Hi all-
Thanks for your patience. I have a 2005 MCS with the stock Goodyear Eagle RSA run-flats. I have a bubble in the sidewall of my right front tire and the rest are close to needing replacement. I have decided, after reading a lot of the posts here, that I am going to replace them with the Continental Contiprocontact SSR run-flats. Tire-rack has the 205/45/17 backordered, but has the 225/45/17 in stock. The 225's are cheaper and seem to have a higher speed rating. Can I put these on my stock 17 inch rims? What is the downside to doing this? I admittedly don't understand what the different numbers mean exactly. I am trying to balance cost, road noise and ability to do some mild winter driving in Virginia. This is very confusing!! :impatient

Thanks you so much for your help!!

 

225/45/17 is quite a bit taller than the stock size and won't be ideal on a stock 17x7 wheel. I have 215/45/17 on my car and it's about as far as I would go. Is there a 215/40/17 available?

 

I'm running Michelin Pilot Exalto 2's 215/45/17 on s-lites, work great and I am lowered

 

Check this site out.

http://www.dakota-truck.net/TIRECALC/tirecalc.html

Is has a really good tire size converter that includes mph differences from the base tire size....

 

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?faq=faq_wheels_tyres

The above thread is posted at mini2.com and, based on the table of "acceptable" tire sizes for MINIs, the 225/45R17 tire would probably be a little tall.

 

I was running 215/45/17 BFG kdw'2, and they rubbed. Went to 40's and they are perfect . I am lowered with M7 springs, almost an 1.5" drop.

 

225/45 is about 3/4 inch taller (diameter) than your 205/45 (25" vs. 24.25, respectively). Broken down you're looking at 3/8 inch more tire at the top that can (and probably will) interfere with your suspension control arms. The only way it would possibly work is to go with a wider offset rim or purchase spacers that would go between the hub and rim. I would look for another tire and stay within specs...

 

215/45/17 is a good fit if you want a little wider and can tolerate a tiny bit taller tire.

 

I am that low with 215/45/17s and don't rub ... CAMBER is you friend

 

I tried this size 225/45-17 with a set of Falken Azenis on stock S-Lites. The top of tire rubbed on the shock mount Tire shop suggested against it, but it was pretty obvious it was not going to work cause it rubbed HARD. Went back to 215/40-17.

 

sorry ... should have said NO rubbing on the fender ....
I was on Slites with 20mm spacers.
now different wheels with 42 offset and no rubbing

 

Running 215/40/18s..no probs..and dropped too

 

Just so that I understand you correctly.
You have dropped your ride height by 1.5"
You are running 225-45-17 on NEW wheels with a 42mm offset without any rubbing issues?

I have been following wheel and tire posts, while I am wearing out the crappy runflats.

I am looking at a set of Team Dynamic 17x7 with 45mm offset fitted with some Falken Azenis RT615 for track days. I am currently running stock ride height with -1.75 camber on IE adjustables. I do not intend dropping the ride height as we already have precious little suspension travel and the roads in NC are pretty crappy. I would prefer the wheels with a 42mm offset but I have not seen any with this offset.

Anybody out there running a similar setup already to what I am looking at?

 

I belive Cor is running 215's. I should have said in my post that I was rubbing in the front not the back because I did install lower control arms for camber adj. .