Hello all,

I've searched through old posts and simply have not found the info I want.

My wife got an '05 Cooper S with 38k miles about two weeks ago. As of 4 days ago it's been sitting at a tire shop with a blown tire and bent wheel. She ran over a drive shaft lying in the road, and we've been waiting on the insurance assessment for the better part of a week now. The car has the stock 17" wheels with 205/45R17 Khumo Ecsta non-runflats, but I am debating going down to 15s. It needs 4 new tires anyway and 1 new wheel. If I am going to do it, now is the time. As much as I plead, the car will not dodge cones. So, my main motive is not to decrease weight or pick up grip. I get it every now and then to play on mountain roads, but she doesn't drive it hard. Unless it is into objects in the road :frown:. However, the extra protection against pot-holes, the potential for a few percent better fuel economy, and more availability in cheaper, longer lasting tires is enticing.

I can drop a few pounds per wheel with the cheap 15x6.5 Sport Edition D5 wheel (15.4lbs, 38mm offset). And gain some availability in cheaper, longer lasting tires too.

Am I going to be too unhappy with my occasional "Mini fun time" if I loose a half inch of treadwidth going to 195/60R15s vs a 205/55R15?

Would I maybe be able to wrap a 225/50R15 onto a 6.5" wide wheel?

Thanks.

It will be surprising if there are many people who can give advice based on their own experience - I expect most are like me who have only driven on 15s using stock 15" wheels and 175/65/15 tyres.

Am I going to be too unhappy with my occasional "Mini fun time" if I loose a half inch of treadwidth going to 195/60R15s vs a 205/55R15?

Would I maybe be able to wrap a 225/50R15 onto a 6.5" wide wheel?

With 225/50-15 tires on ET38 wheels you might get rubbing on the wheel arches. Besides, why would you want to burden your wife with such wide tires?

Do you have a mobility kit to deal with flat tires?

After looking into the 38mm offset, issues with a 225 on a 6.5" wheel, and potential for rubbing. I will not be putting a 225 on there.

I'm not certain what a 'mobility kit' is, but we do not have a spare for the car. Aside from having a spare to replace the blown tire and bent wheel, she was stuck in this case no matter what. Neither a plug nor 'tire slime' would have helped in this case. The sidewall had a 2" gash in it after hitting the object in the road.

I'm not certain what a 'mobility kit' is, but we do not have a spare for the car.
A mobility kit is an air compressor and tire sealant.

I missed the fact that the car had non-runflats to begin with :eek: