Hello All,

Being fairly new to the workd of minis, I bought a set of rims for my mini from wreckers but have absolutley no idea what brand or type they are?

They have the same nut as an ROH contesa, but no ROH brandings.

I am confused any ideas?

pics below

Mini offset Contessas.

But they have no brandings, almost like a cheap rip off?

Also how do you properly measure the size of the rims?

Contessas were made by ROH but also were made (or at least sold) by many others. Only real difference is the size of the centre cap hole, seems to vary (I've seen one 'set' of Contessas with three different sized centre caps). They are 10x5"

so probably a copy of ROH contessas?

These were seen first on the Clubman SS, then on the 998 LS. The factory mags had a different offset... which people try to rip you off buy calling them Cooper S offset as they fit under guards with no flairs. They are infact not Cooper S offset, and should be known as Clubman LS offset.

I'll take willy's word for them being "Mini" offset, which will stick out guards with no flairs.

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With spacered drums and no flares
STICK OUT
With spacered drums and flares
FLUSH
With standard drums and no flares
FLUSH
With standard drums and flares
DICKY

Is that for Mini offset or LS offset?

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That's Mini offset. LS offset fits under without flares with spacered drums/disc brakes. Can't run them without spacered drums.

That's why people call them Cooper S offset, as Cooper S rear drums are spaced and the discs at the front have the same "track"(?) as spaced front drums.

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Yes that is correct. People call them Cooper S offset, even though AFAIK they hadn't been invented yet when Cooper S's were new

As I said earlier, people can charge more if they are off a "Cooper S".

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Hell even BMC were guilty about adding Cooper tax. Just look at the price of (now rare) Cooper S windscreens

If this is the case why then with factory fitted flares and my 12x5" do they stick out 1/2 a cm?

They are borderline legal, it depends whether you are talking tread or sidewall, also what tyres- when these wheels came out, the only tyres available were 145/10...

BTW to fit the LS offsets over S brakes, often/usually the caliper needs grinding of the bleed nipple boss or they foul. Weakens the boss, that's another story...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.