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MG MG Y Type - YB TYRES

I currently have Camac 560 x 15" tyres on my YB but need to change them, not because of wear, but age.
Replacement Camacs are now £106.80 and the Firestones are £214.80 each from Vintage Tyres(UK).

However,it would seem that 550 x 15" size tyres are more readily available at a competitive price here in UK.
QUESTION- is there any reason why I cannot fit 550s as opposed to 560s. Has anybody any experience of this alternative fitting. What difference would it make.
Thanks Keith
Keith D Herkes

Keith

Arent YBs 550 X 16 anyway?

Paul
Paul Barrow

Hi Paul,
YBs have 15" rims whilst YA & YT have 16".
My car had 560s when I first got it, so that is what I have used ever since.
Perhaps they should have been 550s.
Cheers Keith
Keith D Herkes

Yes indeed they should have been 550 X 15 since forever and my bad earlier saying 550 X 16 - my post was at 8:30pm UK time ... but in my defence that was noon my time in the middle of a busy day! Just got off shift after a straight 62 hours of busy work :)!

Go for it with 550 X 15s!

Paul
Paul Barrow

Keith
Have you not got a workshop manual? page viii or 8 to the younger members statesthe tyre sizes/pressures etc etc
John YB0362
JC Jebb

Yes, thank you John.
Keith
Keith D Herkes

Keith
Try Blockleys they market a 550 x 15 @ £128.00 inc VAT. They provide an excellent range of tyres of high quality.How long have you had the present tyres on your YB?

Tyres should be changed at the max of 10 yrs. Yet when you ask folk how long they have had the tyres on their classic and it is regularly in excess of 12-15 yrs! Yet folk spend a fortune on their cars but often seem to forget about the tyres.. their argument being the 'treads are excellent'!..Wrong answer!
All the best
Jerry
JERRY BIRKBECK

Thanks Jerry- I had not thought of Blockleys.
As I said initially, the tyres are old(10 years) but the treads are good. Safety prompts need to change. It looks like Blockley have an offer on at the moment of £100 per tyre, but to which one would have to add tubes plus fitting.
Will contact them to discuss.
I'll report back later.
Keith
Keith D Herkes

I have Michelin Radials on my YBs, much better than the Camacs and Firestones in terms of road holding.
Marc Hanson

Yes Marc, but you rally and campaign your car most effectively and as many other threads have made clear, radials 'transform' the handling and the aesthetics of these lovely post war saloons.
However, cross plys will do for me. Keith
.
Keith D Herkes

Hi Keith

Probably a bit late. However, if you take the 4 (5) existing wheels to Blockley's (in Blockley, Gloucestershire) they will fit the tyres and tubes for you as part of the deal.

Cheers Jerry
JERRY BIRKBECK

Page 32 and 33 Enjoy MG November issue around EU regulations having a negative impact and adverse affect on tyres affecting classic car owners. As correctly summed up by Chris Rose "Who'd have thought it?"

R E Knight


Yes Richard, this makes a good read and is certainly disconcerting. The article you refer to also has a response from Roger Parker on pages 34 and 35.It would seem that all current tyres have to conform to EU regulations to have more pliable side walls designed for modern vehicles with high tech and electronically controlled suspensions. Certainly not classic cars.

Needless to say I haven't sorted out my YB yet as I am in the process of having a spare set of rims refurbished and powder coated. The delay has been trying to match the Racing Green cellulose paint to a suitable 'powder coat' material.

Hopefully when I get around to buying replacement tyres for the YB, those available will be 'regulation exempt' and will not cause a problem.
It may be a different kettle of fish when I come to re-commissioning my MGC next year and will have to contend with all the matters raised in the article. Good old EU!
Keith
Keith D Herkes

This thread was discussed between 21/09/2018 and 01/11/2018

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