Looking for alternate tire sizes for 04 MCS - 17" wheels - currently have 215/40's - Can I mount 215/50's to get a little better ride?? For those that have 215/45's was there a significant improvement in ride quality??

Thanks - by the way it's snowing here

gjs

 

best ride you will get with 17s is 225/45.

i run 215/45 on the front and 225/45 on the rear. only because my car is lowered.

search around a bit. theres a hundred threads on here about tires.

 

For the 2004 MCS are you using stock 17x7" wheels? OEM suspension?

OEM tire size is 205/45-17

Alternative sizes are 215/45-17 and like you have 215/40-17 but that stiff sidewall is jarring on bumpy roads.

Depending on which tire you choose, 205/45-17 can be OK for street use however the selection of tires is large in 215/45-17. There are many choices in that size so you can prioritize your tire needs to narrow down the field.

Do you have any cold weather or snow? Did you need an all season tire or a summer tire (no cold weather or snow)? Or do you change to winter tires in your area?

Are the tires for street use only, or do you plan to do any performance driving? What 215/40-17 tires did you have? How long did you use them and how did you like them? What kind of roads do you have, many potholes?

While it is possible that 225/45-17 could fit a 2004 MINI, it's not recommended due to the tire diameter of 25" which is larger than OEM of 24.4". You get some speedo and odometer error, the wheel gap is smaller but the clearance for the suspension over bumps and under full load is small and you can risk rubbing in the rear. Further the ride height from the ground is increased slightly, the tires may look oversized for the MINI's proportions.

225/45-17 fits rims 7-8.5" wide and is perfect for a 7.5" wide rim. 205/50-17 is also too tall for the 2004 MCS.

If you are doing only street driving and want a comfortable ride using OEM rims then consider-

In Max Summer tires
Continental ExtremeContact DW 340 treadwear
205/45-17 $99 each, 19 lbs
see others in this size-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...wdp=N&showcm=N

In the same tire size in Ultra High Performance All Season tires-
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey...wws=N&showcm=N
Consider the first two tires on that list.

There are also tires in 215/45-17 for the above mentioned tires.