22 replies to this topic

[patslfc]

hi i have 12x5. wheels on my car now i just wounded if u would be a straight swap or what mod would i have to make to make the 13x7 fit cheers

[SimonWicklow]

you have to cut away part of the front arch to allow them to turn without catching, then you have to buy wider arches so the wheel doesn't stick out.

[Ryang556]

You'd have to trim the front wings so they don't rub

[Cooperman]

Then you would have just about the worst possible wheels for driving and handling on a Mini.

[Ryang556]

Then you would have just about the worst possible wheels for driving and handling on a Mini.

You're being hurtful

But on a more serious not they handle nothing like the 10x6's used to on my old mini

[Cooperman]

Well I've driven Minis on all widths of wheel/tyre from the original 3.5" wide with cross-ply tyres to 13" wheels with 175 section tyres. The poorest in terms of overall performance have undoubtedly been the 13" with 175/50 tyres. One might guess that the reason is because the mean centre-line of the tyre moves so far out with a 7" wide wheel, like about 2" each side, that it screws up the steering geometry which was designed for a 3.5" wheel.
Also, in the wet, the tyre area on the road with a 175 section is too big to clear the wet properly thus making the road-holding and braking inferior.
But, if you like the look of the 13" (some obviously do) and if look is more important than road-holding and braking and handling, then it'll be 13" which you'll buy. It's personal choice as always.

[racingbob]

even my 5.5 x12 were not as good as the 5" x12 for handling

and they were just a 1" further out than the 5"

i put the 5" back on

[indymini]

I have been running the 13" wheels with 175/50/13 tires which is the way it came to me. Having never driven any other but always feel a little uneasy on loose gravel and water and I have been think of going to 12" wheels but am concerned about how it will look with the larger sports arches. I am sure 10" are the best handling but would look ridiculous. Any suggestions for next to best handling wheels and tires with the sports pack arches?
I have already switched to solid mounts which makes a huge improvement and think that the 13" are really a minus for the best drive.

[Cooperman]

I have been running the 13" wheels with 175/50/13 tires which is the way it came to me. Having never driven any other but always feel a little uneasy on loose gravel and water and I have been think of going to 12" wheels but am concerned about how it will look with the larger sports arches. I am sure 10" are the best handling but would look ridiculous. Any suggestions for next to best handling wheels and tires with the sports pack arches?
I have already switched to solid mounts which makes a huge improvement and think that the 13" are really a minus for the best drive.

You are right there.
Maybe a 12" x 6" with 165 section tyres would be best.

[dave-88_123]

i fail to see how a 175 tyre doesnt clear away water properly as most cars run much wider tyres in all fairness it is down to the offset basically the deep dish wheels do not handle so well due to the fact they follow the road surface alot more the best combo is 12x6 with 165/60/12 tyres best of both and they fill sportspack arches well

[mini-luke]

i fail to see how a 175 tyre doesnt clear away water properly as most cars run much wider tyres

Most cars don't weigh 700kg. Our other small car weighs 1.2t and uses 175's.

[dave-88_123]

well that doesnt apply to citroen ax's that my mate drives they weigh around 700kg and use wide tyres and can think of several hothatches that prove that wrong plus good 13 tyres for a mini cost a fortune and most are fitted with budget tyres which cause alot of problems

Edited by dave-88_123, 01 July 2012 - 08:01 PM.

[Cooperman]

The Citroen AX does weigh more than a Mini. The 175 tyres, in the wet, just don't have sufficient weight on each wheel to clear the water when using road tyres. I drove an MG-ZR which has 205 section tyres and that was very poor in the wet as well - in fact the owner put it off in the wet when, apparently, it just aqua-planed. It seems as though image is now more important than road-holding.
I would rather have 145 section tyres than those over-wide 175's.
The idea of wide tyres comes from racing Minis where the tyres are of the correct compound for racing in certain conditions and the wet race tyres are very sticky rubber with wide grooves for water clearance. That is simply not applicable for road use.

[dave-88_123]

ye but i can assure you an ax is no where near 1.2 tons they range in weight depending on spec and most are closer to mini weight than you would think and i agree with the mg zr thing i had a 160 that handled terable i was refering to older hot hatches and as i said i belive a good quality tyre is esential

[Cooperman]

A good quality tyre of the best pattern, compound and section width is essential. Unfortunately many manufacturers fit tyres which are fine in the dry, but simply much too wide in wet, muddy or snowy conditions. I have a friend who bought a BMW 325i. It came with 225 section tyres, but after driving my almost identical car which has 205 section he sold the very wide wheels/tyres and bought a set like mine. It's so much nicer to drive now and much better in the wet.
I use 175/60x14 on my Rover 214Si Twin-Cam rally car and that weighs about 1000 kg so it's just right. It is certainly better than an MG ZR, which is essentially the same car, on those silly 205's.
I sometimes think the 165 tyre can be a bit too wide on a Mini in the wet and on gravel, mud or snow & nice a 145 is most definately the best width.