Discussion
Having now entered my Enduro Mini on the RAC Revival Rally next November, we are required to use Colway Road-Plus as the control tyre, unless there is no size to fit our car. The only 12" size available is 155/70x12 and I am reluctant to buy 6 of these at around £40 each in case they won't fit on the rear. Has anyone tried this size. I know 145/70x12 is standard, but that only just clears the rear radius arm and I reckon it will be a close thing.
Thanks, chaps. The problem I have is that the Colway Road-Plus tyres are mandated for the event as a control tyre so that everyone runs on the same rubber. However, since the Colways are remoulds, the only 12" size they can do are 155/70x12 such as fits the Novas, early Fiestas, etc. They don't have any other 12" moulds apparently.
The only way we will be allowed to run any other make is with the written approval of the organisers and that will only be given if no Colways will fit, hence the question. I also don't want to buy 6 Colways at £40 each and find they are no use to me.
The Colways have a reinforced sidewall, but the Falkens don't, and 80% of the competitive mileage of the event is on gravel in the forests.
It's a bit of a difficult one for us Mini men as we are only allowed to use wheels/tyres we are carrying in the car and I dont want to have to carry more than 2 spares in view of the power/weight penalty we already have in a Mini.
The only way we will be allowed to run any other make is with the written approval of the organisers and that will only be given if no Colways will fit, hence the question. I also don't want to buy 6 Colways at £40 each and find they are no use to me.
The Colways have a reinforced sidewall, but the Falkens don't, and 80% of the competitive mileage of the event is on gravel in the forests.
It's a bit of a difficult one for us Mini men as we are only allowed to use wheels/tyres we are carrying in the car and I dont want to have to carry more than 2 spares in view of the power/weight penalty we already have in a Mini.
I guess so long as it doesn't breach C & U laws they could. However, the tyre mandated must fit the car without rubbing on the suspension and we understand that these Colways have re-inforced sidewalls which make them a bit wider. I have had problems with the 165/70x10's on my Historic car with the sidewalls rubbing on the rear damper cover tube. The solution was to remove the cover tubes (actually they sort-of removed themselves!).
I think I may try to get approval for the Yokohama 165/60x12. If is muddy or icy I would be better off with, say, the Continental 145/70x12. Pumped up to 38 psi all round it should be OK in the forests.
I think I may try to get approval for the Yokohama 165/60x12. If is muddy or icy I would be better off with, say, the Continental 145/70x12. Pumped up to 38 psi all round it should be OK in the forests.
I worked it out as 0.27" more on the radius and 0.020" reduction in clearance between sidewall and radius arm. Remember, the 70 profile is the sidewall depth expressed as a percentage of the width, so that's why the radius increases a bit. It's very close already and the reduction in gap is right where the radius arm curves around the back. Also the Colway is supposed to have reinforced sidewalls which increases the width.
I dont have a brand new 145/70 to try and to measure the clearances with, only an old Pirelli which is fairly worn, but still very close.
I dont have a brand new 145/70 to try and to measure the clearances with, only an old Pirelli which is fairly worn, but still very close.
Apparently they can't get the carcasses in sufficient quantity these days. I guess the 155/70x12 is a more current size for the Novas, etc. Also the Road-Plus cover is adapted for tarmac rallying and we have to use it on Enduro events as 'knobblies' are banned to prevent too much damage to the forest roads.
Looks like I have the same Falken 165 60 R12s as Tom. The only problems I have had were when I fitted them to my old car which didn't have spacer drums, and that they are currently rubbing on the arches because the suspension is set too low.
As an aside, doesn't it make a mockery of all the hard work you guys do prepping the cars to stick cheapo remoulds on them???
As an aside, doesn't it make a mockery of all the hard work you guys do prepping the cars to stick cheapo remoulds on them???
minimax said:
I may be misunderstanding your question, but my attempt at an answer is that my tyres are Falken 165/60/R12 - does that help? 
edit: £35.20 per corner fully fitted
Mine also has 160/60R12s (Yoko A539s) and they clear no problems - and I've given it some serious stick, nothing like you'll be doing in the forests, but still enough to bottom out the suspension occasionally
. Only 40 quid a corner fitted Tom, don't be a cheapskate on the tyres
(Then again you do have the Weber's thirst to fund )miniman said:
Looks like I have the same Falken 165 60 R12s as Tom. The only problems I have had were when I fitted them to my old car which didn't have spacer drums, and that they are currently rubbing on the arches because the suspension is set too low.
