Hi All,

I have searched the threads and haven't been able to find what I'm looking for, so I decided to start my own - if there is one sorry for the redundancy.

I'm currently running Team Dynamics Pro-Race 1 17x7 (not certain about the offset), with 205/45/17 Toyo Proxes T1R's, lowered with H&R Springs. For my next set of tires (Michelin PE2's or Nitto NeoGen's) I'm thinking about going with 215/45/17's or 215/40/17. Have any of you experienced any problems with rubbing, needing to add spacer's, adverse fuel mileage, etc. that you can share? Any photos of your cars with a similar set-up would be greatly appreciated.

Alex from Tire Rack has told me that I shouldn't have any problems, but I wanted to see what you have experienced. TIA.

 

All depends on the offset. 215/45R17 size is fine - lots of people run it (including me) but whether or not it rubs on your particular car will depend on offset. Take a look inside the existing tires and measure how close they come to rubbing the struts. On my car, with the 215's, camber plates, Koni FSDs, TSW springs, and OEM wheels etc. , I only have a few mm clearance. But that's enough.

 

Thanks Paul! The TD's have a 45 offset. Anyone else running the same type of wheels that I have that can comment on whether the 215/45/17's will rub?

Will the 215/40/17's increase the wheel gap? 0.3" difference shouldn't be all that much when compared to the 205/45/17's right?

 

215/40-17 will not rub despite how low, whatever offset, spacer, no spacer, -camber, +camber, etc.

Here is some pics of 215/40-17 Nitto NeoGens on JCW springs.


BTW: You have R56 right? If so I really doubt you will rub 215/45-17

 

Thanks Howsoon... Yes I do have a R56.

Did you always have the 215/40/17 with the H-Sport lowering srings? I'm trying to determine how much difference there will be going from 205/45 to 215/40's? How's the gas mileage?

 

I run Rota-RB's in 17x7.5 with 215/40/17 Nitto Neogens on stock sport suspension. Certainly no rubbing, plenty of room in the wheel wells, very comfy ride compared to the OEM tires. Tires look normal (not rolled in, or chunky, or thin).

The only thing is the 215/40 size has limited tires available. It does make the speedo run 2% high.
http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp

http://myfisher.com/rotas-small.jpg

 

Thanks Fishey... Like the pict too! Is your ride very rough with the 215/40's? notice any fuel mileage difference?

 

My 215/40's are a waaaaaayyyyyyyyy smoother ride than the stock OEM runflats!

MPG's, hard to tell since it varies so much by season with summer A/C (26mpg actual), winter wheels/tires (~27mpg actual), and dry/cool spring or fall air (~28mpg actual). All year average 26.0 mpg, all actual calculated on a spreadsheet.

Unless you are mega mileage driver, mpg in $ should not really even be a concern. Take a 1 mpg difference in 10k miles = $35.61 (using round #'s)

10k / 27mpg * 2.50 a gal = $925.92 per year
10k / 26mpg * 2.50 a gal = $961.54 per year

If you are seriously concerned about MPG you should be looking at boring tires in stock size.

 

Cool... That's good to know since I use my mini as a daily driver - about 80 miles/day. But like to take it on the twisties every so often, so the 215/40's very appealing.

 

the GP has JCW springs, but I have had 215/40-17 (with Falken RT-615s) on S-lites with H-Sport springs and Koni Sports on previous car. Blelow:

Overall diameter from oem 205/45 to 215/40 is pretty close so not too much difference in fuel, but will affect slightly.

 

I'm on Konig Feathers now, 17x7" 40mm offset, with 215/45/17, lowered on mach v springs (1.25" drop) and I definitely have a few rub spots on the wheel well felt liners. Seems to be from turning and wallowing bumps on the highway. So far its been a month and I can feel the "furry" part of the liner is now flat and bald feeling, so we will see if it eventually rubs through or not.

Btw, I'm also on the nitto neo gens. I'm trying to resolve an issue with the car wallowing and not behaving correctly when moving the wheel (slalom/emergency evasive manuver) type turn on the highway 60+mph, the car will throw itself in the opposite direction after wheel is straight again. (eg. Turn left about 5 degrees within my highway lane, turn back to right, then back straight. normally the car would roll to the right, then back left, then dampen out and center again.) After changing the wheels+tires setup, it now will roll right again then back to center (almost as though I jerked the wheel once more). Its seeming like its pointing towards the taller and softer sidewall of the nittos'... coming from a 205/40/18 runflat... but I will hopefully have this figured out by tonight, as my friend and I are taking a closer look at everything suspension related right after work.

 

Let us know what you find out because I was looking at the Nitto's too. Maybe the Hankook V12's won't be so bad afterall, and the price... Wow

 

Let me work on these posting these pictures

 

I ran the NeoGens last year - I liked the predictable grip, comfortable ride, etc. But they DO have VERY flexible sidewalls. At the track, they'd roll right over onto the sidewall, even with the pressures high. That's likely creating some of the slalom weirdness.

But, overall, I really like those tires. Especially for the price. They're not in the same league as my current RE-11's, but they also cost less than half as much.

 

The price of the neogens are hard to pass up. Thanks for sharing...

 

Everything is tight, struts dont appear to be blown, control arms are fine, bushings intact etc. I did replace the rear sway bar while i was under there and it did help a little, but its definitely still noticiable. I'm pretty convinced it is the tires. I will be able to tell for sure when I put my winter set of wheels on. My suggestion would be go for the 40 series sidewall and not the 45 (if going 215), or go with a 205/45. The extra sidewall definitely flexes on these tires. I'm probably going to burn through them in a year or so, so probably will be on a different tire after these.

They do grip well for sure, its just this roll I cannot stand

 

I have only done 1 session on them and it was the first of the day before I switched out to Kook RS-2. But did not notice anything although mine were 215/40 less sidewall. I believe you were there at VIR PWMD event few years ago. I used them cause I got delayed cause they did not let me go on track without a long sleave shirt. Finally, Sneed's shop dug up a shirt my size, but they were already calling my run group up. But the Nittos in 215/40-17 felt good on the Dragon.