BIG alloy wheels are de rigueur nowadays.
But, just a decade ago, they were far more rare. Maximum size for the mid-1990s Volvo S40, for example, was 16-inches.
Goodness, mainstream Fiestas run wheels that big nowadays.
Why was this? ‘It was really tight in the wheelarches,’ an engineer told me, ‘We did have a fix, that involved bending metal parts inboard.
‘But we couldn’t apply this in the required volumes to offer it as a series option.’ So, even on the speedy T4, 16-inches was your lot. Damn.
Until, that is, the final generation run-out S40.
‘By then, we’d developed a new technique, that could adjust the inner wheelarch production without slowing the production line down.’
It was applied. 17-inch wheels came to the S40 range.
And, the geek within me has another top fact to bedazzle the ladies with.
MINI John Cooper S Works Photostream on Flickr
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