4 replies to this topic

[kangaroomadman]

I have a Sportspack MPI with the standard 13x6" sportspack alloy wheels but want to change these for 12" wheels to reduce tramlining etc.

 

From searching on the forum (a lot) I found that the offset of the sportspack wheels is ET22, and ideally I want to match how far any new wheels come out in to the arches so I don't need to change them.

 

I've had a look around and like the sound of the Ultralites on minisport: https://www.minispor...re-package.html

 

The Minisport website state that they are an offset of ET10, but is this enough to fill the sportspack arches?

 

This offset is 12mm less than the sports pack but is the offset inside of the centreline or out? If it was inside then the wheels would protrude 12mm less plus the 1/4" difference from the centreline so would be in total 18mm short of the sportspack OR is is outside of the centreline so the 12" wheels would be 6mm further out from the sports pack wheels, as the willtheyfit.com calculator suggests?

 

I know I can use spacers but was wondering if there were any wheels out there that wouldn't need them?

[THE ANORAK]

have you considered why the 13inch wheels cause the tram-lining in the first place ??

 

personally i know nothing about it but... if its the offset that causes the problem then matching that offset will make little or no difference !!

 

just a thought and worth a bit of research before you spend your money 

[nicklouse]

using spacers or getting wheels that will fill your arches will actually make what you seem to be complaining about worse.

[Mervyn]

Going from a 6" ET22 to a 5.5" ET10 will mean you'll gain 18.3mm clearance from the inner rim to the shock absorber , and the wheel will sit 5.65mm further out the arch than the 13s

They're going to look a bit lost in the arches, perhaps go up a width with a 12x6 with a lower offset, mambas come in ET -7 which would sit them 29mm further out, which would stop them looking quite so lost, but you might not like the cotton wheel racer look (I do)

The 5.5" x 12 probably will alleviate some of the symptoms , much lighter than a 13" , but the 6" x 12" will look better, but less likely to sort it

Might be better getting some adjustable suspension instead and getting it tweaked by a mini specialist to dial it in to your requirements


Merv

Edited by Mervyn, 23 July 2017 - 06:56 AM.

[Itsaminithing]

If your Mini is fitted with 175/50/13 Yokohama A539? If so you've got two options....

 

1. Change the tyres. The A539 are good tyres but they have a very square profile -good for grip, not quite so good for driver feedback or nimbleness on such a light vehicle (others might disagree!).

I kept the 13" Sport Pack alloys but changed my tyres for 165/60/13 Falken tyres (165/60/13 was the original specification for the ERA Turbo & Cabriolet models). OK they had slightly less grip but a big improvement in handling/driver feedback, & dramatically reduced the tramlining (165/60/13 Falkens are sadly NLA).

 

2. Get a set of 12" alloys, you need ET-7 & the only ready-made wheels i know are JBW (John Brown Wheels AKA MWS/Midland Wheel Supplies) -not the best quality wheels as far as many are concerned (lacquer on mine lifted before i got around to fitting them!). Available individually from Minisport but P&L do a wheel/tyre package with a choice of Yoko or Falken tyres https://www.plminish...lcon_Tyres.html

They're meant to improve handling compared to the heavy Sport Pack alloys (weighed them long ago & they were something silly like halve the weight!) but i haven't had a chance to try mine in anger yet.

Good pic of them fitted in Miniworld Keeping Your Mini Alive 5, but can't find any pic online.

 

Depending on what you fit -the rolling diameter of the wheel/tyre might be different which will change the accuracy of your speedo (probably not by much).

Edited by Itsaminithing, 27 July 2017 - 02:15 PM.