Mgf 16 inch wheels and tyres combo

[Monkeyzak]

Hi

First time poster.

I've just bought a 1981 TR 7 dhc. The wheels on it are poor and also 13 inch. They are after market and not great. I've just bought a set of mgf thick spoke looking alloys. Not sure their proper name

I've done a search on this and there is so much conflicting info. Struggling to get the right tyre size.

If I use 215 40 r16, will I have any issues with rubbing? I appreciate it'll change the handling but I was struggling to get decent rubber on a 13.

Any experiences you can share will help a newbie!!!

Thanks

Del

[stevie_a]

my mg tf wheels are 15 " and run 195 x 55 x 15 all round speedo is perfect 1mph slower than sat nav

http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Tire-Size-Calculator

[Monkeyzak]

Thanks for that. I wish I'd bought 15 inch wheels now. Hey ho. Too late now. Do you think 215 width wheels are too wide? I'll need to get on to black circles and the link you've gave me and see what options there are. I'll work to the rim and tyre profile of yours and scale that to 16s.

Thanks for the reply. There's so few tr7s on the road up here that I don't know anyone I can rock up to. Haven't seen one up here in years.

[stevie_a]

well im here ! near Bishopbriggs

there are a few near Glasgow

black circles are ok but https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/ are cheaper, although in Germany

they will post out in 2 to 3 days

[Monkeyzak]

Thanks for that. One of my mates lives in the new houses behind the asda. I'll keep an eye open for yours next time I'm up!!

We are a couple of miles outside beith.

I plan to use the car as often as possible for work but would rather wait until they stop putting salt on the roads as I see the mess it's made of my bikes in the past when I've not cleaned them straight away

The seats are a bit of a mess. Is there anywhere you recommend that could repair the bolsters? I've bought stuff to give them a clean and I think I need new carpets.

I've bought a very rough TR7 but it's also surprisingly rot free so it's the opposite of the gt6 I used to have. So I plan to do a rolling restoration. Or that's the plan anyway.

[supercass]

13" tyres are available. Tyreleaders were able to supply Uniroyals (which have good reviews) for my standard 13" alloys. I would seriously consider fabricating your own carpets rather than pay the high prices for the mediocre items that seem to be available. supercass

[Monkeyzak]

I just looked up carpets after your post. My goodness. TR 7 stuff is not cheap. I used to have minis. It's like the opposite of owning one. I wonder how hard it would be to use my manky ones as a template?

[Howard_B]

My 7 has the original MGF 15" wheels & now has 185/55 Continental Premium Tyres all round (initally fitted with 185's at the front and 205's at the read), but when I changed them the cost of the 205 was excessive so fitted the 185's all round. The car usually clocks up about 5k/year & cruises on the autobhans at over 100 MPH and is very stable.

IMHO a very worthwhile change which also dramatically reduces the dreaded 50/60 front end vibrations

[Monkeyzak]

Would you have put 205s all round if they weren't so expensive?

I used to have an mgf a long while ago. I didn't realise they had different sized tyres front and back. Never noticed. If that works out on the TR7 I'd do the same.

My only concerns on the 205s are rubbing and excessively heavy steering so maybe narrower tyres on the front is the way to go

I plan to use the car to commute mostly from Spring to October. It'll be my main car unless I have my wife and kid with me

[Monkeyzak]

My mgf handled terribly. I'll put it down to the ditch finders the previous owner put on which I replicated. Even for a toy I'll never buy cheap tyres so looking to put something decent on the 7

[Monkeyzak]

Sorry. Meant 215s all round or too heavy on the steering?

[Cobber]

My mgf handled terribly. I'll put it down to the ditch finders the previous owner put on which I replicated. Even for a toy I'll never buy cheap tyres so looking to put something decent on the 7

MGFs & TFs are very tyre sensitive, cheap & nasty tyres can turn them into a diabolical, ill handling pig.

[Howard_B]

If cost were not a consideration, I probably would have stayed with 205's on the rear, however the handling is no different with the 185's all round & the spare is the correct size for both axles.

Cheers

Howard

[Monkeyzak]

Thanks. That's good to know. I can't ever seeing me driving it that aggressively it would ever be an issue. Also. Never even thought about the spare!