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MG MGA Spare wheel/tyre BBS discussion at MG-Cars.info
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MG MGA - Spare wheel/tyre
| Hi I have given up looking for a Saab spare wheel and am going to reuse an A steel wheel(car fitted with wide alloys). Can anyone suggest the narrowest tyre to fit the wheel to maximise the boot space. Thanks |
| Brian Paddon |
| Brian, 155 tyres are usually considered to be the smallest size that you would fit to the standard MGA steel rim although even these have a slightly smaller rolling diameter than the original 5.60 x 15 crossplies. Your present alloys will probably be fitted with 175 or 185 tyres and so with a 155 size there will be a substantial difference in rolling diameter. However, if your intention is just to have a "Get you home" space-saver tyre with a limited driving speed and short range, then you may as well go for the smallest size you can get away with. Probably a 145 (or just possibly a 135 ) size would be the smallest you can get away with. (Longstone Tyres in Bawtry near Doncaster may probably advise you about this) I fitted a 135 x 15 on my Saab space saver wheel rim but it is much narrower than the MGA rim. Compared with my 6" wide alloys, my space-saver has a 1" smaller rolling diameter which could possibly stress the diff if the spare is on the rear and you drive it for a long time. However, if you only intend to drive the car carefully for a few miles to a tyre dealer, then there should be no problem. I have had my space-saver tyre in the car for about 4 years now and so far, I have never had to use it Dont forget you can save quite a bit of space by leaving the tyre partially deflated in the boot, I carry a tiny electric tyre inflator pump in case I need the spare. Finally, your steel rim may need slightly different wheel nuts than your alloys and so it means that you will have to carry a set of four in your jack bag. Cheers Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| Brian, so where do you put the big punctured tyre if the boot is full and you have a passenger? |
| Art Pearse |
| Just thinking - if you have wire wheels, does anyone:- 1. Carry tyre levers to change the tube yourself..? 2. Does a tyre inflate kit (the sealant you inject)even work with tubes ..? 3. Any other bright ideas for space saving when you run wires/tubes and want to trundle round Europe... Thanks |
| Aleks Stojanovic |
| From the width point of view and fitting in the cut-out slot I keep my spare mainly deflated, but I carry a foot pump. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Art has a point, my wide alloy wheels will not fit into the slot in the rear bulkhead and so I cannot close the boot lid with it the wheel in there. Also, I dont have a boot-rack which would be the other obvious place to carry it. So I carry some bungee cord to hold the wheel in place in the boot and another to keep the boot lid held safely down. The only other place I have thought that it could possibly go is on top of the soft top if the hood frame could be considered strong enough? You would also have to use some padding to protect the hood material from damage too and figure out a way to strap it down. Aleks, the puncture repair aerosol is not designed to work with a tubed tyre, it would probably not seal the puncture and most likely would also ruin the tyre. Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| Brian If your main aim is boot space, you could use a std. A steel wheel and place it in the boot face down. Most modern cars do it this way now and you will be surprised how much stuff you can stow away inside the wheel--- If you need your spare, stowing one of your wider wheels in the boot shouldn't be a problem as the tyre will probably be flat anyway A nice 15" plastic bowl to sit in the spare to contain things would keep it all tidy willy |
| William Revit |
| Aleks, if you look up "Spares and tools" in the archive (and similar threads on this subject) you will find lots of information on the subject of making space in your MGA in there. Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| Thanks for all your comments. Maybe I still need to look for a Saab wheel. Many years ago when the car was in use we filled all the voids even put the hood up so that we could store camping gear in its place. I am thinking of fitting the luggage carrier onto another boot lid so I can carry more if necessary. Colin Can you give me some advise on tracking. I have fitted negative camber bottom arms and now need to visit the tyre guy to set up the tracking. The manual says parallel tracking with your experience is this suitable or should it be set positive. Thanks Brian |
| Brian Paddon |
| Brian I would suggest contacting a former work colleague of mine who specialises in older Saab spares http://www.stevelewissaab.com Please send him my greetings when you contact him Dominic |
| Dominic Clancy |
| Brian, if you have negative camber lower arms I would definitely set the steering parallel as MG recommends. I used to have negative camber wishbone arms on my car but it was combined with shorter springs to lower the car. This wasnt a good combination and it caused terrible bump steer where the car would steer violently to one side if you hit a bump mid corner. I experimented with both toe-in and toe-out to see if this would reduce the bump-steer but it only made it worse. So I took the negative camber arms off, reset the steering to parallel and stayed with the lowered springs which solved the problem. I am in the process of fitting standard height springs and it will be interesting to see how the car feels. I may refit the neg camber arms after I have tried out the new springs and I will let you know how it goes. Cheers Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| Sorry to change the threads direction guys, Brian you are welcome to PM me about this if you wish. I got my Saab space-saver from a local Saab specialist who had a whole load of old Saab parts stashed around his workshop. I will ask him if he has any rims if you wish. Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| Hi Colin Not sure how to PM you, so have sent an email. That would be good if you could help with a wheel from your local guy. Thanks for the offer. Regards Brian |
