MGC tyres (15")

[Tacchino]

Need a new set for my recent purchase.
Wheels are standard chrome wires with 165's fitted at the moment and 15" diameter.

What are the current tyre options that work for these wheels and standard MGC arches?
The 165's look a touch skinny for the car and IMO a slightly wider tyre would aesthetically improve things?

Also, are inner tubes a prerequisite on a car with wires?

Looks like I've got a whole new field of knowledge to assimilate now!

[nta16]

tyre width depends on whether you bought the car to look at or actually drive, bigger wider wheels and tyres is fashion rather than function - having put that you'll probably need to look at different sizes to get a range of tyres

as mentioned before the Driver's Handbook will give you such information - AFAIK you need tubes with wires, if you had a push bike you may also remember you'll also want tape to stop the spokes and their fittings wearing through or puncturing the tube

the MGB roadsters on wires had 14" 155 tyres

a link about tyres and their width and how it effects grip (grip is from the tyre's design not size) - http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg3.html

ETA: just thought, were chrome wire wheels original or were they painted, could the chrome be aftermarket so different number of spokes etc.

Edited by nta16 on Friday 8th November 15:22

[Tacchino]

nta16 said:

tyre width depends on whether you bought the car to look at or actually drive, bigger wider wheels and tyres is fashion rather than function - having put that you'll probably need to look at different sizes to get a range of tyres

as mentioned before the Driver's Handbook will give you such information - AFAIK you need tubes with wires, if you had a push bike you may also remember you'll also want tape to stop the spokes and their fittings wearing through or puncturing the tube

the MGB roadsters on wires had 14" 155 tyres

a link about tyres and their width and how it effects grip (grip is from the tyre's design not size) - http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg3.html

ETA: just thought, were chrome wire wheels original or were they painted, could the chrome be aftermarket so different number of spokes etc.

Edited by nta16 on Friday 8th November 15:22

Car has been bought to drive which is why I'm hoping to find out what others are currently using and liking and why they're not using certain tyres - if such is the case.

I'm not looking to put Carlos Fandango wheels on it but IMO the 165's do look too skinny!
A small increase in width won't have a negative impact on driving unless I select a rubbish tyre - that's what I don't want to do.

AS there are a several permutations possible but not all available.
I'd rather not fork out £400 on a set and then have someone come along and say "you should have used .......... they're brilliant".

As for the wheels, I'm fairly certain they'll be aftermarket items but they have 72 spokes and are 5J wide which IMO makes them correct for the car.

My knowledge base is from years of destroying super sticky motorcycle track tyres and lovely Yokohama control race tyres.
I understand tyre technology but also realise that what works for one vehicle doesn't necessarily suit another.

Edited by Tacchino on Friday 8th November 19:42

[nta16]

sorry I'm preaching to the converted then

as you know there are some knowledgeable C owners on here, how many put miles on a standard road going C I don't know

I think possibly you could get a set of 5 good tyres for £400 even at H rating

I had some Yoko A.drives on my Midget and they were very good in all departments, I wished I'd tried harder and further afield to get the same again but instead I got an unsuitable model of tyre from Toyo - nothing wrong with Toyo tyres I've used them for as long as Yokos but the model of tyre I got wasn't suited

bear in mine stated tyre widths are nominal and also allow for variances in side wall stiffness, air pressure used, fit to rim width, ect.

personally I'd take the new Tyre Labelling ratings with a pinch of salt, some good tyres appear to perform less well in them

IIRC some B owners recommend Rain Expert

[xyyman]

Suggest you look to 185/70/15 as that size will match the diameter of the standard tyres. I run 185/65/15 on 5.5'' rims as there is a greater choice of tyres in that size and at a cheaper cost. Do make sure you ignore the handbook tyre pressures though. I experimented and arrived at 32psi front and 28psi rear, that's on a roadster, if a GT to might want to up the rears a bit. To be fair I have other suspension mods but I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[nta16]

modern tyres seem to run well on a wider range of pressures but there a lot of variables to what pressures you run the tyres at, the tyres, suspension, your driving style and preference, I usually put for modern tyres add 2-6 psi above what Driver's Handbook has, in stages of +2 psi each time until too firm then drop back 2 psi - but it all depends on your tyres and suspension set up

when I changed from a sports style tyre to a saloon style tyre I had to drop the dampers by a couple of clicks softer and drop back down to DH pressure settings or I'd have had my fillings rattled loose, you'd have thought the saloon tyres would have given the softer ride, mind I have an uprated front and stiffer front suspension set up

[chormy]

AVON ZV3 185 65 15
Dunlop Fast response 185 65 15

Both H rated your not going to the autobahn! Have had both on a B and present CGT I like them both and they look right as well.

The Pic shows car with no engine so sits high.

[wildoliver]

I'm running 195/60x15 on the rear of mine and 195/55x15 on the front.

Michelin and Barum.

Must be honest it was more a case of what I had than what I wanted but the car handles very well, done circa 10k on them now and they are wearing well without any real evidence of wearing the centres first, I run them at fairly high pressure too, usually around 40psi, I started off at 30 all round and worked up from there, for me 40 works.

I am tempted to go to a much taller profile and skinnier tyre next time though, the handling is very solid on my car for a standardish C, the front ends nice and firm and the rear a bit softer, it doesn't understeer in the dry, but the wet you can provoke it when driving hard, the back end will step out if your silly in the wet but not in the dry, it's just very predictable and solid, I think I may go for skinnier more period tyres in an effort to get a more entertaining drive.