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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Tyres

A common question I'm sure but can someone tell me what are the stickiest tyres i can put on my midget. Ive yet to collect the car but i think its on 165/70's (13"). Square arch.

I was really after some Yoko AO48R's but they only come in 175/50, a classic mini size. Which I'm sure will be too wide?

I presume someone must know?
D Tetley

Mr D

You can get them in 175/60/x13

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=MSPORT&pcode=Y/M1655512A048RM
danny cusworth

The 175/60s seem to come out quite small on the diameter, What are you wanting to do with the car? It should b possible to fit 175s under a square arch with a little bit of work and maybe a panhard rod. I fitted 185/60s to my car but there was quite a bit of work neede to do it, I am now going over to round wheel arches. Watch this space.


C Bintcliffe

Thanks for the reply,
I was wanting something that will fit under the standard arches. If the rear arch modification isn't too drastic then i wouldn't mind doing that.

The car is actually for my girlfriend, when i get chance to have ago in it then i expect its more "fast road" and I'm planning on taking her on the odd track day so she can learn to corner properly.

I was after something rather sticky because when i had my midget a fair while ago it under steered alot, especially in the wet. I then was given a set of rostyles off a group 3 (or is it group C) racing midget (road legal tyres) and they made a huge huge difference. I cant remember for the life of me what they were, i think they could have been toyo or avon's. It just improved the wet weather handling no end.

regards
D Tetley

what wheels will you be using? If standard rostyles, then dont go over 165/70 if 5" - 5.5" then 175/60 is what I would fit. If the car is to be used for fast road then get a good set of road tyres and play around with the tyre pressures. if the car is only used on the road then the 1b tyres will not get hot enough to give an advantage.
danny

Ive been to look at the car tonight and its on minitor alloys, I presume theyre 13x5? but im not sure. Im someone can elighten me?
The current tyres are 145/80's.

Ive found Pirelli P3000's in 165/70, and also Toyo 600-F8 in the same size.
Yokohama A345 in 165/65's

D Tetley

Hi,

I put yokohama s306 165/70 on my square arch 1500. Really impressed with them after having been through lots of different tyres in the 20 years I've had the car! In seriously wet conditions they will understeer although I think this may be related to the hefty anti-roll bar I've got on it.

Thanks.
Rob.
Rob

The Miniators are 13x5. To fit 175's at the rear all we had to do was jack the rear of the LH wheel arch a bit. (Midgets, like MGB's, seem to be a bit assymetrical at the rear and it is nearly always the left which is a problem) It is possible to jack it sufficiently to match the right without causing creasing in the outer wing.

We have a panhard rod fitted, but I'm not entirely sure that we need it as we have hillclimbed without it on one occasion without any problems. On the other hand, our rims are 5.5" so the centreline of the tyre is 1/4" further in than would be the case with 5".

I would suggest getting a friendly tyre shop to trial fit a 175 and see how it looks before spending the money on expensive sticky tyres.

If jacking the wheelarch, the point to do it is where the perimeter of the tyre intersects the arch at the rear. If you decide to go ahead with this, email me at paulatmgpartsdotcodotnz and I'll measure what we got ours out to.

It also possible to over-do the jacking and consequently need a bit of filler and paint. For this reason I found it cheaper to get a panel shop to do the second and subsequent cars rather than do it myself as with the first one!
Paul Walbran

Midget and understeer? Check tyre pressure and dampers because the only thing they dont do is understeer:-)

Comon fault is to put too much pressure in the tyres.

I myself run the Midget with 155 wide and relativly soft pressure and it behaves like a train. Only if I realy push the pedal to the metal it oversteers but thats it.

If you are after better roadholding then off set trunion/bushes are the better mod I guess.
Bas Timmermans

This thread was discussed between 07/07/2008 and 08/07/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.