| Brian Paddon |
| A lifetime back there was an accessory to fix the spare wheel to the top of the bootlid. As I recall, it was an adaptation of the luggage rack. Willy - you are right, our V8 has the upside down spare as you suggest. Surprising how much one can fit into the wheel . even a spacesaver ! Colyn, as you say, no one believes the puncture aerosol repair kit will work when one needs it most. The BMW spacesaver is a much sought-after accessory. MG on the road - fog a problem and lots of salt. 61 collisions in Hampshire this morning. Rear wheel drive very sure-footed. Zinc deals with the terminal tinrot. R |
| Roger Walker |
| Roger There was an option at one time for a luggage rack with a curved restraining bar at the back end that enabled the wheel to sit lower on the boot lid, aiding rearwards view. It was an option offered to me by Bob West in 1997. I wish I had gone that route. Not checked recently, but it may still be available. I am aware that others have welded hubs onto their racks, making a firm attachment. I have usually gone the bungy route when I have put the wheel there. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| http://www.sportscarmetalworks.com/mga/ Used to sell the rack with spare wheel attachment . |
| David k Brenchley |
| Between 69 and 76 when my A Coupe was a high mileage workhorse, and I needed the luggage capacity, I just had 2 holes drilled through lid and frame to which the spare was chrome bolted. I wouldn't suggest this in this day and age of higher standards but it worked well and did have the advantage of as low as possible mounting. I had a high mounted suction mirror on windscreen so I could see over it fine. I still have the lid in the garage loft. End of MGA abuse confession. Paul |
| Paul Dean |
| I run 195/55/15 Pirelli P6000 on my roadster. For short trips I have enlarged the slot to take this size tyre comfortably. For longer trips I have a spare boot lid with Moss ss boot rack and splined hub adaptor to carry the wheel. Mike 
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| Mike Ellsmore |
| Mike That's a familiar sight although the tyres used to be skinnier. Can we see the arrangement without the wheel on it please ? R |
| Roger Walker |
| Hi Roger, See attached. This isn't a cheap option but I reckon I would get my money back if I ever sold the car! From memory it cost me $250 for second hand boot (no rust with latch) that had a slight crease in the skin plus had holes drilled in the wrong place from a previous rack (a mate welded up for nothing), another $750 to have it panel beaten and painted with 2 pack to match car, $500 for Moss ss rack, $200 for a guy to fabricate spear assembly (I provided the stub and spinner for nicks as they were rejects from another car that was being restored in the Club - a little wear on the splines/thread but fine for this purpose), plus a new MG badge. The only issue after a 10,000 km trip was it chipped a bit of paint off the bottom of the tonneau panel as it moved a bit on rough windy roads in the wilds of Scotland. I quoted the wrong tyre size in my earlier post - the touring tyres are Pirelli P6000 185/65/15 (I have a set of track wheels with 195/55/15 tyres). Mike 
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| Mike Ellsmore |
| Just my possibly misguided thought, but aren't all these boot-lid-mounted spare wheel designs really too heavy for the standard boot lid? The thought of all that weight going over bumpy roads would worry me. And presumably trying to lift the lid with it on is a challenge. No, I think I will continue with the other challenge of packing small luggage parcels all round the boot spaces around the spare wheel! It's an MGA isn't it! Bruce. |
| B Mayo |
| Bruce I have frequently put my wheel on the bootlid, even a heavy armchair on one occasion - no damage. Just a bit heavy to raise the lid when fitted! Steve 
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| Steve Gyles |
| Love it Steve. Bruce, no issue with the weight if rack mounted properly, strap style spreads the load and locating bolts go through the ribs that support skin. On our 2015 odyssey (10,000kms trip) we had 6 MGAs with boot mounted spare wheels and no problem except mine with a few paint chips from the boot lid rubbing on lower tonneau panel (too much right foot on the twisty roads might have caused this). Space becomes a problem when you head off on a 9 week trip with the naviguessor who needs all the accompaniments of home! Mike |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| OK Mike and Steve. Each to his own!! Bruce. |
| B Mayo |
| I knew that you go for the more sporty look Steve for your MGA, with your sports screen etc. However, I hadn't realised that you had now fitted a D-Type style "Vertical-Stabilizer" on your boot-lid.😁! Without wishing to offend, it doesn't appear to be the most aerodynamic of designs and not quite up to "NACA" racing standards😁! In fact, I would be worried that if you allowed Mrs Gyles to load it up with all those heavy essential deemed necessary for a short drive ( kitchen sink etc), it would probably actually lift the front wheels off the ground. Unless you are hoping to both significantly increase the angle of attack and lighten the steering at the same time😁! Cheers Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| I reckon it was just a trial to see if the mother-in-law wanted to join Steve and Mrs Stevie for a ride |
