Morris Minor Owners Club

Posted: **Sat May 19, 2007 12:09 pm**

Because the trav has marina/ital running gear I have been looking at easily avaliable wheel/tyre combinations that could work. (I think the 13" items on the car look wrong, they dont fill the arch enough)

The best I have come up with is an MGF wheel (minilite lookalikes) with 185/55/15 tyres. The wheels are 15x6J. MGFs use 195/205 tyres, and the 185/55s give a similar rolling radius to the standard 14" tyres without ridiculously thin sidewalls!

Has anyone got any advice that might be useful in this respect before I start going and spending cash?

Posted: **Sat May 19, 2007 2:06 pm**

Here is a list of vehicles that use the same PCB
http://www.retro-rides.com/wheels.asp?i ... &submit=go
I don't think it comprehensive but might help.

Paul Humphries

Posted: **Sat May 19, 2007 3:32 pm**

Thanks Paul. One or 2 I didn't know there, but I was wondering more about any handling or clearance problems they might produce!

Posted: **Sat May 19, 2007 4:02 pm**

Do you know the offsets Matt. In terms of clearance an 18-20mm offset is okay on a Ford based Minor with 195/14or 15 on the front and upto 205/14/15 on the back. I used to run 195s on the back of my van with an Ital setup and Dolly sprint wheels. So check out the offset and I can advise further. I believe that Gas runs these wheels, might be worth giving him a shout

Posted: **Sat May 19, 2007 4:17 pm**

Apparently MGF wheels have an offset between 30 and 35 mm...

Posted: **Sat May 19, 2007 7:40 pm**

I have 6"x15" MGF vvc alloys on my traveller
All you need is a 3mm spacer on the front to clear the brake caliper and top trunion.

Posted: **Sat May 19, 2007 9:15 pm**

MGF wheels are 3.75" pcd - they fit on Triumph axles etc - but anything else you would need to check.

Posted: **Sun May 20, 2007 1:34 pm**

they dont fill the arch enough

???? These are 5 1/2" x 13" with 185/70 tyres, and there's not a lot of room to spare!

We've had them since 1970, so decided to keep them when I restored the car about 10 years ago. The main problem is there is not enough clearance for big discs, it has Midget 8.4" and that's about the maximum.

With 14" or 15" wheels the options would be much better, or even 13" alloys, which have much more room inside the wheel.

Clearance wise (with standard wings), I would think 195 is the maximum at the front, as I have less than 10mm between the tyre and the top trunnion, and a bit less on full bump to the return lip on the wing.

At the rear there is at least 20mm clearance on the inside of the wheel, but the tyre just touches the wing on full bump (not on cornering, as the axle moves across slightly), so maybe different offsets required? Have though about fitting a panhard rod, but maybe not??

Matt, try this link. It allows you to see the rolling radius comparisons between any size of tyre you want (even those that don't exist!)

http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi

Posted: **Sun May 20, 2007 2:49 pm**

Richard... my marina wheels have 145s... its the dia that looks daft too me! 185/55/15 have a similar rolling radius to standard minor wheels, I checked before asking

Posted: **Sun May 20, 2007 2:55 pm**

But you still need the pcd to be right for your sub axles !

Posted: **Mon May 21, 2007 7:31 pm**

If he has Marina running gear he will hae the 3.75" PCD.

Posted: **Mon May 21, 2007 8:52 pm**

Ah ha - didn't know that!! Very interesting. Why why why did BMC /Leyland not just stick to good old 4" ??? I'm looking for a set of MGF wheels for my TR7 - they bolt straight on !!

Posted: **Tue May 22, 2007 12:10 am**

they are quite dear at the old scarpyards though... I have been looking for some time now for my girlfriends car

Posted: **Wed May 23, 2007 11:30 am**

Onne look at dolemite wheels... they seem to go cheapish on ebay

Posted: **Wed May 23, 2007 1:12 pm**

Cheap set of Dolly Sprint 13" wheels on the bay at the moment!

Posted: **Wed May 23, 2007 1:44 pm**

Complete sets tend to go for around 30 quid...

Posted: **Wed May 23, 2007 4:44 pm**

I want to get rid of the 13" though, but again avoiding a over the top alloy wheel

Posted: **Thu May 24, 2007 1:52 pm**

I have MGF wheels with marina running gear, 185s on the front 205s on the back. I have a spacer on the front cant remember the width and have had to bend up lip on inside of rear arch (its still close - see photo). The car is lowered.

Got the wheels for 100 off eBay, with two good tires. I have to change the studs to ford type, 12mm 1.5 thread. But once you have hubs off, the new studs just go straight in. I got longer ones off eBay and cut them down to suit the alloys.

Also ford locking wheel nuts are much cheaper off eBay, I'm running with two sets as was cheaper than buying more normal wheel nuts...

Just need some centre caps...

Posted: **Thu May 24, 2007 3:56 pm**

What about a set of 14"? my set fill up the wheel arch 185/60/14 and are approx same RR as standard. I wouldn't like to go any bigger on the RR as the wheels are already very close.

Posted: **Thu May 24, 2007 8:52 pm**

Try and find some sensibly priced 14 inch wheels with a 3.75 inch pcd...