Some advice on wheels if I may?
My Mk1 came with 10 x 6 Ultralites with new Yoko tyres (those asymmetrical jobbies with dots on the outside). The wheels are too wide for my taste and seem to have a very big offset. The steering feels heavy and I assume the offset may be contributing to this, albeit perhaps not solely.
I have fitted Gp 2 arches and the tyres still stick well outside the arches, however it has just passed an MOT without any problems. The other issue is that the front wheels catch on the leading edge of the wheel arch unless the suspension is jacked right up (currently over 4 fingers).
On the rear there is no problem per se however, again, I have the car jacked up quite high, this time to prevent the Minitastic springs unseating on full droop.
All in all the handling is a mess, but it is all fully adjustable for camber caster etc. should I should be able to get it 'right' The first thing I want to do is sort out the wheels, get a reasonable ride height and switch the springs for cones.
I like the Minilite look - they look 'correct' on a car of this period however the current 6 inch rims with big offset do not look right IMO and I don't think they do anything for general feel and handling.
I would like to switch to a narrower Minilite style rim which will accept the existing tyres (which I like). Can someone point me to a Minilite style rim in a width and offset which is less extreme and which will take the existing tyres? I could go 'genuine' Minilite, in aluminium of course, but they do seem to be expensive for what they are. I had a set of 14" peg drive knock on versions made to order by Tech Del for my Elan which cost very little more than 10" Mini versions
The other option is that the car came with a set of Rover 12” Minilite style rims – might these be a better option, obviously with new tyres? The car is on Cooper S brakes BTW.
Any help and guidance or sugegstions appreciated.
Cheers
Jon