As an aside, doesn't it make a mockery of all the hard work you guys do prepping the cars to stick cheapo remoulds on them???
The idea is to make it a level field for all competitors by mandating the same rubber at a lowish cost. I don't mind that as Colways are quite good, but I am just concerned that they won't fit onto the car. By choice I would run the Yoko 165/60x12 as I think their sidewalls are stronger than the Falkens. With the entry fee on the RAC Revival at £1000 I ain't gonna skimp on tyres if I have a choice.
Hope i'm not stating the obvious or misunderstanding this thread, but could you not fit wheel spacers at the back, or is it against the regs? John cooper used to supply them with their handling pack conversions to get sufficient clearance for the tyres, cant remember exactly what size they used to offer.
Fatboy the yoko A539's are 165-60-12's.
I know because i run the same fantastic tyre.
Mine used to rub till funnily enough Peter (Cooperman) sorted my suspension and now no matter how much stick i give them, they have never rubbed again.
Cheers Pete
So those 155's must be ok on the rear!
I know because i run the same fantastic tyre.
Mine used to rub till funnily enough Peter (Cooperman) sorted my suspension and now no matter how much stick i give them, they have never rubbed again.
Cheers Pete
So those 155's must be ok on the rear!
The problem is they are 155/70, not 155/60, so that's why there may be a proble.
Haynes, thanks for the suggestion about spacers. I would not like to use a thick spacer, but I guess one about 0.25" thick would be OK, so long as the tyres clear the radius arms and the wheel studs don't need changing, bearing in mind that they have reinforced sidewalls. I'm going to get one and measure it or try it on the car
I may bore out the wheel stud holes in the wheels and use Minilite type sleeved wheel nuts anyway, so thread engagement length won't be a problem with thin spacers. What a good idea, thanks.
Haynes, thanks for the suggestion about spacers. I would not like to use a thick spacer, but I guess one about 0.25" thick would be OK, so long as the tyres clear the radius arms and the wheel studs don't need changing, bearing in mind that they have reinforced sidewalls. I'm going to get one and measure it or try it on the car
I may bore out the wheel stud holes in the wheels and use Minilite type sleeved wheel nuts anyway, so thread engagement length won't be a problem with thin spacers. What a good idea, thanks.
Dodgy Dave said:
Fatboy the yoko A539's are 165-60-12's.
I know because i run the same fantastic tyre.
Mine used to rub till funnily enough Peter (Cooperman) sorted my suspension and now no matter how much stick i give them, they have never rubbed again.
Cheers Pete
So those 155's must be ok on the rear!
165/60 they are - typo there
Brilliant tyres, definately, and really not too pricy considering how unfeasibly grippy they are
Might be an idea to contact Neil Burgess, there are contact details on his website www.manicminis.com/
I'm sure he runs Mildred on 12" Minilites and uses Colways on the gravel stages.
Andy
I'm sure he runs Mildred on 12" Minilites and uses Colways on the gravel stages.
Andy
Thanks for that. I do know Neil and he does run Colways on gravel. I think he uses the 165/60x12 which will clear with no real problem. I run 165/70x10 forest/gravel Colways on my 1964 car, again with no problem, except that I recently fitted some new Spax dampers on the back and the 165/70's hit the plastic shaft covers, so I removed the covers.
Our problem is probably with the 155/70x12 Road-Plus pattern Colway which we are obliged to use as the mandated control tyre for the event. I had a measure last night and not only will the inner sidewall be very close to the radius arm on the back, I now think the front tyres will just hit the bulkhead on full lock when the tyres are new. Rover fit lock-stops on later cars with the 13" wheels, I believe, but I don't want lock-stops an a rally car.
Spacers would require a dispensation from the organisers as they are not allowed under the strict regulations.
We shall see what we shall see, as they say!
Our problem is probably with the 155/70x12 Road-Plus pattern Colway which we are obliged to use as the mandated control tyre for the event. I had a measure last night and not only will the inner sidewall be very close to the radius arm on the back, I now think the front tyres will just hit the bulkhead on full lock when the tyres are new. Rover fit lock-stops on later cars with the 13" wheels, I believe, but I don't want lock-stops an a rally car.
Spacers would require a dispensation from the organisers as they are not allowed under the strict regulations.
We shall see what we shall see, as they say!
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