Just to share with you my experience of the rubbing problems with wheels.

Everything on my car was stock. Two weeks ago, I put on a new set of Ultraleggera (37 offset) with four Falken ST115 215/45/17. Immediately the day after, it was fully loaded with four persons (totalling 600lbs). The rear wheel on the passenger side sounded like hell during hard turns or going over bumps. The speed had to be maintained at 40km/h.:impatient

I then called the shop which told me that I should use 205/45/17. On the shopowner's recommendation, I got a set of Dunlop Sportmaxx 205/45/17. The rubbing was still there but the situation was slightly improved.

Couldn't bear the embarassment of the rubbing. I took my baby to the garage to see if trimming could help. About 1 cm was trimmed from the wheel arch. But trimming doesn't help much because I can now still hear the rubbing noise over bumps.

I went to the page "How to Trim" but the photos there were gone. Would someone show me the photos of how their wheel arch or fender was trimmed successfully? Much appreciated.

PS: The Cooper runs entirely different with the Ultraleg. I felt driving a competely different car. Worth to get them if you can bear the rubbing.

 

Wrong offset to start with.
The rubbing is most likely on the plastic wheel wells, not the flair. Take off the wheels and have a look under the wheel well and it should be obvious where contact is being made. You can eithet trim it while it's on the car with a Dremal or remove the plastic well and cut out the contact point with a jig saw.

 

(37 offset) + 215/45/17 <= there you go

 

Now we know what size/combination doesn't work.

 

I'll jump in and say the offset also.

I'm running 215/45/17 with a 40 offset and when at normal speed I hit a large dip in the road or a smaller one when loaded. The rear tires rub. The outside edge of the treads rub just inside the flair on the plastic area.

 

38mm offset with 205/45/17 on my daily driver BBS wheels...never had a rubbing problem with the stock or new suspension.

 

With 215/45-17s and 42 offset wheels, I had slight rubbing with a passenger
in the back seat when hitting a big dip in the road. Since adding lower rear
control arms and adding a bit more negative camber back there, I no longer
have a problem.

 

Errm... what about 215/45-17 and +48mm offset?

 

You may need spacers as your tires may hit the suspension, front struts and rear trailing arms.

 

I should add that my rims are 7" wide.

 

Thanks guys. will check and get back to you all.

 

17x7 ET35 205 tires stock suspension and had no rubbing.

 

Proof that all Minis are in fact different.