21 replies to this topic

[tom1990]

i like 12's but i think 13's are more practical as they are easier to find tyres for and they look alot fatter but it depends on your style. if you want classic then go for 12's but if you like a sporty look then maybe 13's with arches

[bugs42]

dont forget also that 13x7s will hurt your drive shafts/cv joints etc alot quicker, although 12x6s do this just not as quick.

in short, looks are an opinion, so whichever you prefer, and 12x6s give slightly better grip :)

[Pelvisgt]

dont forget also that 13x7s will hurt your drive shafts/cv joints etc alot quicker, although 12x6s do this just not as quick.

in short, looks are an opinion, so whichever you prefer, and 12x6s give slightly better grip :)

by this would 10" be even better on suspension parts?

[bugs42]

dont forget also that 13x7s will hurt your drive shafts/cv joints etc alot quicker, although 12x6s do this just not as quick.

in short, looks are an opinion, so whichever you prefer, and 12x6s give slightly better grip :)

by this would 10" be even better on suspension parts?

errm, id say so, its more the width of the tyre than anything else, so if you had 10x6s then you might see that its the same, then again they would flex more so taking more strain off everything. So id say yes, (but dont hold me to anything )

Edited by bugs42, 06 May 2012 - 02:15 PM.

[mike.]

13's don't wear out driveshafts and CV's. People act like you fit 13" wheels and 2 weeks later your whole suspension assembly crumbles away to dust. Its just not true.

Any extra wear is not a problem on a well maintained car that has regular servicing/greasing and preventive maintenance.

I changed from 12x6 to 13x7 and the differences I found were as follows. The grip under braking was massively improved with the 13's - wet or dry, road holding was better and the car seemed to roll less through the corners, generally felt more stable/planted at speed. The car also seemed to understeer less with the 13's - It may not have actually made any difference to the amount of understeer, however with 12's or 10's there is a lot more tyre wall flex.

So for me 13's are the way to go. Car felt better on them, gave me more confidence to throw it into corners, and braking was much better too.

Disadvantages - the car tramlined slightly more on the 13's but only on very rutted/worn roads the rest of the time I noticed no difference, the steering at very low speed is heavy, so in car parks and things, but over 10mph or so its perfectly fine, and the ride is harsher on 13's - But if you've got some decent adjustable dampers they can be adjusted to suit.

If your fitting 13's, fit some good heavy duty tie bars, adjustable shocks, check your tyre pressure's regularly and grease your suspension joints at the hanyes recommended intervals. Like I say, all things that minis are better with anyway.

I think 13's may get their reputation from people putting them on poorly maintained cars with suspension and bearings that have done 30k miles and never been well looked after.

[lapider]

13's don't wear out driveshafts and CV's. People act like you fit 13" wheels and 2 weeks later your whole suspension assembly crumbles away to dust. Its just not true.

Any extra wear is not a problem on a well maintained car that has regular servicing/greasing and preventive maintenance.

I think 13's may get their reputation from people putting them on poorly maintained cars with suspension and bearings that have done 30k miles and never been well looked after.

i agree with this, my experience only extends to 12 inch wheels and my vote is obviously for 12s i personally think they look better my honest oppinion is that 12 is a good compromise between 10 and 13. but if you want the down and out bad boy look it will have to be the 13s. i run 12 i think they fill the arches well and i love the fact that i don't have to alter the arches and that i can still get decent brakes on without shelling out a fortune.

[oli8925]

13's will wear on the ball joints and bearings a bit faster, but it won't exactly be noticeable. IMO they really don't help the steering geometry at all, if you do fit them ideally you want to do as mike. says and get adjustable/heavy duty this that and the other and get it properly set up.

My opinion of 13x7s on a Mini, look far too big to look right on a Mini, awful in the wet (although obviously tyre choice makes a difference), uncomfortable, tram lining, bad bump steer. It didn't change when I put the same wheels on a Viva either. 12" wheels on a Mini I find much more comfortable, predictable, better handling in dry and wet etc, likewise switching to 13x6 on the Viva with 75 profile tyres improved handling and ride. Low profile tyres on properly set up suspension can be fine on a completely smooth surface, but on the roads I find them a compromise on handling and ride quality unless you have suspension that can deal with it, which the Mini hasn't.

I'd go for 12's for many reasons.