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MG MGA - Wheels and tyres

Had my 1960 1600 since 1989 and it came with standard 48 spoke wheels and fat Riken 195/60R15-86H.( After some reading I am surprised these tryes fitted onto the 4 inch wide rims..but there they are 20 yrs later!)
..but time but renew and I am considering going for 72 spoke 15 by 5 wheels, tubeless, with same size tyres -new ones.( I am not a purist but love this car!)
I looked at the wheel offerings and the choice seems to be between Dunlop ex India and Dayton ex US with latter costing about 44% more here in OZ.
Before I plunge into this huge investment I would appreciate comments on the new wheels and tyres and any other recommendations
n ferguson

Unless you are racing, I would stay with the 60 spoke rims, which is what I have on my car. The 72 spoke are even harder to keep clean.
Cam Cunningham

Cam..whay tyres do you have on?
n ferguson

I can't speak from experience because I have always run 165 tires. There is a possibility that by going with new wheels, a 195 series tire will not work. The new wheels are wider than the OEM 48 spokes and this will put the sidewall out more than you are presently. Also, depending on the setup, the new wheels may have a slightly different wheel offset. If it were I spending the money, I would not go against conventional wisdom on the wheel / tire combination unless you are sure you can return the items if they don't fit.
C Schaefer

If the cost is a factor you might consider checking with local TR6 owners. I found one that was upgrading to chrome wires and picked up a nice set of 72 spoke wheels for my car at a very good price. As far as tires, I think the best one I've seen so far in terms of both appearance (looks period) and performance is the Vredestein Sprint Classic. http://www.vredestein.com/Banden_Bandgroepen.asp?BandgroepID=5&UserSessionID=7257807

Bill Young

I purchased the Dunlop 60 spoke painted wires from Moss Motors here innthe states and was not very happy with the quality. The wheels were not trued, in fact they were so far out that they could not be balanced. At 65 mph the wheels start to vibrate, at 75 mph it becomes intolerable. I am ready to take my loss and go with the Dayton wires. Dayton guarantee's there wheels to be true for the life of the wheel. I wish I had spent the 44% more the first time around.

My $.02

Norm
J Dick

8 years ago I purchased 72 spoke painted Dunlop wire wheels.

I had them trued right after I got them and had Michelin tires put on, the brand escapes me at the moment and I'm not where I can look at the car.

I'd describe my driving as aggressive and I rallyed the car ever year a couple times in addition to driving it almost daily.

When I started my restoration in October I took the wheels back to be tured again and got a nice call a little while later letting me know that they were still true and didn't need anything.

I'd feel good buying the Dunlop wheels if you plan on truing them when you get them. I can testify that once true they stay that way.

Thanks,
Christopher
Christopher Wilson

Christopher may be correct in that they will stay trued, but you first have to get them that way. Where I live there are no shops within two hundred miles that can true a wire wheel, (local Harley dealer won't touch them, been there done that)that leaves no other option than to send them to a shop that can. So, by the time you have them sent them out to be trued, paid shipping cost to the shop that does the work, paid for the wheel to be trued then the return shipping, it seems to be cheaper to buy the Dayton's. I also find it difficult to understand why a wheel manufacturer would ship wheels that are not trued when they know that these wheels will be used on a vehicle that requires round and straight wheels. IMHO, at the cost of the Dunlop wires I would expect them to be true from the factory not so out of round that they cannot be balanced fully.

Dunlop Dayton

60 spoke painted $265 $285 www.Britishwirewheel.com
Shipping to... $ 35 N/A UPS
Truing Labor $ 75 N/A www.hendrixwirewheel.com
Return Shipping $ 35 N/A UPS

Total $410 $285

As you can see the Dayton's are now looking a lot less expensive. If you do have a local shop your cost for the Dunlop will still end up being the same cost or more than the Dayton wheel.

agian just my $.02
J Dick

Buy Daytons, no one ever complains about them. I have older chrome 72 spoke Dunlop's and replace about six broken spokes every year due to poor manufacturing processing after chroming.
J Heisenfeldt

Hi again - I have 165 SR 15 Continental tyres on my 60 spoke painted wires. cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Expeience from Oz - I fitted 5.5" 72 spoke chrome Dunlops (India) supplied by Neway Wheels http://www.newaywheelrepairs.com.au/Profile.html $500 ea - Neway are agents for Australian Classic Wire Wheels www.acww.com.au who import the Indian Dunlops. Neway have years of experience with wire wheels - no complaints.
Alternative was Dayton wheels supplied by The Healey Factory http://www.healeyfactory.com.au/
but sizes they had on offer where 5" and 6" 72 spokers not 5.5" ~$50 ea more expensive - prices vary alot these days due to dollar fluctuations!
I fitted Yokohama AVS dB tires 195 65 15 at around $150 ea (Yokohama C Drives are just as good and a few dollars cheaper but a slightly noiser pattern)
While 72 spokers are harder to clean IMHO are worth it for the strength and looks.
Mike
Mike Ellsmore (1)

