Are there any issues with running a 205/35/18 tire on a MINI? Huge performance difference compared to 215? Huge aesthetic difference (other than from the rear) compared to 215?

 

Yes ... finding a good selection of tires in this size

 

other than a thin rubberband look, it will be even thinner.

not sure if the weight rating is okay though... id try a 205/40/18
instead.

 

A 40 series tire? Really? Would a 205/40/18 rub on lowering springs? 215/35/18 would rub I would think. I'm running 215/45/17 and I'm getting rubbing on severe bumps (on the highway) but not on street driving.

 

I kind of want to try the General Exclaim! Getting pretty great reviews and quite cheap! I'm curious.

 

i have to say they are pretty good tires, they perform as good in the rain as in the drys. maybe just personal preference but the side wall could be alittle stiffer. sometimes it corners alittle buttery~ but other than that, they serve me very happy~!

 

I have a set 18 x 7.5 offset42 with 215/35/18 tires. maybe check your rim is 18x7 or 18x7.5, with your rims is 18x7 I will like to get 205/35/18

 

Considering that every 18" JCW wheel (including mine) comes with 205/40/18 tires on it, no I don't think it's an issue.

 

Good to know. My wheels are in fact 18x7. AND it's lowered, but so is the JCW, isn't it? Please correct me if I'm wrong. I have H-Sport springs so maybe it's a bit more lower than the JCW???

 

The JCW suspension doesn't lower a MINI that much.

JCW 18" wheels are ET52 ... what is the offset of your wheels?

 

I am gonna smack the living crap out of your martini drinking **** if you dont run a 215/35/18. Don't be a pansy.....the wifey would agree....

 

QUIT HIJACKING MY THREADS JERK!

I believe the offset of the wheels are +42! Now what should I do?

 

I am on JCW R105's and H-Sport springs and have no issues at all. The JCW lowers about 1/2", while H-Sport does about 1". I am eventually going to a 215/30/18, but am not 100% sure if I want to go that low. I haven't made my mind up yet.

 

...and appearance wise I'm sure the car looks great. I don't think I'd be missing too much if I went with a 205/35/18 instead of a 215/35/18. It seems like the only thing I would gain with a 215 might be a bit better performance and a bunch of rubbing.

 

Yes, there are problems.

205/35-18 severely limits your load rating to only 81. 87 to 84 load rating is usually what we find for MINIs. So right there even though the tire fits rims 7-8" wide and the outer tire diameter is less than stock at 23.7" (which is OK by itself), load rating alone is not sufficient. I did not find any tire in this size at tirerack.com and did find only Toyo Proxes T1r for about $146 each.

For General Exclaim UHP, 215/35-18 for $85 each would be about your only good size available.

 

the 205 will look silly on 18's. the 215's I had on before looked silly. nothing cool about a tire that is thinner then the rim its on! so my fix to my non lowered mini was to go bigger on the tires.

I had 215/35 Kumho ECSTA ASX on kazara (crap i know) 7.5" wide rims with 42mm offset.

now im running 225/35 18's. Yokohama Parada Spec-2 WAY happier with these tires. with the larger side wall small bumps are easier on the tush, and bigger bumps dont feel like they will crush the rims anymore.

and for all the people looking to run 18's on stock springs I have NO fitment issues. no rubbing what so ever. plus now it looks great, almost a lowered look.

 

Why does MINI spec a 205 tire for the 18" JCW Wheel if there are problems with it? When people say it looks weird are you only referring to looking at it staright on and right from behind???

 

You like when I hijack your threads An 18" wheel on a non-lowered car would look silly...but you are lowered on springs. A 215 tire should not rub at all since you are not slammed like some of us. Seriously...a 205 wheel would look too skinny for me in relation to size to width. BTW, mine are +42.... Hey, just a thought...less contact patch should make for a more unstable ride.

 

^^^you're a choad!

But I rub now when I am on the highway and other slight changes in elevation on city streets.

QUESTION: Appearance wise, how much gap will I have between the tire and the arches on a 215/35/18 tire vs. 215/45/17 tire?

Dang this sucks. I'm so confused now! :impatient

 

Duck - try this... ignore that it says Miata, it's a fantastic little online tool:

Miata.net Tire Size Calculator

Aside from it giving you actual dimensions for any tire size, you can also use it to compare any two tire sizes... and the speedometer variation caused by the change!

 

I'm confused ... are you running 215/45-17 tires on 17" wheels now and switching to 18" wheels?

If so running 215/35-18 tires on 18" wheels will increase the gap between the tire and arch by a little over 11/32".

 

THANKS EDGE! Interesting little tool!

MINIAC, I am currently running a 215/45/17 setup on my car. I get rubbing on the highway going over dips at 70mph. I don't like the rubbing no matter how little it may be.

I just recently got 18x7 wheels. And so I'm trying to decide what series tire to go with on my 18s:

205/35/18
205/40/18
215/35/18
215/40/18 (possible??)

 

You most likely won't rub.
There is nothing wrong with the tire/JCW wheel. Most people go to an 18X7.5 or 8.0 instead of the JCW 18X7.0.

That is why you are rubbing, you went with a tire that is bigger in all measurements. Plus, living in Vegas, you don't have to deal with many potholes like us Easterners do. Good luck.

 

Ick, but I'll have MORE gap with a 35 series tire? Hmmmm 18" wheels + gap = But, if it is in fact only 11/32 that might not be TOO bad.

 

There is not that much gap. Just another reason to post a pic of my MINI