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MG TD TF 1500 - TF tyres

G’day from Oz
I’m looking for a supplier of tyres for my 1954 TF 1250.
This is my first classic car and the first time replacement tyres are needed so I’m going through the process for the first time.
The car is a concourse prize winner and is very much a true to authentic condition car. I wish to keep it to as close to period correct specifications as I can and has 4ply tyres at present so I’d like to avoid radials if I can.
The current tyres are (Goodyear Super Cushion G8 4ply rating Polyester Made in Australia 5.60-15) as identified on the tyre wall.
The car has painted wire wheels (with no obvious markings for identifying their dimension/specifications etc).
I live close-ish to the city of Newcastle in the Hunter Valley region of NSW Australia (so as to narrow down the environs within which I would like to find a supplier.)
Thank you in advance for any offer of help in this matter.
Ciao for now John.
TF 6020






J Greco

The size is the same as the 60s VW, as to using non-radials I would not go that route.

Here in the USA we can get 165/80x15 radials from lots of sources.

I bought my own balancing cones set, took it to the tyre shop for them to use. There was a guy there who was smart enough to read the instructions. Without the cones balancing dynamically is tough, but then in the 50s static balancing was all they had most of the time.

The extra safety afforded by radials is worth thinking about.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

You may want to check out Longstone Tyre in the UK. They sell a vaiety of bias ply and are excellent to work with.
... CR
CR Tyrell

When I bought my first 1955 TF1500 in 1962 it had Michelins on. Were they original could say.
JK Mazgaj

I agree with the others who urge you to fit radials. I got my TF in 1962 c/w cross ply. I then fitted Michelin X's which held the road and wore well but broke away with no warning resulting in taking to fields on bends and they are not pleasant in the wet. Pirelli's fibre radials were superb.
Cross ply's maybe original but they don't do the car justice

Bob Marshall
R J Marshall

I had the same problem with my long door TR2 in the 60's on "x"s. The modern "x" rubber (if they are still available) are OK and would be period to the car.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Thanks for the input so far.
I’m fine with the 4ply/radial pros and cons.
Still looking for a somewhat local supplier of 4ply tyres though.
Ciao for now
John TF 6020
J Greco

https://www.antiquetyres.com.au/taxonomy/term/305
William Revit

John,

TFs originally had Dunlop 5.50x15 cross ply tyres.

VWs tyres were 5.60x15.

Dunlop tyres of the TF original size new are no longer available.

I purchased 5.90x15 Dunlop cross ply from Vintage Tyres Supplies in UK for the TF1500 a few years ago.
They are also now unavailable.

Willie's lead to Antique Tyres in Sydney may be worth a try.

Has your car been re sprayed in the original Almond Green Metallic type paint?

For WIW, I have used cross ply tyres (5.50x15) on my TFs since 1976. No problems at all.

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

Rob

Appreciate your reply.

Antique Tyre Supplies are in Victoria and the NSW depot/warehouse/shop closed up over 5 years ago (I have been there and looked at what was on offer), so it looks like my nearest 4ply tyres are about 1,000 klm away (that’s a long walk!!!).
At least they are in Oz and can be delivered so all I do is take them to be fitted.
They have 2 correct size brands— Camac(cheaper) and Firestone(more expensive) with a big price gap.

As for Almond Green— nope. I often get asked this question. Definitely not a dark green(BRG) and definitely not a pale green(Almond Green). The paint looks slightly different in different lighting, day, night, sun, shade, photo angles and whichever monitor or smart phone it is viewed on. If you physically walk up to the car you probably would not have asked. Definitely not Almond Green. The two pics here are evidence to the fact. Both pics taken in the day, one sunny and one shaded. (Sorry upside down. Son in law not me in pic).

Ciao for now
John TF6020





J Greco

John.

Congratrulations on acquiring a sharp looking TF.

They are a magnificent vehicle.

Firestones are a good brand tyre.


Cheers
Rob Grantham
Rob Grantham

Firestone radials on my TF. The ride improved quite a bit. PJ


PJ Jennings

5 50 x 15

https://www.antiquetyres.com.au/taxonomy/term/292
William Revit

Thanks William. Fabulous.

