5 replies to this topic

[The Saints]

Hello,

Must admit I have read a number of topics on wheel spacers and I am still in two minds as to what I can do to sort my problem.  I have a 96 Mini Equinox with the front discs and rear 1" spaced drums.

 

I recently purchased some deep dish 12 x 6 Ultralites from Huddersfield Mini Spares.  At the time I also bought some group 2 road wheel arches.  When fitted it all looked great, apart from the tyre tread stuck out from the arches slightly so had no choice but to change them.  I have since brought some Group 2 race wheel arches which easily cover the tyres now, but by too much.  It just looks ugly to me.

 

I measured the distances that the wheels would need to come out to fill the arches properly.  At the front its 1/2" and at the rear it would need to be 1".  I've read the horror stories about fitting spacers but don't think I can live with how the car looks now. 

 

What is your opinions on fitting the 5mm spacers at the front (as a compromise) and fitting 3/4" spacers (on top of the spacered drums already there) at the rear.  I hear things get difficult from 1" upwards so wonder is I can get away with 3/4".

 

The only other option I can think of is getting the 13 x 7 alloys, but I like what I have and ideally want to keep the alloys.

 

Thank you for any advice given.

[Cooperman]

The 6" wheels already move the effective mean track out by about 1.5" from standard and moving it out further is not a good idea, especially on the front as it 'screws up' the steering geometry as well as increasing the cantilever loading on the bearings and swivel hub ball joints. Spacers on the rear increase the wheel bearing loads.
The track to wheelbase ratio is important in both road-holding and handling.
The inner edge of the tyre needs to sit in the standard position relative to the suspension. Spacers are really only suitable for wheels where the datum offset moves the effective inner tyre edge inwards, the spacer being there to put it back in the correct position relative to the suspension, not to move the entire wheel out for cosmetic reasons at the expense of road-holding & handling.
13" wheels are not as good as 12" or 10" as the tyres are too wide for the weight of the car (it's a bit more involved than that, but that's a basic answer).

[freshairmini]

Wood and picket arches will cover those wheels nicely.

[maccers]

My 4.75" rose petals stick out a tiny bit over the metal wing lip, but when I had the suspension and camber etc set up correctly the top of the tread was inside the wheel arch just by using .5 degree neg camber at the front. Just an idea if you had neg camber bottom arms?

[The Saints]

Thank you for the replies.  Gives me a lot to think about but I think its confirmed that the wheel spacers are not the answer.

[MR J]

Wood and picket arches will cover those wheels nicely.

 

I have the 2.5 inch ABS versions and they cover my Huddersfield 10x6's perfectly.