g'day.
I have just bought a black MK1 2 dr with standard guards. The paint is rough but looks OK at 10M but the wheels and puny guards make it look a bit wimpy. I love the idea of getting arches fitted but am thinking that can wait till I have done 5 spd, LSD, brakes etc etc.
I dont mind getting the guards flared or whatever has to happen, so can I get a 15s under the standard guards (I want to fit bigger brakes)?
I am thinking either a 14 challenger or superlite.
Any ideas?

you can fit up to 16 x 7 with no guard issuses you just need the correct offset,

Dont go 14 inch, you have a c**p choice of tyre and width's in superlites or challenger. You want something that is 7 inch's wide if you want to fill the guards and either 15's or stick with 13's.

Hi Blunny, congrats on your purchase.

You will have trouble with large rims/tyres fowling on the front lower corner of standard Mk1 front arches, particularly if the car is lowered. I had a set of 13x6 superlights with 205/60-13 tyres on a Mk1 and needed to fold the corner back on itself to get me out of trouble. A fairly rough work-around but necessary at the time.

Twin Cam style front arches will give greater scope for larger wheel/tyre combos as the arches have a greater radius and reach further forward.

Thanks Simon. I thought about TC guards as they look good (have had one) but the cost of the guards and fitting, I may as well go arches.
I thought about the RS 4 spoke in black or the Revolite in a 7/13.
Subtle but should suit the scruffy black.

Then when I grow up 15/7 Panasports!

No worries Blunny. There's no denying a set of bubble arches looks the goods - I'm fitting them to my car too. But in the interim you could buy fibreglass Twin Cam arches from Geoff Wade that you mould into the standard guards. Much cheaper than buying complete guards - if you could find a set. Wozzah's Mk1 has fibreglass Twink arches which look great and offer the clearance needed to run seven inch rims.



Alternatively, pressed steel versions were available for a while - through Rare Spares maybe? Someone might be able to confirm. I have a set and you can see the difference against the standard arch.

Anyway, it's up to you. Something to consider though.

If it just scrapes, why not roll the edge? gives another 1/2 inch, some tyre mobs should be able to do for you

Thanks Simon,
What type of 7in rim are you using? I presume a 15/7 Superlite would be dreaming under some TC arches?
I am thinking of sticking with 13s till I grow up, learn to drive, get faster etc then do the 15s with the big restoration.
13/7 RS 4 spokes in black on a black 2 door would look ok?

These days you almost pay as much for 13s as you do 15s...tyres are cheaper for 15s too, better selection etc