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 Post subject: 13's good or bad
PostPosted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:31 pm 
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Location: Adelaide
Hey all
Want to get some opinions of 13's on mini's.
I've got 13's on lil and while they look nice, I keep hearing how they aren?t so great for handling.
Since I haven?t had or even driven a mini on 10's. I don?t have a point of reference to go from.
So my question to the world at large is: Any one got an opinion, Stemming from personal experience about them?
Mine are 13x5.5's running a 45 or 55 profile and are running with adjustable everything's.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:35 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2004 5:09 pm
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Location: Central Coast, NSW.
Personally, I really liked 12" on the rear with 10" on the front.

I ran that for 2 weeks and loved it.

I didnt like 13"s all around because the car just felt heavier, 10's made it feel a bit more nimble through turns/bends.

Now I run 10"s all around.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:29 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:04 am
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Location: SE Qld
13s can work very well if you bear in mind the following:

1. You will be using a tyre which is probably wider, and certainly lower profile, than with 10s. This makes it more sensitive to camber angles - so you need to take the time to setup the suspension properly, and obviously all the suspension joints must be in tip-top condition (no slop).

2. The wheels and tyres will be heavier than 10s so it is more important than ever to choose light weight wheels and good quality dampers, otherwise the ride will be 'crashy' over bumps.

3. Resist the temptation to offset the wheels outwards to fill some really wide arches. This will make the steering heavy and the car will get unsettled by bumps and ridges in the road surface.

I'm using some light Compomotive wheels from England, tucked as far in as I possibly can (the inside of the rear tyres *just* clears the trailing arm) with Koni Classic adjustable dampers, and everything is in perfect condition. It's not *quite* as nimble as my other Mini on 10" Minilites, but it is a lot closer than some would have you believe. It has a huge amount of grip too...


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:29 am 
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Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:39 am
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Location: Mundijong, WA
I run 12's, but i cant fit 10s, so i have nothing to go on. 12s seem to be good. i can out corner ALL of my mates cars, so its all good. Other than that, everything else in here looks true.

but it settles it for me, i wont go to 13s after looking through this page :wink:

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 6:25 am 
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I blew my Diff not long after fitting the 13's

I think you're supposed to get used to doing that with bigger wheels (especially if you have a fair amount of grunt).

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 7:28 am 
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looks good, handle bad

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 3:33 pm 
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Location: Radelaide, South Australia
I belive 12's are a better option, less dramas,nice ride, look great.

Doogie

PS to Bob, you & your wheels blew a diff recently, im sure you had a lot to do woth it too!!!!

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:46 pm 
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Location: Adelaide
The handling is so much better on 10s. Accelaration is slightly quicker and there's less unsprung weight to carry around.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:48 pm 
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Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:38 pm
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Location: Adelaide
Thanks Jules.
I'm uncertain of the wheight of the wheels, They are a cast alloy minilight knock of made by preformance.
With the offset, If i squat at the rear of lil and look up the length of her, I can see that the fronts are offset somewhat. There aren't any spacers in the front assy so would i be corect in assuming that they would be as narrow as practical?
Suspension setup is something that i would like to spend a little time learning how to do properly. I dont think the cowboys that did my last wheel alighnment did to good a job ether.
Thanks again Jules

To all in general
The reason i ask about this is:
On account of lil having 13's and fairly standard arches. I think she sits exccesivly high and therefor would like to cut the guards and screw the hilo's in a bit. But am currently working my way through some handling issues. If they are in part caused by 13's, I wont cut the guards and i'll change to 10's.
The issue is that on grand junction rd, between chirchill and south rd she tramlines (or kicks to the side) like an absolute cow. If i'm not paying attention i recon it could spit me accross atleast into the next lane, or off the road......
Anyone else had issues like this?

While the 12's are nice she came with 13's and i've got 2 sets of 10's in the shed. So i doubt that i can justify buying a set of 12's. Well not with the van sitting in the shed sreaming at me to spend some money on him.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:48 pm 
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Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:04 am
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Location: SE Qld
Hmm... not sure what you mean about the offset.

What tyres are you using, and how much do they clear the rear suspension arm (inside corner of the tyre)?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 7:28 am 
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Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:34 am
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Location: brisvages
i have used 13 for years, for me its looks and also less tyre roll going around corners, u dont see V8 supercars on 14"noe do ya???? Im happy with my 13"s and the overall weight differance is bugger all as the rim is heavier but tyre is lighter .

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:26 am 
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Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:02 pm
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Location: Queanbeyan
Race cars and street cars are 2 different keetles of fish, V8 supercars do run suspension that is designed to run the tyre/wheel combination that they run and do not use any standard suspension part or geometry from the production car. Have a look at one of the super minis racing with 13 inch wheels, they move the suspension pickups to overcome the problems that are caused by fitting such large wheels to the vehicles, minis were designed to run 10 inch wheels and the whole front end design is for 10 inch wheels and wihtout major work the larger wheels do not handle as well and increase bumpsteer and tramlining to the point that the car is uncomfortable to drive

Jon

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 8:48 am 
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Location: brisvages
ts the same rolling dia , so ur telling me a moke will not corner. i think this topic always upsets someone.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:36 am 
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Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:02 pm
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same rolling dia as what a mini with 12 inch wheels and yes mokes do not handle as well as mini at speed, dont get so upset 13s look great but they just dont handle as well

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:11 am 
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Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 12:04 am
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The rolling diameter isnt really the problem, the 12's are generally heavier so there is more unsprung weight, the result being the tyres dont track the road surface as well. Also there is more mass further out so the 12's have a higher moment of inertia which will reduce the acceleration.


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