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MG MGB Technical - Tire sizing

What is the equivalent tire size today for the 165R14 that is currently on my 69B? I need to replace one that has blown while the other three are still in great shape. If I need to replace all four I will but prefer not to.
David Whetsel

Errr.... 165R14?

To be more precise 165/80R14S or 165/80SR14. H-rated tires have a higher speed rating.
Willem vd Veer

David: You need to check the date code on your tires. If one has blown, I would be suspect that they are old tires. If they are more than 5 or 6 years old, you are potentially betting your life on bad tires. I have found that for the past decade, 185/70SR14 tires are much easier to come by than 165/80SR14 and they fit pretty well on most MGBs (I've seen issues on cars with worn rear springs and many MGBs have rear axles that aren't perfectly centered in the body).
John Perkins

I am going to replace all four. D I need to be concerned about putting tubes in the tubeless 185/70 R14 since I have wire wheels. One tire shop said they couldn't do it and one told me they have done it for years.
David Whetsel

David, I have always been told that tubes are required on wire wheels as it is almost impossible to seal the holes where the spokes pass through the rims.

Tony
Tony Oliver

David,
I have 4" wide steel wheels on my '69 MGB and the only tire that I could find that would fit was a 175/70R14 from Firestone. I've been told over the years that the largest tire for this wheel was a 165R14 while the 175/70R14 appears to work well but I don't drive the car too hard. The early wire wheel was 4" wide and I think a later wheel was 4 1/2" wide. I think the 185/70R14 is too large for the 4" wheel, but might be ok on the 4 1/2" wheel depending on how hard you intend on driving the car. You will need the rubber bands on the wire wheel rim as well as the inner tubes.
joe g.
J. E. Guthrie

Hi Folks:

Just today I ordered 4 new Vredestein classic radials 175R-14 Sprint tires for my 1967 MGB for Dayton wire wheels. The aspect ratio 88T is the same for the Michelin 175R-14 presently on the car with OEM Dunlop wire wheels, and 15 years old with inner tubes. The Daytons are made for tubeless tires, so I don't have to worry about leaking inner tubes. I guess this is the last time I will be able to find the original style metric radials.

Good luck: Rich Boris
Rich Boris

I'm absolutely certain you'll need tubes. There is no practical way to run wire wheels without tubes. I bought a 70 MGB when it was a year old and replaced the factory Dunlops. They had tubes when they left the factory. Many shops won't touch wire wheels. Those tire mounting/dismounting machines depend on the wheel bolt holes to secure them and you don't have them. They have to be done by hand and some shops won't risk it or have no idea what the tools are or how to use them. I ran into that problem with 70 MGB back in the 80s.
Rick Penland

Most shops today have tire machines that grab the wheel from the inside of the rim. These machines have padded plates that hold the wheel securely while the tire is being mounted, instead of relying on the old method of locating a locking pin inside one of wheel stud holes. When using the older machines, the locating pin was placed between 2 spokes which often resulted in damage to the wheel when the the tire was mounted due to the heavy load being placed on the 2 spokes. Any tire shop using a tire machine manufactured after the turn of this century should have no problem mounting your tires. RAY
rjm RAY

Rick-
I have to agree that the Original Equipment Dunlop wire wheels cannot be modified to eliminate the use of tubes. The rims flek too much, so the spokes cannot be sealed. However, I've been using Dayton wire wheels without tubes for years now, and no leaks. They have adequately strong rims so that they can be reliably sealed.
Stephen Strange

"grab the wheel from the inside of the rim"

Surely not the inside of the rim because that is where the tyre sits, but the outside. And they *should* have plastic protectors to protect the rim, but they wear out/get lost. Bad enough when they hold the wheel by the inside rim and mark that, much worse when they think they are 'reverse rims' and clamp the wheel on the outer face and rip off a chunk of one's brand new coating!
Paul Hunt 2010

I second Rich's choice. I recently replaced all 4 tyres having discovered with horror, that my Mistress '66 Roadster, of 3 years had tyres made in 1983. I got Vredstein Classics 165/14's, and they look just the job, period sidewall, & tread.
Although I don't think my speedo was accurate to start with, changing to a "profile" numbered tyre e.g. 70 or 80, will put the speedo out. We used electrical tape with plenty of winds over the spoke ends, having filed a few smooth & put tubes in as they are Dunlop Wires. My supplier, a local small outfit was classic car sympathetic & had the tapered fitting for balancing.
Balanced all 4 and she drives straight as a die.
65 Euro a corner fitted, cheaper than the interweb thingy.

Brian.
B. G. Griffin

Paul, The garage that I use has a machine that holds the wheel, under the hub, and gently locks it in place. The unit then rotates the wheel while the tire is being installed. It is an impressive machine and this is the only garage in my area that I use and trust. RAY
rjm RAY

FWIW... I'm running a set of Bridgestone Potenza 175/70R14 on wire wheels on my '69 MGB. I recall at the time alot of folks saying u can go 185; I just didn't have the guts. I agree with the pro-tube posters - I can't imagine a wire wheel going tubeless. Tubes aren't so bad if they're new...

As far as mounting, I mounted them myself - yeah, it's not exactly easy, but not as bad as one might think if you irons. There're tips/tricks to make it easier. What can I say... My father grew up in automotive repair during the depression and passed on his (now) 75+ year-old tire irons to me - and apparently some of his attitude... Once they were mounted I was able to get my local shop to spin balance them. Not sure how the rim mounts to that machine.

Curt

cjd DeHaven

This thread was discussed between 01/07/2010 and 05/07/2010

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