Car Owners Hub UK - Built by Drivers, for Drivers

Greetings everyone,

The ever-deteriorating condition of our roads is causing my wife's automobile (and my wife) to get battered around.


The 2013 Mini Cooper Bayswater, which she owns, has 205/45 R17 tires mounted on it. The license plate is probably R56. The roads made an already difficult trip much harder.

I'm planning to change all four tires because three of them are flat, but would it be possible to swap them out for ones with a slightly higher profile (205/50) instead?

Will there be enough space for the tires to revolve without rubbing?

Indeed, the subframe and control arms would rub in the absence of shims and bumpers. I can also see a rack and pinion reset being necessary.

rejecting that suggestion. I am grateful.

Despite losing the runflats at the time, I have never regretted going to 215/45 years ago.

Those identical JCW wheels up there are running 225 45 17. Optimum features include a more comfortable ride and a more defined arch. Drawbacks: when full lock, the fronts rub against the shock. My homework didn't turn this in, so I'm a little bummed about that. However, I think some 10mm spacers will cure it.

The 215/45 non-run-flat option has been recommended by many, so I shall continue with it.


What if, instead of removing the wheel from the suspension, the spacer was used to bring it closer to the wheel arch?

You should be good to go with a 7-inch rim. It is likely that shims will still be necessary. When I reverse with my brand new, 18-inch wheels and tires, they barely brush the inner wells, much like your standard tires. but only in a very tight reverse.