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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Blockley Tyres

I am just about to fit some new tyres to my car. The Firestone ones are barely worn but over ten years old now so need changing. I have just come across Blockley Tyres which seem to have good pedigree as a newish supplier especially for vintage cars. Does anyone have experience of them? The price I have for Blockley is slightly cheaper than Firestone but still £800 fitted.
John Francis

John,
assuming that you are looking for standard sizes,
have you looked at Longstone tyres?
They list new (Michelin)165 R 15 radials at £146 each (inc vat) or 5 for £648
They may also supply 155 but I think 165 will give the correct rolling diameter to keep your speedo correct, (according to MGA Guru)

Cheers
Colyn

(Longstone got me Michelin 135 x 15 to fit my space saver spare)
Colyn Firth

John,
I don't have any personal experience but can remember seeing mention and discussion over the years and that they were favourable.

IIRC there was talk of some sort of spat involving Longstone but it was years ago and could have been incorrect rumour or chat.

IRCC they started tyres that'd fit the MGB so might be something in the Archives there, plus for T-series, or other marques elsewhere.

Blockley Tyres is the same as saying MG so you may want to check the model and type (crossply/radial) of Blockley tyre for comparison.

Nigel Atkins

Try searching for the Continental CT 22 165/80 R15 87T

I can get those here in Switzerland for about £65 plus fitting, and Continental is a brand I like.

Michelin XZX are twice that price

Dominic Clancy

When I was searching for tires, Vredstein, Michelin XZX, Nankang CX668, and Blockely made the final cut out of about 15 different brands which I researched. Vredsteins had to be cut because they were not all season; Nankangs were cut as the tire thread looked much too modern for an A. That left Blockley & the Michelins. The importer of the Blockleys into the U.S. was not expected to have any in stock for a month or longer; Michelin won, but I was seriously considering the Blockelys. There were the only tire that had a "AA" traction rating and all season capability and they looked period correct. I'm quite happy however with the ZXZ tires which I purchased from Longstone Tyre. Hope this didn't create more confusion!
Nick Kopernik

Dominic I found some notes talking with Bob West last year who mentioned the Continental CT22. I have just had a fitted price of £114 + 20% from a wire wheel specialist here in Cardiff which seems a bit high. I can get the tyres on their own for £60 ish. I'm not sure what the fitting costs are likely to be for wire wheels with possibly inner tubes and protection around the spokes. Anyone know of a good fitter for wire wheels near Cardiff/Bristol?

John Francis

I always thought Blockley Tyres was a seller, not a brand of tyres?...some confusion there?
Gary Lock

Gary,

"Blockley Only sell Blockley Products

Many customers are often surprised to find out that The Blockley Tyre company, unlike every other 'Vintage and Classic' Tyre outlet, only supplies tyres, tubes and rim bands that we design and produce. In other words, only Blockley products. A unique situation. Blockley was started to produce only the very best, and only because we were unimpressed with what was available, even from the "named brands" like Dunlop, Michelin, Vredestine and so on."

"And over the decades we have managed never increase a tyre price! An unbelievable and unique situation! As costs and overheads increase year on year so have our sales, which has offset the effect and enabled us to (so far) keep Blockley tyre prices dormant. And what is more, as some of the mould and tooling costs have gradually got paid off we have been able to further reduce the prices we sell at. We are ultimately a business, yet understand that the rip off model that has been going on for decades from the Classic tyre industry, is unacceptable. The efforts to shut down the Blockley project by our competitors has been and is immense, which is partially why we make so many sizes now, with everything of superlative quality, yet at realistic prices."

https://www.blockleytyre.com/articles/blockley-only-sell-blockley-products

The bit about competitors is perhaps why I remember the name of the company.
Nigel Atkins

I love all this talk and search for the more “exotic” tyres for an MGA! I just went along to my nearest Halfords autocentre some time ago and had a set of bog standard Toyo 330, 165x15 tyres fitted. They look the part, perform well in all weathers and temperatures and are frankly something like half the cost being mentioned on here. No complaints! Perhaps I don’t drive hard enough to notice the sort of differences being discussed!
Bruce.
Bruce Mayo

Bruce,
whatever you do don't replace them with Toyo 350s, I put a full set of those as I couldn't get the 330 and just couldn't put up with them for my (road only) use. Another Spridgeter bought a set and regretted it too, so not just my tastes.
Nigel Atkins

Bruce

The challenge is the wire wheels as not many places have the experience, knowledge and parts to fit and balance them and I don't know whether mine need inner tubes etc. I have found a local tyre depot that has the Continental tyres fitted and balanced for £82 and they think they have the ability to balance them properly. I would really have liked to use a wire wheel specialist but not at a £57 premium per tyre for the same tyre!
John Francis

So, what is the problem with the TOYO tyres Nigel?

just curious

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn,
nothing with Toyo tyres generally, usually good or very good in my experience, I've had a good few different Toyo tyres over the years and the 350s weren't a bad tyre, designed for small city vehicles so not so good or suitable for a lightweight classic sportscar (unless only used for sunny Sunday local shows or bimbles).

