19 replies to this topic

[Minimad100]

Hi guys!!

I've been looking at fitting 13x7 deep dish alloys to my sportspack but I have encountered a number of people stating the wheels scrub the arches and a number of people who say this does not occur. I am really after some clarity on this as the thought of damaging newly restored body work is horrible!!!

Cheers Ryan

[Mini_Ky]

Generally speaking the people who have experienced wear/tear or 'rubbing' on their arches are usually the people who have taken little care when fitting their wheels. With correct spacing/arch cut-out/ride height (suspension settings) you shouldn't ever experience any kind of rubbing what so ever. Granted nobody wants to pay ridiculous labor costs to have this done by a professional and nor should they, there's plenty of information on the web and probably a GREAT deal of information on this website too on how to fit your new wheels perfectly. Granted you may run in to some issues with handling and so on but it's nothing that can't be cured. 
Personal opinion and experience speaking; do some homework and then trial and error, chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Most of your major mini parts suppliers will let you put on wheels to give you an idea of how they look and of course give you the opportunity to make sure they won't rub on anything. Granted you can't go driving around to check lean rub and what not but still, it's worth a journey.

Sportspack easily house 13x7, considering you do have an aftermarket suspension kit (e.g. gaz hi-lo) and correct spacing. I do believe even the later original sportspack mini's could house the wider wheels with very little, if any, adjustments at all.

Good luck!
 

Edited by Mini_Ky, 23 July 2013 - 11:34 PM.

[Jayme 1275]

Basically 

 

if the car has sportspacks fitted from factory they wont 

 

if they dont you need to remove some metal from around the wing for clearance on full lock. 

[Minimad100]

Thanks guys! Think that's pretty much answered my question hahaha

[SuperDeLuxeNick]

I wouldnt reccommend, the car isnt set up or designed for them and it will put uneeded strain on steering components. IMO stick to factory standard! I had a mini that the previous owner put big deep dishs on and it just causes the car endless problems... Put 10"s on 

[Minimad100]

Probably a silly thing to say but would adding an inch on the width of a wheel make much difference to strain etc? And I would love 10" but it's got 8.4" disks and not forgetting the slight adjustments made to the winds for the sport packs 😉

[HarrysMini]

Doesn't put strain on anything if you set them up properly.

The only things that might wear a little quicker are the wheel bearings, but I'll bet they would require changing anyway if you really looked at them. 

[SuperDeLuxeNick]

Yes sorry, i meant unless you set up the car correct and upgrade other parts. dont just stick them on!

[Minimad100]

Oh I see well all parts have been updated (suspension wise) as it's only been restored about 4 months ago! So all should be good fingers crossed!!!

[Jayme 1275]

Basically look at it this way...

 

there are thousands of cars that didnt come with them in the uk that now run 13's 

 

i can tell you from personal experience that once you fit them the car looses some of the handling characteristics that they have on 12's but it still functions and acts normally.

 

if this is a bit issue get some adjustable bottom arms and get the thing laser aligned, i did and was really impressed with the results.   

[Minimad100]

Well this is my first mini and has only had 13s and I was amazed how It handled compared to other cars I've driven so must be fantastic with 12s haha and I already have the arms and has been lazer aligned, with the 6 x 13s, would it need to be re done with 7 x 13s? Cheers for all your help guys!!!!

[Jayme 1275]

Well this is my first mini and has only had 13s and I was amazed how It handled compared to other cars I've driven so must be fantastic with 12s haha and I already have the arms and has been lazer aligned, with the 6 x 13s, would it need to be re done with 7 x 13s? Cheers for all your help guys!!!!

 

As long as you dont drop adjust suspension no.

[AndyR]

Generally speaking the people who have experienced wear/tear or 'rubbing' on their arches are usually the people who have taken little care when fitting their wheels. With correct spacing/arch cut-out/ride height (suspension settings) you shouldn't ever experience any kind of rubbing what so ever. Granted nobody wants to pay ridiculous labor costs to have this done by a professional and nor should they, there's plenty of information on the web and probably a GREAT deal of information on this website too on how to fit your new wheels perfectly. Granted you may run in to some issues with handling and so on but it's nothing that can't be cured. 
Personal opinion and experience speaking; do some homework and then trial and error, chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Most of your major mini parts suppliers will let you put on wheels to give you an idea of how they look and of course give you the opportunity to make sure they won't rub on anything. Granted you can't go driving around to check lean rub and what not but still, it's worth a journey.

Sportspack easily house 13x7, considering you do have an aftermarket suspension kit (e.g. gaz hi-lo) and correct spacing. I do believe even the later original sportspack mini's could house the wider wheels with very little, if any, adjustments at all.

Good luck!
 

Sorry, but this is total rubbish!  Unless you run extreme body lift ride height!  If you increase the width of the wheel, the turning radius increases - thus affecting the arches (unless they came out the factory with 13 x 6')  Any mini.....13 x 7's, you will need to get the grinder/tin snips out.

 

In my experience, and i have 13's.  The handling is drastically affected, unless on a ironing board flat road.   The mini will pull and bump steer all over the road (and mine is set up by the leading mini specialists!).  13's look great, but stick with 12'vs or 10's if handling is what you are after, and lets be honest - uk roads are not the smoothest in the world!

 

I am going back down to 10's (4.5 - 5.5) to keep that mini -esk handling!

[Minimad100]

jayme - the suspesion is currently dropped about 0.5" so would that need to be reset to standard? 

 

Andy - as above i have a cooper sportspack, so yes it did come out of the factor with 13 x 6 wheels, it has since been fully restored, and has new wings but the wings have been cut to allow trhe sportspack arches and 13" wheels so would this be a problem still?

 

cheers 

 

Ryan 

[AndyR]

Apologies to Mini_Ky, i read your post incorrectly.  I read arches as the metal body, not the arch extensions as what you meant.  And agree, if you spend some time and have the right arches you shouldnt get rubbing between the wheel and wheel arch extensions.  However as i said, you will always need to remove some of the metal arch/wing/a panel whatever you want to call it.  Going from 13 x 6's to 7s, i would expect you will probably still need to remove some from the front wing - but again it depends on how much they removed when they fitted your new wings - if they made it to just fit or gave you some decent space.  But the sportspack arch extensions should cover your 13 x 7's with no problems.

 

Andy