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I like my wheels to be tucked inside the wheelarches, helps keep the car cleaner.  I've got a mix of wheel arches sitting on the car right now; currently GP5 Works arches in the front and GP2 Wide in the rear, haven't gotten around to installing the GP2 Wide in the front. 

The car had originally std. mini special arches but were too small when I changed from 10" steelies to 12 x 5 MiniLife (ET14).  I then installed SportsPack, but they were too wide.

Thank you thats what we wanted to see. The deep dish wheel is the 12 with a 165. The 13 is a 175. The pic of the tire just missing the trimmed fender is the 12 at near full lock. Steve (CTR)

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Posting photos for CooperTune.

I took the pictures and sent them out. Have not heard back yet but they could get posted. Now that I have seen the pics I will be able to take better ones with more info. Not being a fan of Sport Pac arches I think I'll try group 5 or 7, I want to be able to steer but look good as well. Steve (CTR)

Steve,

   I'd be very interested to see that set-up.

Jack

I picked up a Sport Pac car yesterday that runs 13s. I also have a set of 6X12s drum brake offset with 165/60 12 tires mounted. I had planned to take some pictures of the 13s and the 12s on this car. The 6 X 12s were on a drum brake car, once converted to 8.4s They stuck out to far and hit heavy in the front. The 5.5 X 12s with 165/60s rubbed if lowered to far. The plan is to use the 6X12s with 165/55s on an autocross car. I will need flares that will cover. I'll ask Zip to post some pics once I have them. Steve (CTR) 

You could have the rear spacers turned down to 1 inch and just buy the longer studs to save a few bucks. The front disc stock wheel studs will be fine to use. If you have the factory disc set up (84's did i believe) you should alrerady have the spacered rear drums unless someone changed them to the earlier non spaced ones. By "most of them" if you are referring to 12 inch wheels yes they will.

Good suggestion.  I've already replaced the wheel bearings all the way around.  But I also had the rear drums sand blasted and turned, so that was why I was going to stick with the spacers.

I guess I would need the off-set rear drums and longer wheel studs front and rear if I went with new off-set wheels, right?

Would most of them also fit over my 8.4 front disks okay?

Jack

With the 1.25" spacers i am surpised you have any bearings left. If you are buying new wheels anyway i would consider ditching the spacers and look for that offset in the new wheels that you buy.

I have completely rebuilt the front suspension on the car and I'm in the midst of doing the same to the rear.  So I started day dreaming about what it might look like with a bit wider stance once the engine was back in.

I had seen the link with the acrch pictures and had given some thought to the Group 2s.  I currently have 1 1/4" spacers and stud extenders on all four wheels so I wasn't sure if I'd need a specific off-set wheel to work with them of if I'd have to change all that to go wider.

Jack

(I'm not able to post an image from my photo site for some reason)

I would very much doubt if they would clear the front panel on turns right where the bumper ends unless the suspension is set up high or as new but most Mini owners seem to like the lower look.

//www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/topic/159724-group-2-arches/

Pretty good thread with pictures--- of 12x6's = Group 2 Arches... Which carry a bit more flare than the standard arch - but not as big as the Sportspac.

With 12's you proabbly wont have to cut fenders under the flares to run. If you ahve later 1' spacered drums- you should be good to go.

I would still consider the 12 x 6's as a bolt on improvement over the 4.5's

The 12 x 6's will fit under your stock (i am presuming) 84 Mayfair/special arches but depending on the offset you may still have to trim the front edges of the front wheel arches especially if your Mini is still on older settled suspension components. There are many more selcections of arches that have a decent look but not quite as wide as the Sportspack ones. I know the regular arches are not the exact look you want but it would give you a chance to try the wheels before you get crazy with the sawzall and reach the point of no return.

Thanks for the informative responses.  The reason I was asking about the Sportspack arches is that I have been offered a set of 12 X 6 wheels at a reasonable price and I like the look of the Sportspacks.  But it sounds like it might be a lot more trouble (and expense) than it's worth to change from my current   12 X 4.5s and standard arches.

I'm gonna have to think on this a bit more.

Jack

A lot of Mini owners who build Sportspack cars tend to go with the 13 x 7 with the wide offset for the look. They acheive the look but loose a bit of driveability with turning radius, bump steer and ball joint and bearing wear at a very increased rate. Although the 7's have the look you are better off staying with the 6's you have mentioned if you are going to use the car as a driver and the 175 50's will work well that is what the factory used on the 13 x 6's with a minimum offset (better driveability less bearing/ball joint stress). I am presuming your car has disc brakes for the correct stance and so the arches look full, you will also need the 1" spaced rear drums if you do not already have them. As stated your biggest limitation on the 12's is tire size but 13's are not that easy to find as they seem to make them in batches.

That being said i have driven 13" wheeled Mini's that drove great but i have driven some that were awful.

You'll need to provide more information if you want someone to tell you the exact spacing you will need. What is the offset of your wheel? Do you have spacers on your rear drums already? 

The easiest way would be for you to measure how far out past the body your current wheels protrude. Then I can measure my sportspack arches and tell you how far they stick out from the body. The difference is your required spacer. 

I also have a brand new set of Sportspack arches for sale. Freshly painted Jet Black. Let me know if you are interested.

Same  remarks here--   12 x 6 wheels are in short supply

Most Sportspack cars are equipped with 13" wheels.

12' Wheels have a narrower set of rubber avaiolable and on a  12 x 5  rim are perfect - 12x 6 rim - with the normally supplied 165/60 r12wheel will be streched on a 6' wide rim.

The 175/50 r13  on a 6 inch rim will be the best fit with a heavier offset will fill the sportspack right. 

If installing sportspack arches + 13Rims =  front fenders must be cut to allow turning radious prtty much no matter what.

12 X 6 wheels are in limited styles and supply. buy what you like and the fill the space by adding a spacer and longer studs. minis that don't fill the arch look silly as the wheels and tires are tucked in the wheel well.

As I understand it, Sportspack arches are normally found on cars with at least 6" wheels. I’ve been told I would need “deep dish” wheels to use such arches on 12 X 6 wheels on my ’84 saloon.  But that seems to be a generic term and many ads for such wheels don’t specify their off-set. 

Can anyone tell me what off-set and spacers, if any, I would need to employ these arches with 12 X 6 wheels?

Jack