A make and model of tyre can be great on one car but not so good on another car, most tyres are for heavier cars that the classics we have.

Same as years back I got another car with brand new tyres that normally went on wide heavy German saloon cars for which they'd be fine but not on the true British sports car they were fitted to.

There's not a wide choice for 145/80r13 or 155/70r13 or 155/80r13 that I want.
Nigel Atkins

Bruce Mayo..off thread, but do you drive a white MGA Coupe? Anita and I were passing through Cowes a year or so ago, walking around the I of W, and the ferry was discharging it's cars and a white Coupe drove off....also a red midget.
Gary Lock

Nigel - curious here. What’s the thing about car weight and rubber coefficient of friction? Enlighten me!
Gary - no not me! I live in lovely Yarmouth, West Isle of Wight, and mine is a 1959 glacier blue mga twin cam. Just been out around the Island today in unseasonably glorious weather. The Island roads are just made for classic cars. I believe we only have 500m of dual carriageway in total and the rest are lovely, sweeping A and B roads. Bliss.
Bruce.
Bruce Mayo

Bruce,
sorry I've caused a bit confusion, I was thinking more of the general design, makeup and construction of the tyre to purpose, and in particularly load index.

Most even small modern cars are heavy compared to classics and a tyre suited to a heavy German 5-seater saloon probably won't be as well suited to a light 2-seater sports.

Much more the case in recent years (and decades) that the tyres are designed or tweaked to be vehicle specific in compound at least. And some models of cars are quite tyre specific, MG F & TF come to mind along with others.

For our cars with very basic suspension setups I think the range of tyres that can be looked at is quite wide except perhaps within the wheel/tyre size we may want or need. Fairly standard road going examples of our classics don't put too much strain with weight or outright speed.

A lot of it boils down to personal choice (and the way you drive) as to if you get a perfectly acceptable more mass market type tyre, or period style or modern and grippy.

Modern made 'period' tyres will be made with modern materials, their size profile, sidewall stance, tread pattern and width may suit factory standard cars more to the opinion or tastes of some.

If I still had 3.5" wheels I'd very gladly try a set of Blockley tyres, especially with their 1,000 mile money back as I used to change tyres at my own expense if I didn't like them within 1,000 miles.
Nigel Atkins

Check out longstone tyre web site for suggestions. Put pirelli s on my A very happy with the tires.
A Dickinson

John,
The question about which tyres comes up regularly on all BBS forums. The response usually shows the diversity of our experience. Sixty years back the choice Dunlop sport, XAS or Cinturado was easier but things have changed; we know that tyres should be changed every six years which makes price a really important consideration. Here in the UK our road system has included dramatic changes - when these cars were made, sixty miles an hour was fast even on an A road , now much of our motoring is 70 on a dual carriageway where a modern tread holds a straight line better than the traditionals. I suggest that when it comes to tyres, "vintage" should not drive us down the originality road; there is a huge choice of really good modern tyres now and we should choose the best and most affordable for our weather, road surface and driving style. What you do in Wales may not suit in Dunfermline, Brisbane,Geneva or San Diego and Vice versa.Just keep your eye on your wallet. (The A is on normal Vredensteins, the Bs are Michelin Energy savers in Summer and Vredenstein all-weather in Winter).

Roger Walker

Hi Roger et al

I am not too concerned about the make of tyres although I would never fit very cheap tyres to any car. I had a very useful conversation with Bob West. I was most concerned about fitting to my wire wheels and balancing them. Bob's advice was get the tyres, Continental CT22 was suggested, fitted by a local tyre company but remove all the balance weights first. Even if the tyre fitter is not able to balance them just drive them for a few miles. If they are out of balance get the fronts balanced by someone who can balance wire wheels. The rears probably don't need balancing or it won't be noticeable. This is all predicated on the the wheels being in good shape still. I can also buy a set of cones for wire wheels which are available now from MGOC to fit to a standard balancing machine.

The cost difference in getting them fitted by a wire wheel or "vintage" specialist is so high compared with an ordinary tyre fitter it makes sense just to get specialist balancing done if necessary. Longstone are really expensive too.


John Francis

It all depends what you do or want to do with your A, drive around South Wales or hammer it around North Wales.

For North Wales, which is my favourite driving roads for the Midget, I'd go with getting the wire wheels fully sorted and take up the Blockley offer of 1,000 miles of satisfaction or money back. To me it's about quality of experience so the most expensive tyre would be the one that gives the lowest satisfaction regardless of its monetary cost (within reason) and conversely the less miles driven the greater the need for them to be of good quality.

For more leisurely driving then the family car CT-22 type tyres would be fine and perhaps less strict attention to the needs of wire wheels are required. And these type of tyres may well exceed the tyres from when the A was new anyway.

