12 replies to this topic

[runkthepunk]

Hello

Basically I have taken off my standard black arches leaving just the lip and was contemplating running chrome trim along the edge but I want to know how much wheel can be 'exposed' from under the arch before arch extensions are required?

Also as a side note what the best way to fill the holes left in the body panels from the previous arches?

thanks

Rob

[Broomer]

If tread of the tyre can be seen from a Birdseye view you will get owned!

[ferrit]

I thought this had changed due to an EU directive to no rotating part of the wheel to extend past the vehicle body/wheel arch. I might have dreamt it up but If I can find it I will post a link.

[runkthepunk]

Okay this is why I'm a bit unsure, I have the standard cooper 4.5 rims on my car and they don't really protrude out very far at all and I know older cars ran the chrome trim as standard but they probably had narrow wheels.

[ferrit]

Here you go its typically difficult to understand:-

Council Directive 78/549/EEC of 12 June 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the wheel guards of motor vehicles

Article 6

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Luxembourg, 12 June 1978.

For the Council

The President

K. OLESEN

ANNEX I

1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 1.1. The motor vehicle must be provided with wheel guards (parts of the bodywork, mudguards, etc.).

1.2. The wheel guards must be so designed as to protect other road users, as far as possible, against thrown-up stones, mud, ice, snow and water and to reduce for those users the dangers due to contact with the moving wheels.

2. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS 2.1. The wheel guards must meet the following requirements when the vehicle is in running order (see section 2.6 of Annex I to Directive 70/156/EEC) and the wheels are in the dead ahead position: 2.1.1. In the part formed by radial planes at an angle of 30º to the front and 50º to the rear of the centre of the wheels (see figure 1), the overall width (q) of the wheel guards must be at least sufficient to cover the total tyre width (b) taking into account the extremes of tyre/wheel combination as specified by the manufacturer and as indicated in section 5.2 of the certificate set out in Annex II. In the case of twin wheels, the total width over the two tyres (t) shall be taken into account. 2.1.1.1. For the purposes of determining the widths referred to in 2.1.1, the labelling (marking) and decorations, protective bands or ribs on tyre walls are not taken into account.

2.1.2. The rear of the wheel guards must not terminate above a horizontal plane 150 mm above the axis of rotation of the wheels (as measured at the wheel centres) and furthermore the intersection of the edge of the wheel guard with this plane (point A, figure 1) must lie outside the median longitudinal plane of the tyre, or in the case of twin wheels the median longitudinal plane of the outermost tyre.

2.1.3. The contour and location of the wheel guards shall be such that they are as close to the tyre as possible ; and in particular within the part formed by the radial planes referred to in 2.1.1, they shall satisfy the following requirements: 2.1.3.1. the projection - situated in the vertical plane of the tyre axis - of the depth (p) of the outer edge of the wheel guards, measured in the vertical longitudinal plane passing through the centre of the tyre, must be at least 30 mm. This depth (p) may be reduced progressively to zero at the radial planes specified in 2.1.1;

2.1.3.2. the distance © between the lower edges of the wheel guards and the axis passing through the centre of the wheels must not exceed 2r, "r" being the static radius of the tyre.

2.1.4. In the case of vehicles having adjustable suspension height, the abovementioned requirements must be met when the vehicle is in the normal running position specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

2.2. The wheel guards may consist of several components, provided no gaps exist between or within the individual parts when assembled.

2.3. The wheel guards must be firmly attached. However, they may be detachable either as a unit or in parts.


Basically it means:-

Tyres must be fully covered by the wheel arches, excluding any side wall raised lettering or protective ribbing on the side walls of the tyres, or wheel hubs

This may not be a MOT issue but would be an issue under The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, this is what the Bizzies would be able to pull you under if they felt that way inclined.

[runkthepunk]

Well thanks for that, its pretty in depth stuff regarding what must be 1 or 2 cm of tyre sticking out right at the front of the car (where the arch starts to curve in toward the front) but so typical of modern rules and regulations.

[Zacherius]

Well thanks for that, its pretty in depth stuff regarding what must be 1 or 2 cm of tyre sticking out right at the front of the car (where the arch starts to curve in toward the front) but so typical of modern rules and regulations.

I checked with the Local Police Station after fitting mine and they said it was fine as the tyre does not "stick out" when running straight.

[Asphalt]

If they stick out, you can gain a bit by fitting negative camber arms/brackets F/R

[runkthepunk]

Well thanks for that, its pretty in depth stuff regarding what must be 1 or 2 cm of tyre sticking out right at the front of the car (where the arch starts to curve in toward the front) but so typical of modern rules and regulations.

I checked with the Local Police Station after fitting mine and they said it was fine as the tyre does not "stick out" when running straight.

Hey thanks for the pic i was going to ask if anyone had some pictures of a later car with the chrome strip and bam there it is cheers

Rob

[gsms]

Mine stuck out a little bit at the rear but I never got in trouble for it.

[ferrit]

I would say if your wheels are protruding by a small amount the likelyhood of Plod spotting it is slim and even if they did I doubt they would be pushing it unless they had good reason to pull you in the first place (ie DUI or driving without due care etc).

The point I wanted to make is that the advice everyone gives is if the tread is covered your ok, this is not the case! The actual legislation above spells it out, if somewhat in a wordy techincal manner.

If you chose to run wheels that protrude the body of the vehicle you do so at your own risk. If its a small amount its unlikley you would get pulled purely for that, however Dibble would be quite happy to add it to any list they wanted to compile if they had cause to give you a tug for something else more serious.

[ferrit]

Okay this is why I'm a bit unsure, I have the standard cooper 4.5 rims on my car and they don't really protrude out very far at all and I know older cars ran the chrome trim as standard but they probably had narrow wheels.

And after all the legalese cobblers in my other posts, here’s my take on the actual question:-

Standard 4.5 Cooper rims on a vehicle with either drums or 7.5" cooper discs would be fine for the following reasons:-

They are as originally fitted to the vehicle, or at least to some models in the range.
Minispares "Minilife" 10x4.5" alloys are designed to fit under standard wheel arches when running the 7.5 inch disc set up. I cannot confirm the offsets are the same as original cooper rims but in all likelihood whoever makes them probably based the widths and offsets on existing wheel set ups that fulfill the criteria.


I would fit the chrome trim as it covers the sharp edges of the seams and finish off the car nicely.

[rally515]

Wakey Wakey old thread!  .

 

 

Just thought i'd ask in this topic as I found it through Google, whats the Law as of 2014 on wheel/tyre poke ?

 

Not something i've come to ask about but thought it might be useful for people searching through old threads like me :)

 

What I wanted to ask was is there a law stating that the arch must be rounded or using up the whole of the car body to cover the wheel as much as posible ? ,  for example, would it be lagal to have an Arch which is only a "Peak" at the top of an existing arch which is too small for a rim upgrade ?

 

Cliff