Indeed thanks to all contributors.

This is Nixie my navigator, sometimes she can be a real B....!!!

Any clues on setting the pics upright?

Ciao for now John
TF6020

J Greco

I use the program "Paint".

PJ Jennings

Thanks PJ

That will stop the blood rushing to my head.

I don’t have a working computer at present so I’m doing everything on my iPad.

Must be a way with an iPad. As I’ve heard many times “there must be an app for that “

Ciao for now John
TF6020
J Greco

The simplest way with an iPad is to keep the thing the right way up when you take the photo, i.e. the same way up as normal (button on the left, forward lens bottom right).
Dave H
Dave Hill

On the iPad John, first open the photo using the Photos app, then click edit, then the crop tool (the funny square with a curved left arrow on top and a curved right arrow below). You’ll see the anticlockwise rotate button on the your screen. Click that until you have your photo the right way up, then click done and you’re all sorted. You can also use the magic wand to make an automatic light/colour adjustment that usually tends to improve the look of your shots while you’re there.
John Hunter

Thanks Dave and John

Ahh the marvels of science!!!

I am but a simple lad.🤪

Bed buddies. All snug and cosy in the garage under their covers.
(MY54MG & MY57AH)

Pics are of our 1957 Austin Healey 100-6 BN4, 1954 MG TF and 2015 Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV, with the TF being our first acquisition.
(and yes my wife’s name is Una).

Ciao for now John
TF6020




J Greco


Hi John,

I was a native of the lower Hunter Valley,(Lake Macquarie, Maitland etc) and lived in Paterson before I moved up to the New England Highlands four years back.

This is my TF 1500, and I understand the colour is Hawthorn Green, which is not unlike yours! Nice car collection BTW!

Maurie Prior




R M Prior

G’day Maurie

Yes indeed I agree the colour seems a very close match in the pics. Would be interesting to see them together live. I’ve never been sure of the colour’s name and do recall hearing of that colour, but can’t say if it was in conversation about my TF.
Is hawthorn green a Ford or perhaps Holden colour?

I suspect your TF may be newish to you. If I’m correct it was on “Carsales” website in 2020 and from Victoria.

I also suspect you are a member of “The Hunter MG Car Club” and wrote an article for their monthly magazine. About your purchase of the TF.
Am I getting hot here? Just trying to remember, could be way off track.

Small world... On a Saturday a good many years ago a little boy was born (me) at
Kurri-Kurri then moved to Warner’s Bay then to Wallsend and when 12yrs old the family moved to Sydney. I moved to the Southern Highlands area after getting married. Four years ago we moved to One Mile Beach (near Nelson Bay). Bet all those places are familiar to you.

Funny how threads here meander. I’m getting closer to sourcing replacement tyres but it’s not urgent and the stars will align soonish.

Ciao for now John
TF6020
J Greco

Oh yeah, Beautiful car, love the green color, but I like this shot better GRIN!


PJ Jennings

G’day PJ

Credit to you.

Must add that your TF is looking pretty good.

Ciao for now John
TF6020
J Greco

My TF1500 in winter of 1963. I was 18. Fitted with Michelin. Daily user and no garage. Treating it like this is why there is no trace of it now!!! Don't know the chassis number so may have left the UK. Sold it to get a deposit for our 1st house

JK Mazgaj

G’day JK

With that sort of weather I’d go for a roof over my head any day.

The only time I’ve ever seen snow was as a young boy when my grand parents drove us grandkids on an expeditionary run to play in the cold stuff. Not much on the ground and a bit young to appreciate the event. I thought it was lots of sugar spread about.

Our local forecast for tomorrow is 32 degrees Celsius. In Fahrenheit that converts to warm or hot depending on your heat tolerance.

Ciao for now John
TF6020
J Greco

Don't forget John I was 18 and more interested in having a "sports car" and wind in the hair I had then. Don't know really whether it impressed my now wife but perhaps she might have changed her mind if she knew where owning a MG can lead
JK Mazgaj

This thread was discussed between 15/01/2021 and 25/01/2021

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