I have installed 13 x 6 sports pack wheels with SP flares on a Mini with no suspension mods (as long as the suspension is in good order). You will have to cut around one inch from at least the body seam forward, one of the Mini sites in the UK has a download of the correct measurements along with the stud spacing for the flares. BTW the aftermarket SP flares are usually nowhere near the quality of the factory flares and their price reflects that, factory is the way to go saving money with the cheaper flares will only cost you more time and money later BTDT.

thanks Dan . great reply . that deff cleared up some thoughts . ok this is my thoughts , sports arches . 13x7 or 13x6 wheels .  and body mods . what will i have to do to the suspension or buy to make it not rub ? also any info on line or thread about the body mods needed to do on the mini?

Different issues:

1. With regular bushings ad Hi-los (or other adjustable trumpets), you can adjust the ride height.

2. With later disc brake setup, the disks and the correct rear drums with integral spacers will set the rims (whichever you have) farther out. which made wheel arch flares required to cover even the stock wheels. Since the wheels would now be farther out, it was necessary to INCREASE the stock ride height so the tires would not rub on the flares during even mild cornering.

3. When 13" rims/tires became the fashion, the tires were even wider, requiring  the even wider Sportspack flares. AND because of the greater diameter, the front fenders needed to be cut away about an inch and a new lip formed to stiffen the edge and suport the plastic arch.

4. All of this "progress" made handling worse, not better.

5. If you eliminate the needed gap around any tire, you'll have a car that looks "nice" sitting still, but you won't be able to drive it without tearing off wheel arches every time you turn, slicing up the tires when you go over uneven pavement, and if you weigh over  maybe 50 pounds, when you sit in it, the wheels will touch the fenders.

Sorry if that last part sounds a bit mean, but what you're wishing for is not realistic.

Have a look at stock Minis - 10" wheels with no flares, 12" wheels with small flares and 13" wheels with Sportspack arches.

Then look at the variants in all that: wide 10" wheels with arches to cover, wide 12" wheels with wider arches, and finally 13" wide wheels with body mods and arches.

 

 

 

ok im getting a little confused . btw sorry i am real new to this mini world . so if i get the regular bushing kit . and the hi/lo suspension kit . i cant lower the vehicle ? if i can it will not be more then a inch . the only reason . im getting the 13s and lowering is becasue i dont want any gap between the flare and the tire . and the only reason im getting the 13x7 is because i dont want the sports flares to be sticking out with no rim there . anyone get what i mean ? sorry

The later Rover minis were raised to accommodate the 12 inch wheels. Best to use hi-los, so you have the adjustabilty.

The limit to lowering will be ground clearance along with the tires rubbing the rear fenders....that and drivability. As mentioned, you will need short shocks and most likely to nibble the front edge of the front fenders for clearance. When you get the 13's, try to avoid the super deep dish, lo offset wheels....looks all boy racer but will have terrible torque steer and tramlining, ie it will wander and pull like crazy....

I don't believe you will find limits on lowering the car introduced by the bushings.  However, you will need different shocks if you lower the car by more than an inch or so.

with the Hi / LO and regular bushings . how much can u lower the mini ?

The best suspension depends on what you want out of the car. Standard rubber cones with new gas shocks and Hi Lo's may be the cheapest option. You could also switch to springs where you can choose what spring rate suits you and coil overs have been done also. The "S" never came with flares and to cover a 13 x 7 wheel you would need Sports Pack wheel arches or similar especially as you are converting to disc as that will widen the front wheel track, be sure to add the spacered drums or just spacers to the rear as well if you do not have them already. You will need to cut out the two front fenders to make the wheel clear on turns and the 13 inch wheeled factory Mini's used a different rack and pinion with a wider turning radius which can be acheived by installing rack limiters if you have the problem of the tires hitting the inner arch/fender.

next few days/weeks will be asking a few questions . help out a newbie lol

 

I have a 72 stock mini 1000

this post will be about lowering and wheel size .ill tell u a bunch of info and my ideas. and please reply with thoughts and ideas

I need to replace all the rubber on the suspension because its all dry rotted . what is the best and cheapest way to lower my mini . im thinking of doing the 13 x 7 wheels . i am installing the S style fender flares . do u think the 13x7 wheels will fit the flares correctly . i am also converting to the disc brakes from a stock 80+ mini .