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MG MGB Technical - Wheel Widening Report

A few months ago when I mentioned that I was planning to have my steel disk wheels widened, there was some interest on this bulletin board, so here is my report. I sent one 14x4" wheel to Stockton Wheel in California with instructions for them to remove the center and weld it into a new 15x6" rim with backspacing of 4.5".

A couple of weeks went by and I hadn't heard from them, so I called and they said they had received the wheel. They hadn't started on it yet -- normal turnaround time is four to six weeks. I gave them my credit card number and asked them to increase the backspacing to 4.625" based on new measurements I made of other MG disk wheels and Rostyles.

As you may recall, part of my complaint with the old wheels was that they would not hold balance weights, because the outer edge of the rim was not curled over enough. I have since deduced that some of the lip may have been removed by overzealous sandblasting, resulting in slightly less backspacing as well as the inability to hold balance weights.

The rebuilt wheel arrived about six weeks after I sent off the old one. I had asked Stockton to sandblast it, and after wiping it down with solvent, I sprayed it with self-etching primer and paint formulated for wheels. Then I put it on my '67 BGT to see how it would fit. It looked a little too close to the edge of the fender to suit me, especially when fitted to the rear axle. I took it off and measured the backspacing and found it was 4.5", rather than the 4.625" specified. Wondering if I had actually asked them to change the backspacing to 4.625", I double-checked the invoice, and it did say 4.625".

I also measured the wheel wobble and roundness with a dial indicator. Wobble (axial runout) measured .020", well below the MG-specified .055". Out-of-round (radial runout), however, was .055", or the maximum allowed in the original MG specifications. Since the object of this game is to eliminate vibrations caused by the wheel-and-tire assemblies, I felt that this was too much out-of-roundess and decided not to pursue the widening of any more wheels.

I haven't talked with Stockton Wheel about this yet, and I may not. I had not asked them to observe any particular runout specs, and they state that they do not accept returns on custom wheels. I could make a case for having the wheel redone based on the backspacing, but I doubt that they could improve the runout much. Even if they could, there are other things I don't like about this wheel.

The size of the wheel makes it rather heavy at 21 lbs. The old wheels weigh about 14 lbs. The six-inch width, even with the correct backspacing, would make it difficult to fit tires under the wheel wells. I know that others have done this, but it usually requires modifications to the wheel wells or fenders that I don't want to carry out. Stockton and other places that rebuild wheels do not offer widths less than six inches for 15" wheels. Finally, the cost of rebuilding wheels is about the same as purchasing new alloy wheels, which I assume would have better runout specs and lighter weight. Though I think the original wheels look better than alloys, the value just isn't there for me.

The cost of rebuilding breaks down like so:

$25 - Shipping from Texas to California
$120 - Rebuilding
$10 - Media blasting (or $50 for powder-coating)
$20 - Shipping from California to Texas
$8.50 - Handling charge
$12 - Paint

Total for one wheel = $195.50

So now it looks like I have a rather expensive planter or maybe a base for some kind of stand. If anyone wants this wheel, please feel free to make me an offer by e-mail: goodspeeds at earthlink dot net.

I'll try to attach a couple of photos to show the difference between an old wheel and the new one. The old wheel has a 175-65/14 tire fitted. -G.


Glenn G

Thanks for the update. Were you satisfied with the 175-65/14 tires? I have the same original disk wheels running 165SR14 tires.

The PO had 185SR14 on a pair of original and a pair of used unknown origian rims (probably Datsun/Nissan). Each tire was a different brand and they were obviously too big for the 4" rims. The fender lips were bent up for clearance. Needless to say handling was strange.

The 165SR14's have been fine but replacements are very hard to find.
Robert McCoy

Robert - The 175-65/14 Regatta 2 tires have worked out o.k., but as I remember Goodyear does not recommend using them on wheels as thin as four inches. To look at them mounted on the four-inch rims, they seem to balloon out a little too much. I did mount one on a Rostyle wheel to take the place of my spare, which I had rebuilt, and it looks much more at ease on the 14x5" rim. Speaking of spare reminds me that there is no way the six-inch rim would fit in the spare tire compartment with a suitable tire mounted -- yet another reason to look for a better wheel. -G.
Glenn G

Glenn G, What I have on 4 of my M.G.s the old saab 900 wheel that looks like the mini light. 15X5.5 & I add a 3/8" spacer & the wheel sits were it should. I hjave run a 205 65 15 & no rup. Make sure thay have 4.5"X 4 bolt pattern (used in the early 80s). I think thay are 16 lbs., but not sure.
Glenn Towery

Wow, this is all surprising. Did they offer more than one rim? That seems very heavy compared to the old one.2-inches of extra width should not weigh 7 pounds!

