I installed a set of General Exclaim 225x45x17 on my MCS to replace the NF. What a difference; I'm a shame of myself to wait for so long.
I love the new tires and the improved steering feeling; however with three people in the car and spirited driving there is a little rub at the 2 o'clock - facing the left rear tire - area of the inner fender well plastic linning not the exterior molding lip. Could I just gring some 3mm off? What is behind the linner? Should I let it just wear out? Comments?????

 

Depending on the tire and your load when driving, it's to be expected that 225/45-17 tires (larger than stock tires in overall tire diameter) will rub at least a little.

You don't need to grind off the 3mm of rubber- it will wear down with use and from rubbing the inner wheel well which is only black plastic- no harm rubbing the plastic down either. I let mine wear down after I had added H-sport springs. Seems to be no harm done. Makes some loud rubbing sounds though- scares my wife a bit-impatientimpatient:impatient impatient

 

Thank you. That's what I thought but now I feel better :-)

I took the rear tires off the car last night and inspected the entire wheel wells. The right one rubs approx. 3mm and the left approx. 2mm both located about 30* from vertical towards the rear. Agree with you, it will take few more "rubs" to go away.

The 225x45x17 ( non-RF ) tires improved the entire handling of the car. A lot smoother, and more predictable w/o being jerky.

 

Are you lowered? and what are the specs of the wheels. i'm thinking of running 225's too when the RF's are done.

 

When I decided to go with the 225 on the original S-lites, after lots of meausuring, I added a 5mm spacer all around. After installing the tires and go real spirited driving with two people on the car, the car is not lowered that's next - got a small rubbing on the rear - the fronts are perfect. Removed the rear spacers and bingo!!! what a difference. Guys, that's the way to go!
What a difference of the car, the handling is so much improved, really smooth and more predictable than with the RF's, and the look and stance is superb.

 

If I recall the S-Lites are about 48 offset?

I'm thinking of putting 17" wheels with an offset of 42 and THEN adding a 5MM spacer to push the wheels to very outside of the fender arch.

WIth 205's on the tire do you guys think I will get any rubbing on a non-lowered "S"?

What's your guess?

 

For a MINI with stock suspension-
You don't need the spacers for 17" aftermarket rims with offset of +42mm. The acceptible range is about +37 to +50mm.

Using 205/45-17 tires you won't rub with or without spacers.

Personally I think it is better to install the wheels with no spacers- the +42mm offset is fine.

 

I don't believe you'll have a rubbing issue at all with 205's. 215 may be. 225 need spacers up front; AGAIN, it depends on the wheels offset.

 

Do you have any pics?

 

I tried but the files are "too big"... I'm not a computer guru... what to do?

 

I figured it out, look at my profile/photos they're in there.