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MG MGA - Perennial problem of stowing the spare wheel

I have Pirelli P6000 185/65R/15 tyres fitted to my roadster including the spare wheel. It is nigh on impossible to get the spare wheel into the slot behind the seats - I need to remove the spare wheel about 10 times a year (requirement when competing in motorkhanas, hill climbs, sprints, etc.). I am contemplating enlarging the slot to make this task possible - has anyone done this? Any tips, downside to this change? I reckon this could be done neatly even fooling all but the most pedantic Concourse judges!
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Most people with the larger section tyre install it slightly deflated - you also carry a foot pump!The 165 section fits no problem in my car.
Cam Cunningham

Mike, I have the Racemettle 6inch wide twin-cam style alloy wheels with 185/65/15 tyres fitted to my car.
They similarly are far too big to fit the slot in the rear bulkhead and so I just keep a standard steel wheel in the boot as a spare.

In the 5 years I have driven this car I have not had a puncture but I have checked and the alloy wheel will go into the boot although it wont clamp down.

So it will work as a get -you home-spare.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Mike,
Try putting the wheel in a big black plastic bin-liner bag, and then push the thing in to the slot.
This stops the tyre "grabbing" the carpet material.
I found it works easy that way.

David
D C Grahame

Thanks David,
I gave your suggestion ago and it worked a treat (I was sceptical because of the 185 tyres).
Regards
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Mike glad it worked. I must admit that I too was a bit doubtful about the 185 although it works well enough with my 165 Vredensteins.
David
D C Grahame

While I am still removing and replacing the spare wheel using the garbage bag technique (I need to deflate a little also) I thought now that I have a bit of time on my hands I would try and resolve this problem permanently by increasing the hole size - has anyone done this, any downside?
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

I have done what you are asking. I took the bottom of the opening and tapped it down with my lead hammer. I am running 185 70 15 chrome wire wheels on 5.5 rims. It is still a tight fit as I have to put the tire in straight not at an angle to the opening. I also had Scarborough Faire make a new larger tire cover and unless you are an expert you won't be able to tell. My tool roll and jack are tied up on top of the tire.

Jeff Becker
61 MGA Judson Supercharged
ZZZZZZZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM
JEFF BECKER

Mike.

Strangely enough, I've just done it today, enlarging the hole to 220mm high (from the original 175mm).

I agonised over it for some time but now it's done I'm pretty happy with it.

It took about an hour with basic cutting tools and some pliers and a hammer and dolly to re-create the lip. But obviously I'm in the middle of my rebuild so did not have strip any thing out.

Mines highly modIfied so I've no need to worry about concours!

Chris

Pic attached- apologies for the wooden bracket, I'm just about to lift the body, as its in the spray shop next week


Chris Bond

Cockpit shot.


Chris Bond

Thanks Chris and Jeff,
My car is also modified a bit so I also are not too worried about originality (don't need a crank handle with my 3 brg 1800 engine and I carry a tool box rather than the tool roll). My slot is a trapezoid shape 175 mm deep and 580 mm wide in the mid position - is this original? Chris, your short sides look parallel - was it originally? What size spare do you plan to carry?
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Hi Mike.

Its the camera which has distorted the picture, in reality it tapers to the top as normal.

The plan is to install a toroidal autogas tank at some future point but decided to open up the aperture now, as its a lot easier at this stage!

Chris.
Chris Bond

I carry my spare wheel on a boot rack which is made to accomodate a wheel.
H L Davy

Hi H L....Would you post a photo of your spare wheel boot rack sounds interesting.....Rex
Rex Thompson

If your wheels are regular bolt on steel or alloy wheels, I believe a doughnut spare from a SAAB will fit the MGA as it has the same hole pattern.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Rex,
See this article on MGAGURU re a rack for the spare wheel
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/accessories/at102b.htm
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

This thread was discussed between 22/05/2012 and 13/02/2014

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