I need some help!

I want to take a set of Flik Wasps (17 x 7) and push them out as far as I possibly can to fill up my non-lowered wheel arch as push as possible. I want as aggressive as possible a stance.

The Flik wheel is 17x7. It has an ET of 42:

So here are my questions:

1) Does anyone think I could use a 215/40/17 without any rubbing?
2) Does anyone think I could use a 5MM spacer to push the wheels out more?
3) Does anyone think I could use a 15MM spacer?

(Side question: is using a 5 MM Spacer the same as changing the offset to a 37?)

Come on guys. I need your help!

 

I'm no expert but I learned a little bit when researching to make sure the Keskin 17s would fit my car without rubbing. If your not dropped a 215/40/17 will work no problem, my guess is you won't rub even if lowered. A 5mm spacer will make the wheel stick out a bit more and is usable (The wheel/tire will sit almost flush with the fender line, just 2mm inside I believe). A 15mm spacer will make the wheel/tire stick out past the fenders and look ugly IMO. Yes using a 5mm spacer is like changing the offset to a 37.

Again, I'm no expert and only know a little bit when it comes to wheels/tires/offsets/etc so please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

215/40-17 is ok and doesn't rub but is smaller than stock sized in tire diameter so the wheel gap will be larger than stock and to me would be less aggressive not more aggressive.

To be aggressive you want to have a wide tire that fills the wheel arch.
215/45-17 will do that and be fine to use without any spacer.

Another option is to use a 225/45-17 tire, you might check with Alex@tirerack.com to confirm this is OK. I think you'd get minimal problems with rubbing unless you had four people in your MINI. No spacer is needed. This size and the 215/45-17 are both larger than stock size for outer tire diameter.

You don't need 15mm spacers.

 

This is why this forum is so good. Smart people giving good advice to complete newbies like myself. Thanks a lot!

So here is a question:

Putting aside the 225 issue for now (which is an interesting possibility), am I correct that both a 215/40/17 and a 215/45/17 would have the same relationship to the fender line? In other words the higher profile on the 215/45 would fill the wheel arch vertically but not extend any further laterally, right?

If that is so, it makes me wonder whether the best solution would be a 215/45/17 -- WITH a 5MM spacer to bring the entire wheel to essentially a 37 offset and almost perfectly flush with the fender line. Any thoughts about rubbing with that combination?

Lastly, this wheel I'm looking at is a 17x7 --- any reason to believe that the 215/45/17 or even the 225 size tire wouldn't even fit it?

Motor On and thanks!

 

If you step down to 15"'s you can run a 225/50/R15 with an et30! Now that's WIIIIIDE! I am currently running this combo, and it's awesome...



RM2k5

 

boo spacers, not a safe thing to do if you ask me, but its your car. . .

 

Wow! That is wide! Any chance you have a side picture of the car with those wheels on? I'd love to see it from the side to get a sense for how the wheel well is filled up.

 

Really? What's unsafe about them? Do the bolts back off? Do they shear off? What?

Learning more all the time....

 

 

A 35 offset is perfectly flush with the fender line. IMO I wouldn't want to go lower than that because the tires pop out of the fender and it doesn't look right. If you are on stock height you will not have ANY rubbing. A spacer is fine, but it is just another thing that can go wrong. I'd just look for a wheel in a 35-38 offset in the size you want. You made a mention of the Keskin KT4's in another thread, those wheels aren't too expensive and come in a 17x8 in a 35 offset. You could run a 235/35/17 or possibly a 235/40/17. Although a 225/35/17 size tire would look perfect with about a 1-1.5" drop. I have a few pics of a car with the wheels installed if your interested. Good Luck.

 

I currently am running 15mm spacers all around on my S-Lites with no issues (with 215/45/17). I also have a set of BBS RX wheels, 17x7.5 ET35, that I just removed and had no issues either (photos of these are in my gallery). My car is bone stock.

And by the way, spacers are perfectly safe.

 

I would be extremely interested in pictures of the Keskins!

Interestingly, the www.keskinusa.com site only lists the 17x8 in a 30ET. It would be awesome if there was a list somewhere of 35-38 offset wheels in 17"s.

Share the pix if you can. I appreciate the help and advice!

 

In a word, awesome!

 

I'm running Konig Holes with ET 45 shod with 215/45-17 Dunlop FM901s and with a heavy load (ie 4 people, seats down w/cooler, spare, etc), I get a slight bit of rubbing in the back.

 

wheel spacers are bad b/c they put extra stress in the form of thrust loads on the spindles (really low, 35ish offset wheels do this too). "Safe" I'll agree to, "PERFECTLY SAFE", not so sure about that one. . .

also, make sure to get longer wheel bolts, as fewer threads from your stock wheel bolts will be used, so more stress will be on them as well.

Generally, they aren't the greatest idea. . .

 

Spacers are fine to run as long as they are "hub centric" (they fit perfectly on the hub) and more importantly, you have longer studs/bolts to accomodate them. You should be able to engage the threads at least 8 full turns (or more). If you go with the 15mm spacer I'd seriously consider these:

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html..._ID=TWH9950B62

 

Man! Your BBS wheels sure filled up all available space. They looked great!

Can I assume you were running the same tire (215/45/17) on them?

 

I agree with this comment. Hub centric spacers are worth a look.

If you have spacers just check if you have enough thread to lock in your wheels from the stock bolts.

Many times you'll be wise to change to wheel studs and nuts and adjust the length of the studs to a longer amount and ensure sufficient threads to be safe. I like 11 full turns for my MINI and I don't use spacers.

For some advice try calling Alex@tirerack.com about using spacers and wheel offsets for your MINI.

17x7 rim will fit both 215/45-17 or 225/45-17

215/45-17 with 5mm spacer will fit your stock MINI without significant rubbing unless you really load down your rear seat with people or stuff.
Rubbing is more likely with the 225/45-17.

Buying a set of rims that are 17" with +38mm offset would make more sense than to use +42-45mm offset and add a 5 mm spacer.

 

Thanks!

Yup.

By the way, I am using hubcentric H&R spacers with the proper longer bolts. I purchased them through Turner Motorsports and had a good experience.

 

Here's a link to the DS/W MCS with the Keskin KT4's in 17x8 front/17x9 rear ET35.

http://mkippen.com/Gallery.aspx?Name=gallery\carshoots\_dermini_Page_ 0

Going to PM you details.

 

This is an absolutely awesome setup!