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MG MG Y Type - Reinventing the wheel

I've often wondered if there was a set of wheels from another car that might fit on my Y-type. Researching the principal of the idea, it is a case of finding a car with a five stud PCD of 112mm (q.v. "Y-type wheels" on archive), and - I assume - a 16" diameter. The width practicable has been considered to be 185mm, but I can't verify this. ibid.
I wonder if anyone else has worked this one out before?
A J R Felthouse

Hi. there has been previous discussion on this topic and I have done a fair bit of research to seek an "easy" solution to wider 16 inch wheels for the YA/YT. I was unable to come up with any bolt on alternatives. In the end, I made a set of wheels using Rover P3 4 1/2 x 16 wheel hoops fitted to MG YA/YT centres. I found that the Rover hoops can be pressed onto the MG centres without any machining of either. However this was not a trivial task and required disassembly of both sets of wheels by removing the rivets and pressing the centres from the hoops, then reversing the process by pressing the MG centres into the Rover hoops to the required offset with minimal runout. I think that this is a good solution ... but the problem is that finding a set of Rover P3 wheels is quite difficult. Happy to provide further details if there is interest.





E.J. Ward

Hi E.J.
Thanks for your reply. Do you remmeber the name of the thread that the discussion was cogitating? Finding P3 wheels could prove tricky to source in England nowadays, alas. All the best, Andy
A J R Felthouse

Hi Andy, there are a couple of threads in the Archive section on wheel modifications. Tony Slattery has used Lada Niva rims, albeit requiring some machining. Someone else has used the Rover P3 rims (probably where I sourced the idea!) and someone else has used modified Ford rims. Regards, Ewan
E.J. Ward

HI My YT was in a shed for 48 years park next to a P3 Rover When the cars where dragged out I looked at the wheels and thought the wheels looked about the same size so out came the tape measure and that is how I discovered the parts could be used. Both rims look like they came out of the same factory so do any other 1950 cars made in the UK have rims that could be used????? BOB WOOD YT4319
Bob Wood

Hi Andy
When I was buying tyres for my YA back in the 70s a dealer told me that 16" wheels were only fitted to YAs and Taxis ie black cabs . Might be slightly less rare the P3 wheels .
John B
J K Bowman

Hi AJR in the UK
In Australia I heard on the grapevine that Ford Falcon rims were 16 inch but much wider (7 Ins) Not sure if your uk Equivalent or another, Holden Jackaroo( Australian) had 16 ins rims .
I had acquired both with anticipation and have modified the Ford. Yes they were a close fit with the studs but just not quite right. So cut out the centre’s and Y centres were a perfect fit.
Roll on , the rims were cut down to 5.5 inch rims and welded( in some states not legal to do so), chromed the rims and centre’s added.
Check your rear wheel arches for suspension movement and front for turning clearances.
Result looks wonderful but suspect I might need to build up the triceps for turning , not a problem whilst in motion.
Sure I heard of the Rover rims , but not now an easy find here in Australia.
Am sure there are more in Uk and no need to reduce width .
Overall wasn’t a cheap option , “ never mind the quality feel the length” apologies to Miriam Karlin.






CR Dickinson

Ford Falcon wheels are 114.3mm PCD so won't fit, if the MGY measurement is 112mm
112mmPCD is a common size for VW Golf/Caddy, A3/A4 Audi , and Mercedes--There would be some 16" wheels there somewhere surely
William Revit

The Lada rim solution was developed by Bill Spall, not myself, but I have done quite a few sets over time for my own cars & others. They require the Y-type centres to be machined to fit the rim ID.

Apart from P3 Rover, the other rims to look out for are Standard Vanguard, which are 4inch, and Standard Vanguard Ute which are Four and a Half inch. These rims fit the Y-Type centres like the Rover P3.

In all cases the maximum inside offset is 100mm from the inner rim edge to the mounting face with Four and a Half Inch rims.

Radial tyres for these wheels in 165/75R16 or 165/80R16 are becoming difficult to source at times - you can depend on no supply chain lasting forever these days.

Cheers

Tony Slattery
The Classic Workshop
Black Mountain QLD
Australia
A L SLATTERY

FYI, I've been running modified Ford AU Falcon wheels on my YT since 2007. The PCD was an exact match. The Ford wheels were 7" wide. I had 1.5" cut out of the inside rim. The offset and width were then perfect. Wheels were then painted up and the Y-type chrome garnishes fitted. Easy.
I run 195/65R16 Pirelli radial tyres. There's many options but most are stiffer light commercial tyres in 16". The Pirelli's were the softest.
The result drives very well. Holds the road, tracks well, no issues after 15 years.





R Ades

Dear gentlemen,
I have discovered that the gentlemen of Britain and Australia who drive early Rover P series (P1,2,3) have had exactly the same problem regarding radials.
I am reliably informed that that there are tyre options available, but supply issues have been happening.
I shall try to find someone with a VW Golf and try out their spare wheel as a match against mine to see if they fit. (If I ever get my car back).The VW Golf spare wheel design shows promise.
Otherwise it'll back to that highwayman who botched my exhaust to find out which other more modern wheels might fit. Ford Falcons are on the RSPB red list in England nowadays, alas, just as I imagine that the moose is pretty thin on the ground in Australia.
A J R Felthouse

I've been in touch with John James from Totally T Type 2, and he can't offer any answer other than Rover P3 wheels. However, John will be includng an article in the next edition asking for any ideas regarding wheel transplants; plus, an overview of compatibility of other marque parts for a Y type. Watch this space. So far, I haven't managed to find anyone with a veedub Golf with a spare wheel available.
A J R Felthouse

This thread was discussed between 12/05/2022 and 30/05/2022

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