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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Tyre size on wire wheels

Hello,
I need some new wheels. The wires I have are buckled and the hub splines have a knife edge on them that a butcher would be proud of, so new hubs too. I would like to fit 165 tyres (Yoko A Drives), can the standard 4 inch rim cope with tyres that wide?
If not, does any one know where I can get 4.5 x 13 wires?
I have round wheel arches and plan to lower the back a little (about an inch) when I get new springs and don't want any clearance issues.
MWS only do 4, 5 and 5.5 inch.
Thanks for your help once again.
Dave
Dave Brown

IMO minimum rim size for 165 is 4.5"; they are better on 5".

I use 165 on 5" 'minilites' for road and 175 on 5.5" Cobra Slots (aka Wolfrace) for track.

A
Anthony Cutler

I think in theory yes but how it would feel and work I don't know, I'm not a fan of wire wheels I'm afraid

5" might make more sense with 165

each to their own but I'm not sure about lowering either, my front is 1" lowered which is too low and the exhaust manifold bend catches the road due to me believing some LB from the 'specialist expert'

I've always found lowered cars to be no fun on the type of roads I like

info in these links

http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg4.html

ETA: as usual A has poted whilst I was typing
Nigel Atkins

Anthony,
I thought as much. The choice for 145/155 80 tyres is too limited, so it looks like 5 inch wheels.
Nigel,
I am not a big fan of them either but they were on the car when I bought it and it seemed like too much work to convert to steel wheels.
Dave
Dave Brown

We run 165s on 4.5" wire wheels... they are perfect.

I think 4.5" wires are available from Dayton.
http://www.daytonwirewheels.com/

Mark.
M T Boldry

Well just to ammuse everyone, I thought I'd let you know I'm running a 165/70, on a 3.5 original steel. It's currently my spare. You might think it wouldn't fit, or would pop off, or need a tube. But it does fit, and doesn't come off, unless you want it to, and runs tubless.

When I first got the car I used 165/80s on all four original 3.5" steel wheels, and the spare. Never had any problem at all. Drove thousands of miles all over greece spain france italy germany holland yugoslavia.

Then I changed to 4.5 rostyles and used the same tyres before changing to 165/70.

Recently I picked up a very cheap set of very good used minator minilite, but as I only have 4, and the rostyles are knackered, I just put the spare 165 on the 3.5 steel.

When I get around to it, I'll band the original steels out to 5", and sell the minilites, since I don't really lkke them as much as original steels.



Lawrence Slater

Yes Lawrence we know.
But is it the best solution?
No
Is it needed now?
No

So the advice is 4,5" at least and 5" if the ofsett of the wheel is right.
And paint them black!
Love black wire's especialy on light coloured cars

If you do not like them now is the time to change!
Otherwise you are investing a lot (new hubs and wire's don't come cheap) in something you don't like
Onno K

:)
Lawrence Slater

Talk is talk, but from my and Mark's experience, 165's are no problem at all. 65 profile is the lowest recommended for tubes. I doubt anyone seriously drives a road car on wires much harder than I do, and I have no problems whatsoever. No pinched tubes, nothing. I do track days, autokhanas, sprints, drag races and regularity in mine. I have the same wheels as Mark, 4.5 inch x 13 spokes.
Shawn

This thread was discussed between 22/11/2011 and 23/11/2011

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