MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Identifying marks - TD rims.

Cleaning up my '53 TD rims before fitting new tyres, I was interested to see identifying letters and numbers on the centre band of the inside wall (the bit hidden by the tyre).
All five rims have the LP647 near the outer lip.
The other "code" on the centre band follows a pattern, but my 5 rims vary a bit. The sequence goes:
DRC4J15CN Made in England G.
But on my rims, after the "J15", I have two with CN, one MN, one MU and one SP.
Does anyone know whether these letter/number sequences mean anything?

All good trivia.
John.





J P Hall

I'll start the ball or wheel rolling with the easy bits you probably already know.

4 is rim width of 4".

J is wheel collar profile for tyre bead profile (passenger cars)

15 is wheel diameter of 15".

LP647 - I'm only guessing the the design of rim type (or design of wheel generally, the type and number of vents perhaps).

Perhaps DCR is something to do with offset, or wheel profile, or wheel design instead of LP647.
Nigel Atkins

DRC--rim maker-?
4" wide
J shaped flanges (rim edges
15" diameter
CN- shape of the rim--not sure what the actual CN spec is but something along the lines of 5degree tapered beads with drop centre rim-?
William Revit

DRC could mean the Dunlop Rubber Company, as the wheels were almost certainly made by Dunlop - but the actual division was called the Dunlop Rim and Wheel Division. The Dunlop flying D logo might be stamped somewhere on the rim.

R WILSON

DRC, seems obvious when pointed out.

I'm going to have to disagree with Willy and say he's made a rare error as CN isn't a rim contour code. - https://www.tyresizecalculator.com/wheels/wheel-rim-profiles

I did wonder if the CN, MN, MU and SP might be date code or perhaps relate to the batchbuild or team of workers. I don't know if there was more than one manufacture or assembly location but unless the work was on some sort of sub-contract I can't see three (C, M, S) or four different places but I could be wrong about all.
Nigel Atkins

On re-reading Willy's post I might have been too hasty in my initial reading and misunderstood it, making Willy right as usual, and me wrong (as usual) but that would mean the wheels are different in that respect.
Nigel Atkins

Well now - again "I learn".
Maybe DRC is just a 1953 version of DCR - Drop Rim Centre? Dunno.
But Nigel your link took me to a good summary of aspects of rim shape & size that I had not properly considered before ordering new tyres. I always used to put Michelin XZ or XZX on TD and B, simply because in my experience they were the best. The last couple of times though, certainly on the TD size, Michelins were deemed nla, so I bought whatever - Hankook, Kumho etc.
Now I'm wondering - does anyone put tubes inside tubeless tyres as a Belt and Braces approach, or would that be a negative in some way? I'd prefer to ask on here before I ask my small country town tyre guy.
Thanks all.
John.
J P Hall

Ah - just remembered to check the archives. A hoary old chestnut, but on the balance of things (sorry!) I think tubes for me.
J P Hall

Interesting thread. Looking forward to the conclusion.
Christopher Couper

John,
there used to be an absolutely cracking website that included a really wide range of info about wheels and tyres not classic based but much included. Unfortunately when he went commercial all the stuff went, I suppose commercial factors meant he either had to or wanted to do away with the many pages of detailed information and wheel and tyre calculators.

Now I struggle to find any sites with anywhere near the info to cover the subject more thoroughly.

The link I put up I'd not been to before, this my current prefered page for tyre size calculator and comparison because I like the comparison images. -
https://www.toptools.co.jp/english/products/193/

If the previous site was still available I might have found something to back up my thoughts of why add a tube if your rim doesn't need one.

And I don't see the point of a period looking tyre that costs so much extra if you can get a modern narrow width, high or stiff sidewall 165 (80) 15 with hopefully a low Load Index.

Looking at the Longstone site over here I can see perhaps why you don't go for their recommended XAS. - https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic-car-tyres/mg/td.html
Nigel Atkins

Edited: I thought I'd over-written that wrongly pasted link, but no, so -

- >>this my current prefered page for tyre size calculator and comparison because I like the comparison images. - <<
https://tiresize.com/calculator/
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 17/02/2021 and 19/02/2021

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now