Is Lowering 30mm on 15's ok???

[Adeline]

hey, i want to get my mini cooper( with aero kit) lowered 30mm possibly all round but at the moment its only on 15's. I do plan to get a set of 17's (when I can afford them), but does anyone think lowering it 30mm is too much on small ( and rubbish) wheels? Any info or pics would be good. Thanx
This site is getting addictive!

[HoG]

The smaller the wheel the more you can lower it mate

Ive got 17's on me MOD with 35mm lowering springs, looks perfect imo, A friend of mine has his Mini One lowered 45mm on 15's and he still has plenty of room left.

[Smoked]

im dropped 20 on eibachs and rubbish 15's (18's in like 2 wks, yey!!)

[Smoked]

Quote: Originally Posted by HoG

Mini One lowered 45mm on 15's and he still has plenty of room left.

where above his roof?!?! mine scrapes on everything as it is!!

[Adeline]

Yeah im not so sure there would be plenty of room lowering 45mm on 15's either. Ive already bumped it a few times, so i might have to drive slower over those blasted speed bumps. Looks is what counts tho! Thanx for those pics Ben. ( i hope ive got ur name right).

[Alan W]

My 'S' is lowered by 50mm on KW V2 coilovers. I've got 16" and 17" wheels and don't have any problems with clearance or rubbing, honestly! (Photos in my Gallery)

The rolling diameter of 15's is not that different and shouldn't give you any problems if lowering by 30mm.

Alan W

[Smoked]

Quote: Originally Posted by Adeline

Yeah im not so sure there would be plenty of room lowering 45mm on 15's either. Ive already bumped it a few times, so i might have to drive slower over those blasted speed bumps. Looks is what counts tho! Thanx for those pics Ben. ( i hope ive got ur name right).

you are correct bud, ben it is.

dont get me rong ppl, i dont scrape or rub anywhere, nor do i expect to on 18's (after a small steering mod done by BMW to reduce lock) but my front bumper cates on everything, multi stories, speed bumps, driveways, dip in the road..........cats eyes

50mm?!?! thats immense!!

[TT_Convert]

Never afraid to ask a stupid... Why does the size of the alloy make a difference? The overall circumference of the tyre is the same, is it not. I.e. larger alloy simply means lower profile tyre... or is this not the case for the Mini?

Pete

[Alan W]

Quote: Originally Posted by TT_Convert

Never afraid to ask a stupid... Why does the size of the alloy make a difference? The overall circumference of the tyre is the same, is it not. I.e. larger alloy simply means lower profile tyre... or is this not the case for the Mini?

Pete

Pete,

When choosing larger wheels and tyres it is recommended that you stay within + or - 3% of the original tyre rolling diameter. This means you don't upset the suspension geometry, handling, speedometer reading etc. too much. As you say this is done by using a lower profile tyre if you have increased the wheel diameter. The problems are associated with the extra width that accompanies larger diameter wheels. The extra width is mostly on the outside of the wheel bringing the outer edge of the new tyre much closer to the edge of the wheel arch or bodywork. In addition a lower profile performance tyre will usually have a more square shoulder on it that compounds the problem even further.

Hope this helps,

Alan W