13 replies to this topic

[ozz1]

As shown in the picture the tires do protrude beyond the profile of the car but only by 1.5 inches, am I legal? The shoulder of the tire is visible along with the tread sipes and dimples but none of the grooves are showing.

 

After quite a bit of research I still cant find a definitive answer, some sources say as long as the tires cant cause damage to pedestrians or if the tread isn't showing its okay and some say no protrusion at all no matter how small. Whatever the law is it appears to be quite ambiguous...

 

Advice welcomed, thanks. 

 

Attached Files

•  IMG-20140114-00085.jpg   134.74K   50 downloads
•  IMG-20140114-00086.jpg   135.8K   22 downloads
•  IMG-20140114-00087.jpg   138.86K   21 downloads
•  IMG-20140114-00088.jpg   86.45K   25 downloads
•  IMG-20140114-00089.jpg   102.78K   19 downloads

[cradley-heathen]

i have seen plenty of other cars run like that and i would say it would be fine, however, if pc plod felt like being funny i guess they could kick up a stink over it.

 

if it was me? i'd go with it as it is, it looks fab!

[SamMason]

It does look very 'borderline' to me.. In the interests of this being a public forum, I'd recommend you fit some sort of flares or arch extensions..

 

But in saying that, my summer wheels/tyres are just the same & I've never been stopped for them. 

 

I suggest you do as you see fit - a little poke does look great, but if you're worried you'll be pulled for it, just bung some arches over them & be done with it!

[jaydee]

I'd run it as it is, just fit a seam strip, possibly a black one

[Pete649]

IIRC didn't some of the original Cooper "S" wheels stick out that much as supplied by the factory?

Edited by Pete649, 14 January 2014 - 06:53 PM.

[Sheikh Pip]

That's very illegal IMO,

 

 

 

Go directly to Jail and do not pass Go!!! Lol...

[Yams]

You apparently have a leeway of 30mm from the vertical axis. In other words it's 30mm 'poke' from an arch from the dead centre of the wheel. However it is illegal to have any tread poking.

 

 

 

I also dug around and turned this up:

 

'Anything protruding the arch could be deemed as unsafe and potentially dangerous, and no tread should sit outside the arch, as the water spray can be deemed dangerous to other users.

Was speaking to a mot guy about poke on wheels the other day and he confirmed there is nothing in the mot rules that states the wheel/tyre must be covered by the body work. By all accounts one of the lads he works with got taken to court about it, he drives off road type vehicles with no arch above wheel, got off no worries and the coppers got a slippering over wasting the courts time.'

 

Source: http://www.policespe...s-wheel-camber/

[Cooperman]

Wheel arch extensions do encourage rust in the wings and if you can run without it is much better. It also improves the top speed and fuel consumption as well.

I have run with 5J x 10 wheels with 165 tyres and have not had any issues with the Old Bill, but I only use the car occasionally.

If you keep your Mini as a sometimes used classic car you should have no real issues. Use it a lot and you may well find a cop who feels like being awkward. However, it's a C & U offence and should not attract points on the licence.

[tiger99]

The thing that definitely is illegal is the lack of seam covers of any kind. There have been numerous prosecutions of Mini owners over the years for having bare seams, the edge of which is quite sharp.

 

When you do fit them, fill them with thick Waxoyl first, so they don't encourage rusting in the seams. The narrower plastic strips are the easiest to fit.

[Gerbil367]

There are so many boy racers out there with 'blinged' up and modified cars with tyres way outside the bodywork that if you were stopped, I think you would be pretty unlucky!

[Steely]

I've seen plenty of Mini's with a lot more poke from the arches than that driving about.

[Ministage2]

Funny story

 

Went camping in the Peaks last year with my old 998.

Had exactly the same set up as yourself Ozz1.

 

Came down from the tent one day to find this lanky streak of rhubarb under my car with a ruler.

 

I asked him what the problem was and he said the following

 

"Hello mate, im old bill and i noticed your car hasnt got wheel arches on - thats illegal and your car isnt road legal....it wont pass an MOT.sorry to be nosey"

 

I first asked him why he came on holiday at all if just to pick on peoples cars all week, but irony soon struck when on the way home i got pulled in stafford at the M6 J15 by a policeman i nicknamed "Ultra Cop".

He gave me a producer and i played dumb, got off with it but had to get arches on.

 

 

Plus dude, do you really want crap splashing all up your bodywork and stuff.

[maccers]

Add some negative camber and get at least the "top" of the wheel under the arch....!

[megamini_jb]

I think it'll be alright. Looks good too