11 replies to this topic

[minitourer]

Hi there,

I´ve got plan. Want to fit 10 inch wheels on my Sportpack Cooper (MPI).
The question is: can it look good or can I do it with these arches?
I´ve seen once a blue one with 10´ but I don´t have a picture.
Thanks a lot.

Greetings from Germany.

Dennis

[Pavel]

Hi Dennis!

Assuming you did not change the brakes, then you have the 8.4" disc brakes on the front.

With these disc brakes, 10" wheels will NOT fit, they will hit the caliper. This is why from 1984 (when the disc brakes were introduced as standard) every mini has had 12" wheels, to cover the disc brakes.

You can change the brakes to a smaller size while retaining discs (and don't even think about going to drums, that's just suicide), what is known as the Cooper S setup. It uses smaller 7" discs, with smaller calipers, and those fit under 10". But this is VERY expensive (well used setups cost around 200 pounds, new think 400-600).

So if you don't have a lot of cash to blow and if this isn't a matter of life and death, I say you should stick to 12" wheels (unless, like i said, you have the money for a cooper S setup!)

Any more questions let me know!

Pavel

[minitourer]

Hi Pavel,

yes I know to change the brakes. My one and only worry are the Sportpack arches. The MINI I´ve seen was featured in MINI Magazine April 2002. I think tis one had 6,5*10 wheels. I don´t kow if it had wheelspacers but think so. But the spacers are not good for driving??

Dennis

[Pavel]

Spacers are ok if you use them to correct the offset.

But in general, most people use them to space out the wheels for the look. Usually wheels (minilites etc.) that are made for the mini have the correct offset built in (38mm). If you add spacers you increase the offset a lot, and this puts a lot more strain on the wheel bearings, especially if you run 13" monster wheels!

With 10" wheels, using spacers is safer, but still unadvisable. It will eventually wear out the wheel bearings quicker (to fix, a set costs 20 pounds for the front, pair). It may not be much of an issue, so go for it if you need to!

Also keep in mind to use the spacers that are a round disc, and that come with longer studs to replace the ones you have on now. Stay away from those X looking spacers with bolt on studs, they are BAD.

[Bluemini]

I'm not a big fan of sportspack arches, but with a set of 10's they can look good.

As far as the use of spacers goes, for safety reasons, dont go above 3/4". I had 3/4" on old blue and never had any bearing problems or and other steering/suspension trouble while it was on 13's.

Like pavel said tho, dont go near the spacers that involve screw on stud extension - they are lethal!!!!!

When I first had blue on the road, i was running 10's with 8.4" breaks ... There are 2 types of affordable wheels on the market that will fit over 8.4's - Wellers (steel wheels, but v nice) and the new deep dish Revolutions. You will need to moddify your calliper slightly with a grinder, but it is perfectly safe as long as you inly take off enuf meat to clear the wheel.

If I can, I'll get some pics as a guide to haw much to cut out...

Tens are the way forward tho

[Stingray]

I've seen a couple of cars with SP arches and wide 10 inch wheels. They looked great to me.

-S

[Pavel]

doc, any way of fitting normal 10" steelies over 8.4 calipers? maybe with spacers? I really need to get my car running and cant get 12" wheels round here :S

[Stingray]

As I understand it, 10 inchers over 8.4 disks are a no-go. I've heard that it can be done by machining the calipers, but this doens't seem safe to me.

Hey, 12 inch wheels aren't available here either. Suck it up and order a set from the UK, like I did!

-S

[minitourer]

Thanks for the replys!
First I must say that I´ve found this MINIMAG which mentioned above.
This car is on 6,5*10 inch MB-Racing Split-rims and has an offset by 3,5 inches to fill the sportspack arches out. Is my English right, when I understand that "offset" are wheelspacers???

Greetings from Germany,

Dennis

[Bluemini]

offset is the distance the wheel is past the centre were you bolt it up, the further out or past the centre, the more offsett you get.

Pavel, normal 10" steels aint gonna fit, unless you've got a set of Cooper 'S' reverse rims, then with a bit or tweaking they will.

I may have a set of 5 x 12 minilites for sale soon tho!

[Pavel]

wahey!!!

Any chance you could find out shipping for me? Wow I can't believe I might get wheels

by the way, how much are we talking, because it may be out of my budget

[Bluemini]

Depends, i was gonna take the tyres off because they are new and use em on the new wheels when i get em, but we can sort somat out...