 205 width tire. I have a couple questions:

1. Has anyone had experience with a similar setup of springs and wheels and been able to run a 205/45 series tire? I would prefer to run a larger sidewall for comfort and ground clearance.

2. I know someone who successfully runs an exact setup as mine with the 205/40 series tire. Is the lower profile tire necessary to gain additional clearance?

I am open to suggestions for a 45 series tire. The 40 series would be the Kumho MX. I am looking for something cheap and track oriented.

Thanks for any help!

 

Did it rub at stock height?

Why not install a pair of rear adjustable control arms to increase your camber (at the expense of tire wear)? More negative camber in the rear will allow those 215s to clear the lip when the rear suspension compresses. My 215/45/17 Kumhos rub (barely) the rear inner lip on big bumps as well, but I'm at stock height.

Find out where it rubs exactly and post here.

Looks good by the way

 

The rear rub is usually the bumper brakets, a fairly simple fix. Is the actual liner rub or braket rub?

Alex

 

Not sure where the "brackets" are. The liner is wearing through in a couple spots near the top, outside edge on the inside. Can see a definite wear pattern.

What "fix" would there be?

 

I have M7 and 42 offset wheels on 215/45/17.

Yes, I had experience rubbing from the back. If you look inside the plastic wheel flare you migh see where the tires rub. You can trim them out and you will be free from rubbing.

 

hey brad let me know how things go with the new set of tires. i jus ordered a set of M7 springs and plan on wrapping a set of 17x7 wheels (40mm offset) with 205/40/17 tires as well.

good luck

 

The 205/45s that I have don't have a clearance issue but keep in mind that the sidewall is smaller on a 205/45 than it is on a 215/45 since the 45 represents 45% or the width (205 or 215).

 

Brad, here's a great tool to compare the width, height, and profile of any two tire sizes: http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCal...?action=submit

I run 205/35/18's on my JCW with an offset of 42 on the wheel, and have no rubbing with the M7 springs. My tire size might be a good point to start from to compare the size you currently run to sizes you are considering.

 

I purchased 205/40-17 Kumho MX's and they fit perfect, obviously, because the sidewall is so short. I ran them (hard) at Nashville Superspeedway roadcourse and they did fantastic. I was quite impressed. Of course I scrapped about 3000 miles of life out of them.

The day to day street ride quality of the 40 series tire is a bit rougher than I really like and when these wear down ( I give it two more track events) then I will try some other 45 series tire. I would get the Kumho again but I don't think they make a 45 series in the 205 width.

 

That's cool. Thanks.

"205/35/18's"...... 35's! Boy, you are a glutton for punishment. Don't move to St. Louis. You're kidneys won't last a week!

 

It's a funny thing, but I haven't seen any discernable ride degradation with the 18's and the M7 springs. I am a lot more careful about potholes and such, but I'm very happy with my ride/handling compromise right now!

 

When you lower your MINI you have much less clearance with the tires especially 215/45-17 square shoulder tires like the Yokohama ES100s but I have got similar rubbing in the rears only not only with ES100s but even with Bridgestone Potenza S-03 in the same size.

Changing to 205/45-17 tires would help but is costly, you loose 10mm of tire width and narrow the selection of tires that come in that size but there are good non runflat tires from Toyo and Yokohama to choose from.

Adding lower rear adjustable control arms do allow for more negative rear camber but I have found that even with -1.6 degrees in the rear I still rub.

So the solution in my mind is to do what Alex says- get that dremmel out and go at it to cut or trim away those portions that rub the inner upper backward wheel well areas. Then you can keep the 215/45-17 tires which are quite good for street use.

I never bothered to do the trimming and found that after a year the tire rubbed away quite a bit of the wheel well just in the right places. How convenient!

I'll pull out the dremmel when I switch to 225/45-17 tires someday.