MG Sports Cars

I am now ready to order my tires and wheels so this is the last time I will be bringing up this subject. I know they have been done to death, but I like the Mini-Lite look. I’m getting from you guy's input that without flares, but probably with rolled fender lips and a panard bar, I can run 15x7, 4x114.3 (4.5”), 35 to 38 mm offset, wheels and 225/60R15 tires. Would 50 series be better? If this isn’t so, any correction would be greatly appreciated. Also, I’ve checked a number of sites online and they don’t list offset on their wheels; I’m hesitant to blindly order something this expensive over the net and not be sure. Unless someone has an affordable source I’m probably going to get them through Discount Tire. Every time I spend a lot of money on my baby it makes me feel like someday I’ll actually get it on the road (I know better than to say finished).



Paul

Paul,

Without spacers that offset likely will rub on the inner fender well in the rear. I run 16x7 et38 mm but use 3/8" spacers. This is with 205/55/16 Yohohama tires.

You will probably have to flatten the bump stop hump in inner fender and roll the fender lip. 35-36 mm offset,225/50/15.

I like eight-spoke wheels. I had cheap 14" eight-spoke wheels on my car for many years, and now I've had 15" ones for about five years. I'll probably upgrade again when/if I go to flared fenders.

I would encourage you to talk to wheel dealers and find out exactly what they offer and recommend. Since you mentioned Minilite by name, it's appropriate to advise that for genuine, authentic, Made-in-England, Minilite wheels there's exactly one North American importer and it isn't Discount Tire. It's John Targett at Targett Motorsport and phone number 330-283-3668.

There must be at least a dozen other manufacturers of 8-spoke wheels, but they all look different. Some more different than others! Besides the shape of the spokes, the diameter of the center part, and the flatness of the center part there are various paint and finish differences (e.g. machine polished outer rims vs painted) and functional differences (e.g. steel inserts for the lug nuts to bear on.) Some wheels can be special ordered with different backspacing than listed as "standard". Shop carefully and weigh the many pros and cons.

Moss Motors offers two different makes of fake Minilites: Panasport (Japanese) and no-name (Chinese). Sometimes it works out well to buy Moss parts through an authorized Moss distributor, such as Pete Mantell at Mantell Motorsport. (Hint: compare shipping cost, taxes, and sale pricing.) Finally, I have it on good authority that Bill Guzman at Classic Conversions Engineering will soon be offering VTO (Chinese) fake Minilites.

Paul,

Play with this calculator:

[kgm.tiwing.com]

That sounds like a bit too much offset. Graham will know what you need he runs 15X7 with a 225/50-15. You will want 50 series. The 60s will be too tall.

As Jim said, the hump has to go & roll the fender lips.

My 15 x 7 Panasports have 22mm offset (which is suppose to be the same as MGB RB Rostyle offset).

Thanks everybody, all I have to do now is spend the money. Putting tires and wheels on it, though a little scary, is sort of a milestone. I’ll take some pictures when I get them mounted.

Paul

Just to clear the muddy water:

Quote:

The MGB was the largest user of Rostyle wheels from 1970 to 1980, although wheel offset differed between those fitted to chrome bumper (1970-early 1974) and rubber bumper (1974.5-1980) cars; early cars used a 2.814cm offset, while that of later Rostyles was 2.384cm, explained by a switch from using 155R14 to 165R14 tires.

[www.hemmings.com]

[www.richardthompson.co.uk]

Carl, I found the articles very informative and though I’m apologetically a little dense, I think I get it. If my math is correct a 76 has an offset of 23.84mm (2.384cm) and a 72 has an offset of 28.14mm (2.814cm). I assume then that an offset of 22mm on my 72 might be just a little short. I’m also starting to rethink the 225/50R15 and maybe I should consider a 215. I want to use the widest tire possible, but I still have to get it out of my driveway. I know this is a lot of trouble but I’m learning a lot here, and hopefully others are too. Again guys, thanks so much.

Paul

Don't over think it Paul. If 15x7 wheels with 22mm offset and 225/50/15's fit Graham's car, why wouldn't they fit yours. Probably have to roll the fender lips and maybe flatten the inner wheel well bumps, but if it worked for Graham it should work for you.

I don't recall what you are using for the rear axle. Once that is set, it's all in the offset. We know that 225/50-15 on a 7" wide wheel will fit cause Graham runs them, as does Steve Carrick. I have done quite a bit of measuring & I am pretty sure I can squeeze in 7.5" wheel with the right offset. Then I came to my senses & decided I really didn't want that much weight hanging off each corner of my car. ;)

Hang some plumb bobs (or just some weighted strings) in the front & back of your wheel well to measure the room available. Plug your stock wheel & offset into the calculator above, then you can see how the offset moves the wheel around in the well.

At least for now I'm running a stock 72 MGB rear axle and I think Graham is using a 8.8 Ford. I don't know what the difference is.


Paul

Good point, I wasn't thinking about the fact that his axle may not be the stock width. I'll bet Graham will clarify before too long.

FYI - My 8.8 is narrowed to stock width.
I'm on my second set of 225/50R15 tires but I'm seriously thinking of downsizing width for the next set to 215 or 205's - there's only a half inch lost on tread width (with the 205's) but it would resolve my occasional minor fender rub on severe bumps, perhaps lessen the steering effort and reduce unsprung weight....and not to mention that fewer manufacturers are producing 225/50R15 tires.

MG had a habit of poorly centering spring perches on their axles. (Search the archive for more info, or measure your axle and see for yourself.) When you narrow an axle, you have control over how accurately the axle is centered.

I’ve been thinking on the same lines Graham, maybe I should go with 205 or 215; they will certainly look better than my 195’s. I’ll still use a panhard rod to steady up the rear axle movement (I know, actually the body moves, not the axle). Good point Curtis, I had a 71 roadster that was off to the left and I thought it had a bent frame. When I sold it, in keeping with my innate honesty :-), I told the guy, who was a MG owner, it was like that and he didn’t seem to concern, but now I know the truth :-) I haven’t measured my GT yet, but I certainly will.

Paul

Quote:

When you narrow an axle, you have control over how accurately the axle is centered

Yep, my 8.8 spring perches are welded off centre by about 200 thou.

Now for the most difficult step of the entire process...

Finding a wheel you like with the offset you need in a bolt pattern that you can make work!

Isn’t that the truth, seems like the wheel manufactures think we all want 18” wheels. I’d just be happy with 15x7 I could afford, and it would be nice if they fit without super glue.

Paul

Paul, have you looked at Hap Waldrop's VTO wheels?

[www.acmespeedshop.com]