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Tire fit question

Discussion in 'Cooper SE' started by 1nickatnite1, Aug 2, 2023.

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  1. Aug 2, 2023 #1
    1nickatnite1

    1nickatnite1 Member

    I'm shopping for new tires and was originally settled on the Firehawk 500s but then I found the General GMAX RS. Problem is the General only comes in 205/55/R16. Has anyone here put 205 size tires on their SE and did you have to do any modifications because of the extra width?

    Thanks in advance!
     
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  2. Aug 2, 2023 #2
    chrunck

    chrunck Well-Known Member

    Albuquerque, NM
    It should be fine. The stock tires for 17" wheels is 205.

    My winter tires are 215 width with no issues either.
     
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  3. Aug 3, 2023 #3
    1nickatnite1

    1nickatnite1 Member

    Thanks! And I'm assuming you didn't have to install spacers?
     
  4. Aug 3, 2023 #4
    chrunck

    chrunck Well-Known Member

    Albuquerque, NM
    Nope, no spacers, and the wheels are factory wheels.
     
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  5. Aug 4, 2023 #5
    teddybare

    teddybare Member

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  6. Aug 4, 2023 #6
    1nickatnite1

    1nickatnite1 Member

  7. Aug 4, 2023 #7
    teddybare

    teddybare Member

    its a strange one when i went to my tyre garage i already had the rears with the 205 fitted like i said no problem ..but when they tried the fronts it was a no go touching the shocks, so i actually have 195 still on front (car feels fine by the way) all tyres like new so i can decide if go spaces or not when i need to replace.
     
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  8. Aug 4, 2023 #8
    chrunck

    chrunck Well-Known Member

    Albuquerque, NM
    It's weird to me that 205s would require spacers when the 17" wheels come with that size tire from the factory. Doesn't seem like 16" vs 17" diameter would really change the clearance.
     
  9. Aug 4, 2023 #9
    1nickatnite1

    1nickatnite1 Member

    Yea I don't get it either. I just went to go check my car and you're right its basically ~2mm of clearance between the front wheels and the springs so no idea how it can come with 205 from factory without spacers. Maybe its just an acceptable tolerance for them? I'll get the spacers just to be safe and rather have 205 size anyways. There's so may more options than 195.
     

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  10. Aug 4, 2023 #10
    insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Ann Arbor
    MINI, knowing their 17" rims would get wider tires, must have made them with more of a negative offset than their 16" rims.
    upload_2023-8-4_22-35-41.png
    copied from https://www.lesschwab.com/article/wheels/what-is-wheel-offset.html
     
  11. Aug 4, 2023 #11
    teslarati97

    teslarati97 Well-Known Member

    Both 16 inch and 17 inch OEM wheels should be 54mm offset.
     
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  12. Aug 5, 2023 #12
    insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Ann Arbor
    That shoots my theory. Do 16" 205 tires have an interference problem because their taller sidewalls bulge out more than the lower-profile 17" 205s?
     
  13. Aug 5, 2023 #13
    teddybare

    teddybare Member

    I'm pretty sure that's it because the contact 6 tyres do look like they bulge more
     
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  14. Aug 6, 2023 #14
    Giosan

    Giosan Member

    Honolulu, Hawaii
    I put 205/50/16 Yokohama a052 tires on, and they just fit without any rubbing. You can look up dimensions on Tirerack.com to see if they're not any wider. All 205's are not the same width...
     
  15. Aug 6, 2023 #15
    Giosan

    Giosan Member

    Honolulu, Hawaii
    If you go with spacers, you should probably go with longer lug bolts to match. Mini uses lug bolts instead of lug nuts. I found 5mm spacers and 5mm longer lug bolts on ebay. Maybe just have them on hand, in case you need them for the front.
     
  16. Aug 8, 2023 #16
    1nickatnite1

    1nickatnite1 Member

    Wanted to update this thread. I ended up getting 15mm spacers and 45mm bolts. The install process was easy and straightforward. Looking at the wheels, it appears to be just barely wider than the fenders so not sure if this will impact range. It doesn't bother me but if anyone else wants to do it I'd recommend the 12mm spacers.
     
  17. Aug 8, 2023 #17
    teddybare

    teddybare Member

    Thanks for the update
     
  18. Aug 8, 2023 #18
    teddybare

    teddybare Member

    forgot to ask, any pics..:)
     
  19. Aug 8, 2023 #19
    1nickatnite1

    1nickatnite1 Member

    I'll try to get some later but honestly it's hard to tell any difference from the outside. And I forgot to take the before pics for comparison anyways.
     
  20. Aug 9, 2023 #20
    teddybare

    teddybare Member

    That's ok ,least we know theres not a lot of spacer needed
     
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