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MG MGB Technical - Tyre clearance?

I'm switching from 14x5.5" alloys to 15x6". Currently I've got about 15mm of clearance from the widest part of the tyre to the lip of the rear wheelarch. The new wheels will take that down to 10mm clearance. Bearing in mind that the body will shift over the axle under hard cornering, what's the minimum clearance needed to prevent the tyres rubbing? The suspension is in fine fettle. There are no panhard rods fitted.

On a secondary, is anyone pleased/displeased after buying either Compomotive MLs or Minilites (not the Minator replicas).

Many thanks, David.
David Canning

Hi David
I recently went from 14x6 wheels fitted with 185x70x14" tyres to 15x5.5 fitted with 185x65x15 tyres on a 1972 roadster with no problems,on the other hand a friend of mine did the same on a rubber bumper G.T and he has a slight rubbing problem but only when fully loaded,but from the info I got some cars do some don't.
I can't comment on the quality, my wheels came from the B hive and he got his from Midland wheels and his seem to have a better finish to them,mine being made by K&N and his being Midlands own brand I think.the cost of mine was £315 inc del and my freinds cost £260.I forgot to say that both these sets of wheels were anthracyte coloured the plain will be a wee bit cheaper.
hope this helps
Paul
PAUL GAYNARD

Thanks Paul
It would be good to know what static clearance you have between wheelarch and tyre to provide a comparison.

David.
David Canning

David
on the nearside which seems to be the problem with MGB'S I have when bouncing the car only about 5mm clearance [very close ]but as I said no two cars seem to be alike,if you do have a problem the remedy is to have the arch lips rolled up to gain the clearance or carefully grind the lip and touch up the paint yourself being careful not to grind through the spot welds that hold inner and outer arches together,personally if I was you I would go for the 5.5" wheels and not the 6".
Another thing to bear in mind is the wheel offset mine being 22mm from memory and if I remember correctly the Midland people told my friend that their wheels was either 16 or 18mm but you could allways confirm by phone.
PAUL

PS if you click on to www.tyresave.co.uk you can have a look at different tyre sizes that will suit
PAUL GAYNARD

I installed Dunlop 15x5.5 72-spoke wires with Michelin 195/60R15 tires. No rubbing problems at all except one time when overloaded with cargo and a passenger and I rubbed once on a turn / dip. I do have Superflex bushings so I'm sure that helps as well.
Steve Simmons

Thanks guys, I'm going to stay with my plan to fit 15x6" and hope that the 10mm clearance will be sufficient. If not, as you say, I can always have the lip ground/rolled.

Now which tyres.......
David Canning

I have 185/65's on mine with no problems loaded .

Mal.
malcolm watson

On my V8 conversion I use 15 by 6 minlite replicas (ultra lites) and 195 by 60 tyres and have no problems with rubbing. I also don't have a panhard rod etc and doubt the requirement. At full spring compression I would have about 8mm clearance to the wheel arch.
However I have less offset to the port side at the rear axle than most.
Peter

This thread was discussed between 18/08/2004 and 21/08/2004

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.