Alex -Spot-on.

Blue - Same. When I put 165/60 R12's on, I relieved the front wings, per the usual write-ups, from the top of the arch forward. I repeated the process again when I went to 13's.

The MiniTec front clip openings are just a bit on the stock side radius-wise to allow the assembler to trim to suit.

N J 

"Remember...pillage first, then burn!"

As I mentioned, MiniTec does use the 185/60-13's. If you are able to grind back the rear pivot those 10-13mm, that should give you just enough clearance. That's why I cited my experience with the 175/60-13's. It doesn't seem like much, but it's enough.

On the front, I had no real trouble at all. It might rub a little at full lock (bearing in mind that a Sportspack steering rack has less maximum steering angle than a non-Sportspack rack.) MiniTec never mentioned anything particular about the front, though all their cars as far as I can tell have the big front arches. So I would guess that if there was any work needed on the front, it wouldn't be very much.

DLY

When you run the sums, it is over half an inch bigger than the 175 which means your clearance at the back has disappeared, and even more of the front wings will need to be hacked out.

Metric is for people who can't do fractions.

The 175/60 13's on mine have about 1/2" clearance to the pivot arm and bracket at rest. They can foul the corner of the bracket when jacking up the rear. I don't do any "Dukes of Hazzard" driving, so it's not an issue at speed.

N J

"Remember...pillage first, then burn!"

She said "Its just a car, I said you're just a girl"

Minitec does this, by grinding back the rear subframe/arm pivot point. Norm says there's enough meat there to do it.

I have fitted 175/60-13 tires to a Sportspack. It just clears the pivot point, maybe 12-13mm clearance. But no problems in 3,000 miles of driving including a drive from Seattle to Montana and back.

The hi-los need to be really cranked up - when I 1st had them fitted, with the hi-los set to the stock 175/50-13 tires, it beat the hell out of the arches at times. No rubbing on metal though.

175/60-13 put the speedo spot-on when referenced against a GPS, but of course throws off the odometer. (the speedo reads high stock on mine, but the odo is accurate - common in European cars.)

The revs are pleasantly dropped even more, and I don't notice a big loss in performance with the taller gearing. It was enough that I don't yearn for a 5-speed anymore.

DLY

That tyre is nearly 2 inches taller overall than a 175/50/13.

Metric is for people who can't do fractions.