Triumph Sports Cars

Hi all

I just purchased a 78 spitfire about 5 months ago and want to upgrade my rims like Max Brewsters. From what I understand is he has 16" rage rims and I would like those on mine but I noticed he has a 5 bolt and mine is 4bolt. How did he upgrade

thanks

Wayne from Alberta canada

Hi Wayne,
My MkIV Spitfire now has 15" MGF 5 spoke alloys. MGF wheels have the same stud pattern as Spitfires, but you need to fit larger M12 x 1.5 wheel studs (Landrover Freelander - part ref CLP9037L).

Later MGF's had 16" wheels.

If your Spit wheelarches are standard you will need very low profile tyres with 16" wheels.
I'm not sure of the availability of MGF wheels in Canada so don't know if this will help at all.

Graham

Thanks Graham , that helps, I really like the rims you have on yours also, can't wait to upgrade it really makes a difference to the look, I'm not too savvy with the terms ,do I need to have the hub drilled for the larger studs then, how did you do it, by the way I was born in Derby

Hi Wayne,

No, it's a lot easier than that, you simply take the hubs off (Hub puller required), knock out the old thin studs and then press in the new ones from behind. They are a splined push fit, the splines dig into the hub and prevent them from turning.
The good news is that you can then use MGF wheel nuts as well.

The weedy Spitfire studs are the one on top in the photo below.

Born in Derby - It's a small world as they say!


Graham

I have been all over the web looking for the mgf rims, is there an official website where I can buy them from, most sites are reference. I would like to do 16's with low profile tires but I would like to know more ,like will they rub the fender, will it majorly effect my turning, will they stick out beyond my flares or are they made to fit without modifications. Thanks in advance as I appreciate any input.

Wayne Taylor

Hi Wayne,
I'm running 15" wheels and I know quite a few others using 15" MGF wheels too. Not sure if anyone is using 16" wheels.
My tyres are 185/55/R15. (Some use 195/50/15's) The rears don't rub but one of the fronts does rub the inner wheel arch under heavy breaking/cornering, but I think this is more to do with the slight missalignment of the glassfibre bonnet.
The lower the profile tyres the harder the ride will be, I have noticed this moving from 175/70/13 to 185/55/15's. Also the wider tyres make steering a harder job at low speed, whilst parking etc.

I got my MGF wheels off Ebay in the UK, if you can get Ebay UK put in MGF wheels, This will give you an idea of the styles available. Is Ebay up and running in Canada?, Otherwise look for british car breakers.

This link is an excellent source of information, [www.triumphspitfire.com].
if you scroll down to Wheels and tyres there is a mass of info on wheel and tyre choices.
Otherwise try contacting the Triumph Sports Six Club via the web.

Hope this helps

Graham

Wayne, you can open up a range of possibilities by finding out the Spitfire PCD (the bolt pattern). Once you know that you can google around & find other cars that were the same. The MGB pattern, as an example was the same as 240/260/280 Z cars and some Saabs.

You'll also want to find out about wheel offsets (also look up backspace) as a wheel with more or less will move the wheel in/out so you need to pay attention to that too.