I have just replaced my chrome wires and Tyres (The chrome spokes were showing signs of rusting and breaking and the 155 r82 15 Michelin tyres were 15 years old !!)and the fronts were obviously way out of balance with vibration at 65-75 mph.
I purchased the Dunlop 60 spoke Chromes by MWS(ref 452) they now come with stainless spokes,They were fitted with 155r8215 Vredestein Sprint Classic Tyres as I wanted to keep close to original spec I am well pleased -they are perfectly true and no vibration at 70 mph I bought them through SC parts here in the UK and were £215each complete Wheels tyres fitting and balancing including delivery
Paul
P D Camp

Mnay thanks for all of that. Some very different experiences with Dunlop ex India..so the conclusion is 'you may be lucky but....'. Don't like gambling with my connection with mother earth so I think I will go with 15by5 Daytons ( a change based on the advice ) and still want those fat 195/60/15 tyres...been driving around on them for 20 years and they stick like the proverbial .
n ferguson

I also suggest you go with 60 rather than 72. With the 60 you can just squeeze your fingers in to clean and polish. With the 72 you don't stand a chance and will have to rely on just hoseing them down.
WMR Bill

Agree if you have a muck build up but I live in Oz and have never yet finger or whatever cleaned my existing silver painted 48 spokers over 20 years ( just a hose !!)...something to do with the dry climate. I even bought the Moss poker brush..but never used....so onwards with the 72 nest !!!
n ferguson

To conclude the tale I bought 4 ,72 spoke 15 by 5 Daytons with ss spokes and chrome rims ,tubeless. They arrived 2 days ago and were beuatifully made and well packed ..cost $2400 delivered . Drove straight to the tyre dealer and got Dunlop 195/60/15 Sport 300E tyres fitted and balanced at $ 135 a tyre. Also fitted the anti-sway bar a week or so . The whole feel of the car on the road has now changed ...a delight to drive ..and boy those wheels add something!!!
n ferguson

Hi N,
Will you have your car at the National Meeting at Geelong - I am interested to have a look at the Heritage Spares anti sway bar.
Regards
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Mike....wont be at Geelong but will post a few good pics on the thread soon...it went on very easily and with good instructions.
Regards
Neil
n ferguson

Given the variable reputation of the Dunlops, I'd say there is no contest.

Pay the added premium for Daytons and get the ones you can run tubeless (slight surcharge). They are a quality product and will last longer than the Dunlops.

Having said that, original (non-Indian) Dunlops are very good if the splines and spokes are in good shape. I run some TR-6 wheels on my MGC and have had no problems.

Original 48 spoke are a waste of time. Use 60 spoke or 72 if you need more strength. The Daytons only come in 5" or 6". TR-6 came in 5.5" which is ideal for decent modern tires, but they can also be fitted to the 5" The 6" wheels are really pushing things.

The attached picture are the 6" Daytons on my Jamaican, and they'd really be pushing things with stock wheelwells on an MGA.


Bill Spohn

Here are 5.5" Dunlop steels on my coupe - that is really about the limit with 185 x 65-15 tires (Yoko Avid H4S)


Bill Spohn

Mike...as promised here are pics of the sway bar installed and also one of car with the new Dayton 15*5 wheels ( and wife). Even she enjoys the car now it has become a wee bit more civilised !!
Other major mods I have made over the 20 years I have owned it ...
Inertia seat belts,onboard battery charger,single battery,fan shroud,alternator,improved headlights,heat and sound insulation (incl. in engine bay),inclined seats (6'2"tall),sealed fuel pump.
It is a delight to drive !!


n ferguson

Mike..next pic...only seem to be able to load oner at a time..


n ferguson

and the next and last....apart from drilling the holes I only had to remove my battered horn and bracket and then reinstall after bar was mounted. Used a set of garage ramps for lifting front end and keeping the suspension loaded.
...and has anyone on the planet got an MGA that does not leak oil??


n ferguson

Thanks Neil, I think I will invest in a Heritage anti sway bar also - seems a pretty simple installation compared to those on Barney's site. Do you get along to MGCC Victoria meetings, events?
Regards
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Mike...split my time between Narooma on the Southern NSW coast and a flat in Melbourne and recently have been keeping the MGA up in Narooma....big garage workshop under the house and great traffic free roads ( or Road --princes HWY).
When enquiring about bars available in Australia I also followed up 'thread' advice and contacted a Sydney company called K-Mac who make the things for just about every car . Their webpage was a mess and they were slow with response to my enquiry ( or I was impatient to buy!) but they quoted following eventually ...
'The price for the MGA front bar is actually $255.00, GST inclusive.
Freight is an additional $25.00. The rear kit is $265"
Contact was Martin Taylor email ...martin@themainartery.com.au
Never got the drawings etc but if the same installation then obviously much cheaper than what I paid ( which could have been possibly made by K-Mac)and one hell of a lot cheaper than importing....
Bought mine via Heritage on Ebay for about $380 but good instructions ,with photos and metal templates for the hole drilling ,good tolerances and literally 2 hrs work...no complications and that is not what usually happens when I lay the sweaty paws on the car.
Regards
Neil
n ferguson

I bought 72 spoke 6" x 15" Daytons summer before last. Installed 195 60 Pirelli P400s and have enjoyed every minute since! The chrome was worth the extra because they are easier to keep clean. The added strength and stability was immediately apparent, they arrived true and have stayed that way, the silicone seal system makes them tubeless and that works well also. Go for the Daytons!
Russ
Russ Carnes

This thread was discussed between 19/03/2009 and 09/04/2009

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