What arches are these?

[KR200]

Gents,

Whilst I have 6x10 Minilites on my Mk3 S I fancy something else.

Been toying with knock on 6x10 minilites just to be different. Not cheap! I've just seen this pic of a Mk3 S. As you can see it's on rosepetals and the owner states they are proper ones (however they look like minispares ones to me as I can't make out cooper car co on the rim).

I have W&P arches on my MK3. With luck I should be able to take them off and T cut the paint and fit something else. Or not as I'm still pondering! I'm unsure if the rosepetals are too narrow for W&P's even with 165 aquajets.

They look good on this S. What are these arches? They look like factory option jobs.

I think these?

http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=34787

Linky.

http://forum.minicooper.org/showthread.php?t=11647

[vortz racer]

The wheels? I think you will find they are genuine Vortz CR alloys.

[Old English White]

They do look like "proper" ones don't they - the centres are small. The arches look like group 2s. Very attractive combination .

[KR200]

The question I have is why does he need arches?

Rosepetals are I believe 4.75" wide. Every mini I've seen with them does not run arches as they do not protrude and I assume they are all running 165's.

In this case the arches appear to fit snug over slightly sticking out wheels.

So to repeat! Why do these wheels need arches? I can't make out the rear drums too well. But there seems to be something alloy there, Perhaps there are 1 inch spacers in place?

It would all make sense then.

[Old English White]

I've got rosepetals and 165 tyres on mine (over "S" brakes) and I can't truthfully say they don't protrude .
Personally I prefer not to have arches but some folk like them and they do help keep the car clean.

[vortz racer]

I think your right, they do appear to be out to the edges of the arches, just a tad more than normal, must be a spacer of sorts in there I recon. The Vortz wheel is normally the same track as standard 'S' fitted with a 4.5 steel rim. They had to comply with RAC race regs at the time, but old english white is also right that they do hang out a bit especially at the back, but no more than the original steels with 165's fitted.