23 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

If I was going to fit 13" wheels (which I would probably never do unless it was a track-only car) I would raise the car about 1.5 cm to 2 cm. The reason for this is because the suspension design of the Mini originally allowed for the tyre wall depth to take some of the suspension travel and a 10" or 12" wheel has deeper sidewalls than a 50% profile 13". If you think about it, when going from 10" to 13" wheels, which have virtually the same rolling radius, you are losing 1.5" of tyre wall depth (approx. 3.8 cm). So if you raise the car 2 cm you are putting a bit of that travel back, so the available suspension won't be quite so compromised, especially on the normal British road surface.

[A-Cell]

...that reduction in compliance was the reason why we raised the ride height with a built in spacer in the knuckle joint when the 13in wheels were introduced.

[Cooperman]

The problem comes when owners fit 13" wheels, but don't raise the car by that amount, then the suspension becomes less bump-compliant and can 'patter' across the road on bumpy corners due to the damping having to be set too stiff.

 

I'm not alone in wondering why owners want their cars lower and then have to drive more slowly because of it to keep the same level of safety, or are they just less safe?

[A-Cell]

The problem comes when owners fit 13" wheels, but don't raise the car by that amount, then the suspension becomes less bump-compliant and can 'patter' across the road on bumpy corners due to the damping having to be set too stiff.
 
I'm not alone in wondering why owners want their cars lower and then have to drive more slowly because of it to keep the same level of safety, or are they just less safe?

Yes I agree

[Midas Mk1]

Do some of these people even drive Minis with 13's? or just on the hate? lol

 

Nothing wrong with a lowered 13" car if the geo is set up perfectly.

Edited by Midas Mk1, 28 December 2014 - 09:43 PM.

[nicklouse]

The problem comes when owners fit 13" wheels, but don't raise the car by that amount, then the suspension becomes less bump-compliant and can 'patter' across the road on bumpy corners due to the damping having to be set too stiff.
 
I'm not alone in wondering why owners want their cars lower and then have to drive more slowly because of it to keep the same level of safety, or are they just less safe?

Yes I agree

Sorry but ......

Have you guys actually worked out or looked up the actual wheel diameters?

13s are shorter than standard 12s

There are some strange ideas on here.

[MRA]

Having used 13" wheels and tyres in various sizes from 175/60-13 to 195/45-13 I am wondering where some of you get these strange ideas from ?  mine has run from 1" lower through to 1" raised and I have covered thousands of miles without any issues with over 30 years or running 13" on the road and off.

 

Rover added spacers but thats because its a road car and had to full fill other requirements as well. same with the rack spacers

[Cooperman]

Holy thread revival Batman  .

[Northernpower]

I have 13's on mine and I suffer from all the bump steer problems mentioned and slightly harsh suspension (some of that is down to springs instead of cones) but I like the look it creates. I drive defensively so hopefully I don't get caught out too often but it does follow the white lines. Would I convert the next one to 13's, I don't know?