| Dominic Clancy |
| Dominic No problem there. Mother-in- Law would fit very nicely in her small urn in the boot. It's for Mrs G to ride as tail end Charlie, suitably armed to pick off Coupes and MGBs. Seriously, I had to collect a suitable arm chair from the Red Cross when she had a new hip. It would not fit in the Merc. I have often carried planks of wood for the same reason. Very useful those racks, even for wheels. Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| "Small Urn containing Mother-in-law in the boot?" Hope SWMBO doesn't read these pages Steve. |
| Colyn Firth |
| Colyn MiL passed away in 1977, hence the light hearted approach in response to the banter. My turn next. Might have a small casket welded to the frame so that I get driven around indefinitely. I don't want to occupy valuable boot space! Steve |
| Steve Gyles |
| Nice one Steve,😊 Made me chuckle. You have a point there though, when you have put so much effort into restoring a car,it's kind of fitting to have a permanent place on board long after we go to the scrapyard in the sky. I figure that my MGA has drawn so much blood from me over the years that it has already absorbed a fair amount if my DNA😊. Plus I would not want to wish myself onto the DNO as the "Ghost in the machine😁. Cheers Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| To reverse issues slightly I did come home one day with a complete rear MGA body on the roof of my wife's farirly new Maxi. She wasn't impressed. Paul |
| Paul Dean |
| Mike Well done. That's a good answer. R |
| Roger Walker |
| Roger, also Barney has updated his page on this mod - a few more pics included. http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/accessories/at102n.htm Mike |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| Hi All Update on the space saver spare. Following a comment by a forum member I have purchased a Volvo V40 wheel and tyre off Ebay. Fitted it today. Works fine and is 600mm o/a diameter which matches my alloy wheel/tyre combination. Thanks for your help Brian |
| Brian Paddon |
| Brian glad you have found a wheel that fits. Sorry I couldn't help find a Saab wheel for you, apparently the wheel I got was the last one they had. ( I finally managed to call at the Saab specialist this week) A couple of questions about your Volvo V40 wheel. Would it be possible to post a picture of it, what size is it and what size tyre did you fit. Also does it fit over the front brake calipers ok? Cheers Colyn |
| Colyn Firth |
| Hi Colyn Thanks for checking out the spare wheel. I picked up a posting on the Exp forum where someone suggested a Volvo wheel. I bought this one off ebay after several questions about suitability. The wheel hub is marked 6-02 Netherlands, Rim 2.5 ET40, 3.50Bx15H2. The tyre which came with it is a Continental T125/90R15 96M, which is approx. 600mm o/a diameter which matches the 186/65R 15 road tyres. I believe the wheel is off a 1995-2004 Volvo sport? Yes it fits and spins with no problems over the front caliper. Brian 
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| Brian Paddon |
| Just as a matter of interest, how many people have actually needed to use a spare wheel? I have travelled all over Europe, often 2 or 3 thousand miles a trip and I have not carried a spare wheel in my MG since 1978 ... |
| Chris at Octarine Services |
| I have had punters three times, and two of those were also the only two times in 30 years of ownership that the spare wasn't in the car. I now always carry the spare! Sods law had to make the third puncture the time when the jack wasn't in the car but at least I could scrounge up a jack from someone else. Being on disc wheels means I can't borrow a wheel because almost all other MGAs here are on those nasty fragile wire wheel things. |
| Dominic Clancy |
| Two notable flats in the 90's. First was laying out a road rally, driving down a brand new soft gravel road at 25 mph when I ran over a railroad spike (a good indication of where the new gravel came from). Not only took out the tire, but also beat the crap out of paint on the fender. Second one was hitting a short piece of 2x4 board lying in the road on a state highway. That ripped a hole in the tire sidewall. Such road hazard failures are terminal, so you're dead without a spare tire. That said, I haven't used the spare in the past 200,000 miles(maybe four sets of tires). If you were so inclined, and you have a cell phone and an auto club card, it might be a good bet to travel with no spare. You need to be ready for a long delay and inconvenience and trying to buy a tire on zero notice. And you don't always find a 165-80-15 tire at the nearest tire shop, let alone the brand you like or another one same as the ones on your car. I will carry the spare for 20 years hoping I will never need to use it. |
| barneymg |
| For a non related reason my A finished up at a remote garage in the north of Scotland. They were the main supply of roadside repair/recovery over a large area and they said they had had a big increase in business since many modern cars ceased to carry even a skinny tyre so punctures do still happen. Personally I have had a couple and for the last one, a few years ago, it would have wrecked a weekend away if I hadn't had a spare. Paul |
| Paul Dean |
This thread was discussed between 19/01/2017 and 09/03/2017
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