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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Wheel size

Hi i have been offered a set of minilite replica 13 x 5.5, im sure for my 72 midget standard width is 4.5

Can anyone see any fitting issues , offset is 25mm but unsure what offset on original wheels is so doesnt help me a lot

Im planning no front suspension mods except peter may kit which seems same size as original kit

thanks
andy
a chaffey

I don't think you'll have any fitting issues with the wheels, but you may have clearance problems if you go with too large a tire size.

I have a similar setup & run 155/80 x 13 tires...no clearance problems, but not the best performance option, but choices are limited here in the States.


Dave Rhine ('78 1500)

Many, many will disagree with me but I think the 4.5 with 145/80 tyres or 5.0 with 155/70 tyres plus standard size (16") steering wheel give the nicest feel for road going Spridgets and more use in snow and wet and more fun in the dry

Wider wheels and tyres especially with smaller steering wheels are more for tack use in my personal opinion as a non-track driver

155/80 tyres may give you slightly more ground clearance (allowing for the variance in tyres of the same stated size)

Only a guess but I'd have thought that 5.5 wheels would accept or generally have wider tyres than 155/80

165/70 comes out same size as 145/80 (but allow for variance in tyres of the same stated size)

see - http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

others should be along with more (and different) advice
Nigel Atkins

Nigal ... Yep that would be me!

I have the 145/70R 13s on my car....they are jusst way to small, they work well in the back with the swa but in the front its like a mouse standing between the legs of an elephant...vary odd looking, to the point of circusy

prop
Prop

155/80 without panhard rod
165/70 with panhard
on 5.5 wide rims
works fine on a SWA
Onno Könemann

There you go!

Prop you're missing 5/8" of sidewall
(at the top at least)
(allowing for variances in tyres of the same stated size)
no wonder they look a bit small
also a good bit of wheel to arch clearance can be very usefull on a lot of roads
plus there's less clearance when the car is occuppied

Big wheels and tyres, unless you have larger brakes to fit around, are a bit more of a fashion thing for road going cars

Do they not have 145/80 or 155/70 tires (did you see what I done there) out your way
or
is it just you :)
Nigel Atkins

I run the wider 165/70-13 on my original Rostyles. Can't tell if they are any stickier or slicker than the 155/13's that came off. They do stay put on the wheel without clearance issues.

And, as Nigel stated above, they retain the original tire circumference as the 145/13, in case an accurate speedo/odo is important.
Richard Reeves

Nigle Im sure your correct,

At the time i purchased the tires there wasnt alot avialable in a 13 inch...(thats what I was told...but there there if you look) plus I dont really understand tire lingo enough to make corrections on the fly...the tire guys just used the spec from the old tires to SPECIAL order in the tires I have. From what I understand I have the smallest tires made for the midget...and trust me as Arie noted some time back, it has a circus car apperance ... just needs a funny clown in the drivers seat..." _______" yes, you may fill in the blank...LOL

But I am going to a bigger tire when I do the suspnsion upgrade/mod this winter/spring and Im converting to a RWA with flares so no more issues there with tire clearance.
Prop

This thread was discussed between 18/09/2010 and 19/09/2010

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