I was considering doing this and now I'm questioning it. My other concern was whether or not a trim ring would fit in the stepped rims to hide the fact that they are stepped rims. Any thoughts on this?

I wish you were closer so I could play with that wheel!
Steve Simmons

Steve - I'm pretty sure you could find a trim ring to fit the wheel. J.C. Whitney has a good selection.

I think the wheel is so heavy because the rim is designed for a greater load than the original MG rim. I imagine Stockton uses the same rim to rebuild wheels for cars that have four times the power of an MG. It does feel quite substantial. The only selection available for 15" rims is to make them even wider than six inches. -G.
Glenn G

Hello Glen,

Well the 6" wheels look like MGB wheel...The only negative aspect is te 21 lbs. I took the Supra alloy wheel route for my B. A plus for handling but not with the same nice B wheel look as yours.

Cheers,

JGC
Jean Guy Catford

Well, it looks like I'll be going back to my modified Triumph wheel experiment. Oh well.
Steve Simmons

I have seen on Ebay the saab steel wheel that is 15" X 5.5. Looked like a B early wheel, or I should say close. $150. for 4 & thay are new! Listed last winter, keep your eyes open.
Glenn Towery

They are close,but not quite the same. They have several extra holes and no provision for the hub cap. You can weld on tabs and find a 15" cap and they become a reasonably similar option. They won't fool the originality police though!
Steve Simmons

Glenn - thank you so much for posting your findings. Absolutely fascinating! You've clearly done your homework, and we all share in the benefits. I seriously considered doing exactly this a few years ago, and went so far as to discuss with Stockton Wheel. I ultimately decided the wheel would likely weigh too much, and opted to find and refurbish a set of genuine American Racing Equipment Libre wheels. It is nice to get confirmation that I made the correct decision.

As an FYI, my Libres are 14"x5.5" and only weigh about 12.5-13 pounds. If memory serves, the offset is about +0.625". With 185/70-14 tires, the left rear rubs the fender on sharp bumps.
Terrence Goodell

MGB/GT's were sold in UK with wider disk wheels (5.5J) and they are still readily available (refurbished)
jjralston

Correction that should be 5J --not 5.5J -sorry
jjralston

There are 5.5" early steel wheels out there, but they are repros of the stock 5J. But they are all 14" rather than the 15" Glenn (and me) are trying to achieve.
Steve Simmons

Glenn, I'm sorry to hear that,
You tried something new and I think it would have worked if they had followed your instruction. Did you call them and make sure tat they will do this to that precision?
If you did, I think you might be the victem of some very bad employee. He is bad news. Report him. it sounds tough, but this 'rough enough will do" guy will destroy the reputation, and the company he is working for. Honest mistakes happen, and should be forgiven, this does not sound like this. They will get rid of the employee responsible and give someone else a chance. Some one who cares about doing a good job. I really doubt the boss would have told him 'Half inch will do'. if he did the boss has got to go. No one who has read this will deal with stockton wheels, it has already cost them at least half a dozen jobs. Word will spread. Copy this thread to the company. Save the next customer grief.
I've been caught like this as well, you sweat blood to get it right and some SOB screws it up because he wants to have an early tea beak, or duck out for a smoke or something.
Peter

JJ - Where are the 5J wheels readily available?

Peter - You are right, of course, the poor work should be reported regardless of whether I intend to seek reparation. I will notify them and see what they say.

I have decided to go with 14x5" Rostyles, and am building a small collection of them in pursuit of a perfect set. So far, I have nine. Two are damaged, and two have excessive out-of-round or wobble measurements. Of the remaining five, two have 4" backspacing, and three have 4-1/4" backspacing. (These backspacing measurements are approximate, for comparison only.)

Fortunately, Rostyles are cheap and plentiful -- this is the main reason I settled on them. With so many to choose from, I should be able to assemble a very straight set without spending my retirement fund. I don't care for the looks much, but at this point I am more concerned with function than form. I intend to paint them black and put chrome trim rings on them, unless I think up something better. The original paint scheme is nice, but fussy.
Glenn G

Have you tried MGOC or Moss UK? I'd hate to see you "settle" for rostyles instead of getting the proper (and more attractive in my opinion) steel wheels that you really want.
Steve Simmons

This thread was discussed between 23/03/2008 and 02/04/2008

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