MGB MGB Tires The Good, the Bad, and thhe Ugly

Radford

Jedi Knight

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #1

I'm looking for advice as to what tires will work best on my stock 1975 B rims. What's the "biggest" tire I can run without modifications?

 

jaybird

Yoda

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #2

At our car show Sunday, I checked the tires on 25 other Bs. The biggest I saw were 185's, although most were 175's. I'm going with 175/70/14's on mine.

 

Steve_S

Yoda

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #3

185/70 is the largest that will fit with a reasonable amount of stiffness but will still have sidewall flex. Any larger than 185 and you will suffer very poor handling unless you instal a wider rim. 175/70 would be the best choice for handling and ride, 165 would of course fit quite nicely.

 

Jack_Long

Jedi Hopeful

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #4

Good luck finding 165-14's, the original size for most B's. They are virtually un-findable unless you want to go to Coker and pay $150+ each for Michelin XZX replicas. 185/70 is the appropriate upgrade size; the rule of thumb is 2 size widths for every 10% lower in profile. 175/70 is a tiny bit smaller in diameter and might make your speedometer read a little bit high - although probably well within the normal range of error for 30 year old English cars!

 

OP

Radford

Jedi Knight

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #5

Thanks for the imput so far. I have 175's on the care now, but knowing that 185's work gives me a lot more options.

Any brand or range I should stay away from?

 

Jack_Long

Jedi Hopeful

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #6

My B came with 185/70 Cooper's on the front and 185/70 Michelin MX's on the back. Amazingly for tires that are supposed to be the same size, the Michelins look huge - both in diameter and in width. While mine don't rub, it is really close on the driver's side rear wheel opening lip. I'd probably be careful with the Michelins on a steel wheel car and avoid them altogether on a wire wheel car.

 

OP

Radford

Jedi Knight

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #7

Fantastic Jack, just the kind of information I needed.

 

Steve_S

Yoda

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #8

I noticed the same, Jack. I had BF Goodrich 185/70 on a set of 5" rims and they looked huge. Put a new set of Sumitoyo HTR200 on the same wheels and they look a full size smaller. I suppose that means if you're going to 185's on a 4.5" rim, the Sumitoyo may be a good choice. Still going to be flexy on such a narrow rim but better than some other tires.

 

jaybird

Yoda

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #9

[ QUOTE ]
175/70 is a tiny bit smaller in diameter and might make your speedometer read a little bit high - although probably well within the normal range of error for 30 year old English cars!

[/ QUOTE ]

Speedometers WORK???

 

J

Jim 67B

Jedi Hopeful

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #10

I have had a tire lose it's bead and now are looking at getting at least two new tires maybe four. What I have found is that 175/75R14 is very close to the original size both in overall diameter and width. Cooper still has a tire in that size. Then I found that Nankang still makes the 165R14 tire. It is their model 802. If you can find a dealer that carries them they are about $41.00 each. Since I have wire wheels, I am looking for a tire closer to the original width. If you have the Rostyle wheels I would go with the 185/70SR14 tire. They will fit the rim nicely and are very close to the original overall diameter.

 

703MGB

Senior Member

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #11

I was running 185/70 14 up to yesterday and the fit on the rostyle was perfect. So 185 are ok.

Now I am running 195/65 15.

 

OP

Radford

Jedi Knight

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #12

[ QUOTE ]
I was running 185/70 14 up to yesterday and the fit on the rostyle was perfect. So 185 are ok.

Now I am running 195/65 15.

[/ QUOTE ]

New rims? What'd ya get?

 

703MGB

Senior Member

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #13

15 inche Minilites from Moss

 

Nunyas

Yoda

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #14

I have 185/70 14's on Rostyle rims, but I forget which brand. This past weekend while adjusting the rear brakes and replacing rebound straps I noticed that the inside wall of the wheel well (the side behind the tire) has some minor rubbing (took off some under coating but paint still in tact). While sitting level and even while jacked up the clearances look fine, but I guess under full load of driving the body roll and axle shift are just enough to rub a little. I think I also noticed that my rear suspension bushings were a bit worn...

I've plans to rebuild the front suspension. Looks like I need to include the rear while I'm at it.

 

703MGB

Senior Member

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #15

Never had any rubbing with my old 185/70 14's but all my suspension bushings are new and are Polyurethane. Plus leaf springs, shocks....and do on are new.

 

OP

Radford

Jedi Knight

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #16

[ QUOTE ]
I have had a tire lose it's bead and now are looking at getting at least two new tires maybe four. What I have found is that 175/75R14 is very close to the original size both in overall diameter and width. Cooper still has a tire in that size. Then I found that Nankang still makes the 165R14 tire. It is their model 802. If you can find a dealer that carries them they are about $41.00 each. Since I have wire wheels, I am looking for a tire closer to the original width. If you have the Rostyle wheels I would go with the 185/70SR14 tire. They will fit the rim nicely and are very close to the original overall diameter.

[/ QUOTE ]


I was thinking about Pirelli P400's. Would I be wasting my money?

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Keoke

Great Pumpkin

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #17

Jack,check out British Wire Wheel they stock 165 X 14 Tires at under $50.00, Hendrix on the east coast probably does too.FWIW---Keoke

 

Stewart

Darth Vader

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #18

Mine also has that rub mark in the upper wheel well with the 185/70/14's. Yours on the right or left side or both?

 

Nunyas

Yoda

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #19

mine's on both driver and passenger wheel wells. There appears to have been more rubbing on the driver's side though. Possibly because of there normally being only the driver and right hand turns being sharper?

 

U

usasma

Jedi Trainee

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• Mar 31, 2005

• #20

FWIW - I've got Dunlop 185/70's on my 74½ and don't have any problem with rubbing.