Need some wheels/tire advice

Hey guys, so first post here. Awesome community/forum so far from what I've read. Okay so I need some help, I bought a set of wheels assuming they'd fit without doing too much research into the issue.

I own a '94 SW20 Bathurst, which I'm pretty sure a previous member (think it was 'Boof') here actually owned before me. I bought a set of Super Advan Racing Tri-Spokes.

Fronts are 17"/8" and rears are 17"/9".
I picked up some wheel nuts for it, threw the rears on and they felt like they fit perfect. Unfortunately the fronts didn't clear those front struts. I understand a lot of people need to run 205/215s on the front and maybe a select few get by with the right coilover set up with 225s. Wish I knew that first.

Anywho, the advice I need is;

Current set up is 17/8 235/40 +35 on the fronts
and 17/9 235/40 +38 on the rears

Can you slap on smaller tires (so maybe 215s) on the front wheels to get them to fit, or does it not work like that? This is my first car I've gotten into properly modding (apart from subs/speaker installs) so I'm pretty new to all this. Thanks again :)

I've only got stock suspension if that makes any difference.
The main thing I need to know is if I can fit 215 tires onto an 17/8j rim without it being ridiculously stretched or anything

215's fit well on an 8" rim....

Offset is +38. Front Tyre size won't effect your speedo.

I'm running stock suspension, so i don't see how you'll have a problem. Running 215/40 front and 235/40 rear is pretty common...

Here you can see the top of the Advan tire scrubbing against the strut. Turns out the specs are 235/45
So if I go 215/40, will that definitely clear? 
Just need to be 100% sure cause I can't afford to get the new tires then not have them fit again


Edit: 

Just wanted to add that this isn't properly on the hub or anything, this is jacked up in the air trying to put the wheel on and there's where it makes contact

Okay, thank you heaps Rick, really appreciate the help mate. I just needed someone with the same specs to verify, been so keen to get this going but keep hitting obstacles. Also made the weirdest discovery while checking out my tires; the boot for the two front struts are shredded up into rings. Don't know if it's going to cause any issues. And all my tires are 205/55.. I thought MR2s were meant to have staggered sets. Odd.



I'll update this tomorrow maybe and update how it goes; hopefully all is well.

Yeah, I've learned that the MR2 isn't the easiest car to have a bit of fun with mod-wise. There's a lot of knowledge that comes into play and you can't really 'just wing it' like other cars.