I am biased as I can't understand having wire wheels on road cars, it's totally beyond me, but I know others like this vintage aspect.
Nigel Atkins

John,
I am surprised you can't get wires balanced as I do - surely there is a garage nearby which has the kit and has trained up a youngster to make a decent job of it ? centre locking wheels are not that unusual.
Whilst writing forgive me if I suggest you balance the rears as well.Vibration there can be everybit as uncomfortable as with the fronts.
Nigel, most us with wires have them because the cars came with them from the factory and changing them costs a small fortune. By now it's a matter of taste whether the wire wheel era ended with the TF or the A. Most might accept that a TF doesn't look right with alloys...and the A ?? together with the XK120 ...amongst the most beautiful cars not designed by Pininfarina.... is at its most alluring with wires .... and we suffer for the beauty !!
Stay safe
Roger

Roger Walker

Roger,
you have some very good points and I will concede the XK120 can look better with wires than steel wheels.

I'm not into this auto-erotica a car can look good or lovely to me but beautiful is taking it too far for me still lumps of metal in the end and beauty tends to often be skin deep.

Perhaps I should have put I'd never buy a car with wire wheels - each to their own for those that do but the excessive craze for converting MG models to Tartan red and chrome wire wheels jaded me a long time ago (but I was a miserable b*gger long before that) and to those that own such that's fine as it would be a boring world if we all liked exactly the same things.

I suppose my age, background and upbringing separates my views from most on the BBS.

I do very much like the look of an MGA, the coupe particularly but I'd always go for a soft top. I was once offered a chassis and shell and a Rover V8 engine to go in it, had I known how much Warren Kennedy would want for his it might have worth doing just to make him more realistic.
Nigel Atkins

I am also a bit of wire wheel cynic. They seem to be weaker and have a variety of problems. Also the vintage thing is a bit odd as in the 50s wire wheels were thought of as old fashioned as I understand very few TDs or TFs left the factory with wires. I don’t know how many As originally had wires but it is certainly a lot less than know. Also the factory fitted wires were all painted and had less spokes than is common now. Wires were a thing of the 30s not the 50s and 60s!

Incidentally I have 2 different types of wheels on my A, that is 2 early and 2 late disc wheels. I didn’t know this until MGAGuru pointed this out when I sent him a photo for an unrelated question. They are though in pairs by side of car so no one would spot difference now.

Sorry if any of my facts are wrong, and in the end it is all a matter of personal choice what we do with our cars. By the way I run on Michelin’s I bought from Longstone a couple of years ago but they don’t squeal on bends like the old Xs and ZXs I once had.

Cheers

Paul
Paul Dean

I gave up on the standard MGA disc wheels after continually experiencing radial cracking of the centres between the bolt holes. I don't like wire wheels, and they wouldn't last long with my engine either.

Fortunately, the day after the Brexit vote, the British pound understandably collapsed against all other currencies. Coincidentally, at the same time Moss had a sale on alloy wheels, and mine cost me less than 100 USD per corner including the required special tube wheel nuts. I have to keep a set of the standard wheels for the statutory safety checks, but the wheels (although increasing sprung weight) are a great deal more robust than the originals. I call the wheels my Brexit Bonus.

Now that parts from the UK go through many more export controls I already see that they are more expensive. I still question the veracity and sanity of all the Brexiteers, and hope only that the UK finds its way out of the current mess that was entirely forseeable to all if they had paused to question the nonsense that was coming out of the mouths of most of the UK politicians at the time and in the lead up to the final exit.

I am looking to sell an MGA model collection, and the UK auctioneers will not be getting the business because of a) the weak pound and the lower prices that I will receive and b) the customs duties that I now have to pay to get the collection to them at all.

I could sell the collection in the EU at 25% discount to the UK and still get a better result!
Dominic Clancy

So what wheels are you using on your MGA now Dominic?

I have the alloy replica deluxe-style wheels, mine are the bolt-on version with the dummy knock-off spinner plate in the centre.
They are really strong rims but the centre plate fixing system doesn't do as good a job at centering the wheels on the hubs as wheel nuts on the standard steel rims do.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

I used the Saab 99? steel wheels on my MGA race car. Look pretty much the same, a lot newer and therefore much stronger! I also changed the wheel studs to MGB, bigger and stronger. And newer!!

When I was trying to find them I was offered loads of 15in alloys from the Saab range as well. They were not dear, but not allowed in historic racing.

Colin


Colin Parkinson

I have these fitted


www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/mg/mga/road-wheels-tyres-roadside-equipment/road-wheels-tyres-fittings/minator-8-spoke-alloy-wheels-mga.html

Don't forget the special listed wheel nuts, these wheels cannot be safely attached with the standard MGA wheel nuts
Dominic Clancy

Dominic, just wondering how not having your statutory safety check wheels on would effect an insurance claim in the EU?
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Anyone tried the spare wheels from R31 Skyline Silhouettes 15x6 and +30mm offset from memory
They look magic on a Magnette and very strong





William Revit

William, nice wheels but unfortunately I think they would be like trying to finding rocking horse poo these days. I did a Nissan 5 speed conversion in the 90's using a Skyline box, if I'd known at the time I would have scavenged the wheels. Incidentally the Skyline driveshaft once shortened bolted straight up to the A diff also a heavy duty piece of kit with sealed for life universal joints. Left overs from when they produced B.M.C. vehicles under licence?
I Hazeldine

This thread was discussed between 25/02/2021 and 12/03/2021

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