well there ya go I have 225/40/18's on mine with TSW lowering springs which are about 3/4 - 1" lower than stock and I have no problems with rubbing Check with whomever your getting your springs/coil overs from and I'm sure they'll set ya up
215 45R 17 Yokohama Avid Envigor's here, riding on WMW/TSW springs. Awesome tire with an equally awesome feel after the upgrades. I have absolutely no problems what-so-ever.
Not gonna lie, I rub like crazy. OK, so maybe I should have put that differently But seriously. I run 215/45/17 on O.Z. Ultraleggeras, and there were no issues at stock height (the occasionally itty bitty scrape here and there) but being down at least 2 inches from stock on coilovers, well... it's a whole 'nother ball of wax. My fenders have trimmed themselves over time, though.
I've been running 215/45X17s on 17X7s with NM springs (1.2" lower) for 2 years with no clearance issues at all.
Kewl- yeah, I'm just looking to do an inch drop. Paul- I think the fact that you have a 1st gen is why you rub. The 2nd gens seem to come stock with a lift kit installed rrr:
That and my over-the-top drop from my Coilovers, I'm sure. Also, wheel offset is an important piece of it - for 1st gen, the optimum wheel offset is 37 or under. My Ultraleggeras are 43.
Does the wheel size make a difference? I have r84s in a 16" with 215/50/16" Kumho ASXs and don't rub at all.
Tire size calculator Posting the above link for anyone who finds this thread for historical purposes. It is a very good tool to figure out equivalent tire sizes. Simply put your factory size in, then the potential replacement. It will show you how much bigger or smaller the new set-up is in comparison to the old. And tells you how it will affect your speedo/odo, which can help to correct or exaggerate the false factory speedo readings in the MINI.
i've never owned a second gen car, but from what i've read, they have room for more tire than the R53. i ran 225's on 18's for the street and on 17's for the track. no problem on a lowered car. disclaimer: i ran substantial camber at both ends. (-2.5* front, -1.5* rear) this will affect your fitment. Labeled tire sizes also vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. i ran BFG KDW2's on the street and Hoosiers on the track. both of these were well on the wide side of advertised 225's. i can't see any 215 being a problem, regardless of alignment.
Well, the 215s have been on for a couple months now with no issues. Now we will see how it goes after the springs go on :ihih:
I've got NM springs on mine, run 215/45 17 on my Challenge Spokes in the winter without any rubbing at all.
Got the springs on Monday- they worked out perfect. Springs dropped the car a full inch. No more crazy wheel gap and no rubbing what-so ever