Will a 235/40/17 fit on a MCS?

[whiteM3/4]

I have 2 extra sets of Michelin PS2's from my M3 (keeping it) and am thinking of ordering an 06 MCS as a 2nd car. I saw that on tirerack they have a Kosei 17x7.5 that they sell for a MCS which will hold a 235/40/17. Would I need spacers? Rolled fenders?.

Thanks,

[Koopah]

If your suspension will not be lowered, 225/40-17 on a wheel with a 45mm offset is about as wide as you'd want. I think that a 235 would be too wide and would cause you fitment problems.

I run a 215/45-17 on the Koseis and they feel extremely good. I would have gone with a 215/40-17 for the increased turn-in, but the (lack of) road surfaces in New England would challenge a 40 sidewall.

Also, consider two other aspects of your decision: weight and heat.

A larger tire will typically weigh more that a smaller tire thus presenting more rotational mass (and unsprung weight) that the MINI needs to deal with. This has an effect on handling and acceleration. My rule of thumb has been to keep total tire and wheel weight at a minimum; ideally 34 lbs or less per corner. The Koseis run about 16 lbs so (according to my theory) you should be shooting for a tire weighing around 18 lbs (not gonna happen). The PS2s run about 21 lbs so you're not that far off. Of course, going with an ultra-light wheel (11-12lbs) and a slightly lighter tire would be better.

Then there is the heat aspect. For a tire to perform at its maximum potential, it needs to reach a specific heat range. Friction creates the heat which then makes the tire compound "stickier". The amount of heat generated will be a function of the tire, the weight of the car, the road surface, your driving style and the amount of material (compound) that is to be heated. All other things being equal, a 235/40-17 has quite a lot more material to be heated than a 195, 205 or 215 section width tire. The 235 width may be an advantage in sustained high-friction situations (like when racing on a road course at sustained speeds), but not in everyday "spirited" driving. Any advantage you may perceive to have (based on width) will not be realized since the tire will not be able to reach optimum operating temperature on the MINI in street driving. For this reason (along with fitment issues) I suggest a narrower section width.

I have seen a number of very successfull MINIs autocrossing on 15" and 16" wheels running 195 to 215 section widths. Wider isn't always better, especially when you consider rotational mass and heat issues.

You may want to talk to a real expert in these issues. Alex Mouroulis at the Tire Rack works closley with the MINI community. He is exceptionally well qualified to discuss wheel and tire specifications for the MINI. Here is his contact info:

Alex Mouroulis
Performace Consultant
The TireRack
877 522 8473 xt 294

Hope this helps,

Theo

[whiteM3/4]

Thanks Theo. I'll contact Alex before I do anything. Sounds like I might have to sell the 235/40's. Ran with a few Mini's in One Lap of America, quite track capable cars that beat much higher HP cars. Is your MCS your winter car in the NE and if so do you use snow tires? Can you also point me in a direction/link where to determine what options I should get? LSD/CWP/MFS/Computer is what I am thinking.

[Koopah]

{snip}...Is your MCS your winter car in the NE and if so do you use snow tires?...{snip}
I drive the 3-series with Dunlop Sport M2s in the winter and drive the MINI in the winter as well with its original 16" X-Lites and 195/55-16 Dunlop 3000 runflats. I have found the Dunlop 3000 tire to run exceptionally well in the rain and fairly good in the snow; their dry stick is only fair.

We have a lot of snow here in the hills of western MA and the real problem with the MINI in our winters is not the traction but the depth of snow. The MINI is very low-slung and you find yourself "snowplowing" when on unplowed roads with more that about 5"-6" of snow.

My Dunlop 3000 have about 24,000 miles on them. I'm not sure they will be as good this winter as they were last winter. I'll probably wind up buying a set of Dunlop Sport M3 runflats.


{snip}...Can you also point me in a direction/link where to determine what options I should get? LSD/CWP/MFS/Computer is what I am thinking.
www.northamericanmotoring.com and www.mini2.com are two of the largest MINI message boards out there. You will find a lot of posts that will help you with the choice of your options.

I'd suggest that before you option your MINI, write down aspects about the typical and enthusiastic driving you will be doing. Also figure-in enviromental factors, and the other folks that may drive the MINI.

I am an enthusiastic driver so I went for all the performance options available on the 2004 MCS. However, the weight of the S-Lites in the Sport Package was off-putting, so I ordered everything in the Sport Package individually and stuck with the lighter weight (17lbs) X-Lites. Sadly, LSD was not an option in 2004. I also ordered the Premium Package since I wanted each of those items. And, finally, I ordered the Cold Weather Package for obvious reasons.

I knew that my wife and my two sons would be spending seat time in the MINI so I opted for the DSC (added to my "a la carte" Sport Pack) system. It gives me a sense of peace when they take the car.

Before my MINI went into production, I rode in a friend's MINI with the HK radio setup and was very impressed as compared with the standard radio. This was an additional $500 but I wound up changing my order to include it. By all means, you should listen to both radios before making a decision.

Check those message boards and start test driving differently-optioned MINIs to make sure of your choices!

Theo

[SoCaL330CI]

If you're looking for go-kart handling, the Mini definatly lives up to that. 235 is too wide for a Mini though, I'm running 205 right now, and lowered, many people report rubbing issues over bumps, and when turning. Unless you roll the fenders, and run a ridiculous offset, I don't think those tires would work out :-\. Good luck with your choice of car!