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Replace Old MG Midget Tires- WOW

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jimbenedict Avatar
jimbenedict Jim Benedict
Waterford, MI, USA   USA
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Just a note- Replaced the older tires on my 1979 MG Midget. Although the old tires has lots of tread, the tires were weather hardened. I placed new Nankang CX668 on my car. What a difference. The car (new to me last week) handles completely different. Instead of being light feeling and a little squirrelly on driving straight down the road, the new tires makes the car fell glued down and very solid driving straight down the road. The Nankang CX668 are tread wear rated at 440. The rubber is softer vs 600 and 700 tread wear tires that have much harder rubber & no business on these light MG cars.

Bottom line is get rid of those old tires. They are very brittle after guessing about 10 years old forcing your car to likely drive poorly.

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Jim Gruber Avatar
Apollo Beach, FL, USA   USA
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Now combine that with new Wishbones and shocks and bushings and you haven't seen anything yet.

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jimbenedict Jim Benedict
Waterford, MI, USA   USA
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Rebuilding front end next week although it is very tight per my mechanic.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017-02-23 11:05 AM by jimbenedict.

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jimb12 Jim Buschman
Goldendale, WA, USA   USA
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I will go out to the barn -shop and look but I know mine are tread wear of close to 150 and stick like glue

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about 1 week and 2 days later...
Buckshot Jasen Lewis
San Jose, CA, USA   USA
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What tire size did you go with?

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jimbenedict Jim Benedict
Waterford, MI, USA   USA
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155R x 80 x 13. I thought about 165 width, but was not sure if too wide causing interference in the front end. Rear would have been ok with that width, but what is 1/2 inch anyways..

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Chas 906 Silver Member Chuck Peterson
Iron Mountain, MI, USA   USA
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1961 MG Midget MkI "Little Red Rider"
Jim, I put the same size on my car last spring. You'll have a rub issue on the rears if you ever decide to put wire rims on it. The adapter plates push it out just enough. I found that out the hard way. Had to put a 2 deg wedge under the rear leafs.

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jimbenedict Jim Benedict
Waterford, MI, USA   USA
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Although wire wheels look nice, I will stay with my styled steel wheels. I am also told front brake disc are different with wire wheels

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Chas 906 Avatar
Chas 906 Silver Member Chuck Peterson
Iron Mountain, MI, USA   USA
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1961 MG Midget MkI "Little Red Rider"
Not sure about that Jim My car has drums all around.

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tomshobby Tom Smith
Windsor, WI, USA   USA
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I brought my 74 home on a trailer along with several large boxes of parts. I started by completely restoring the steering, front and rear suspension including 4 of Peter C's shocks, the front and rear brakes, new bearings front and rear with new oem bearings on the front, and 4 new tires and carefully set the toe-in.
After the restoration was complete I took it for a drive, the first time ever in a Midget. It blew me away with how it drove and handled. Roundabouts are so much fun that I have been known to actually go looking for them. thumbs up thumbs up



Tom Smith
1974 Midget
1976 TR6

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S1 Elan Kurt. Appley
Akron, Ia., USA   USA
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In reply to # 3462071 by tomshobby I brought my 74 home on a trailer along with several large boxes of parts. I started by completely restoring the steering, front and rear suspension including 4 of Peter C's shocks, the front and rear brakes, new bearings front and rear with new oem bearings on the front, and 4 new tires and carefully set the toe-in.
After the restoration was complete I took it for a drive, the first time ever in a Midget. It blew me away with how it drove and handled. Roundabouts are so much fun that I have been known to actually go looking for them. thumbs up thumbs up

Just imagine twisty mountain roads!grinning smiley

Kurt.

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CtMGDude John R
New Fairfield, CT, USA   USA
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I have found the roads of Northwest Connecticut, and that part of New York I live next to to be Heaven for M.G's. Roads that turn at 90 degrees, almost single lane, and long sweeping turns that are cambered, and must have been designed by someone who was planning to race there. When I was given my Midget, the tires were so hard, they literally were flat only one one side!! Back then I used to be able to get Continentals, and I liked them as I drove my car all year (currently being de-rusted, reconditioned). Midgets handle exceptionally well in the snow. They are so light, if for some reason you get stuck, just put it in first, get out and push it sideways, and hop right back in. You'll have a million experiences in that car, and they will all be worth it. winking smiley

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jimbenedict Avatar
jimbenedict Jim Benedict
Waterford, MI, USA   USA
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Years ago I owned 1968 MG Midget. We got a freak snow storm with about 8" snow. I was shocked how the Midget just drove thru the snow with ease.

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trevorwj Trevor Jessie
Louisville, KY, USA   USA
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A few years ago I flew into Baltimore and was driving out to rural PA. By the time the flight got in (delayed due to snow) the only rental car left was a Chevy Spark. That little car went up and down hills that people in large awd suvs couldn't make. I do not know how or why, but that little car was brilliant in the snow.

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TangerineMG Nancie Shuman
Los Angeles, CA, USA   USA
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1973 MG Midget "Hermea"
I have 175 X 13 Firestone tires on mine. I know! HUGE, but that is what the last owner had, so I am going to assume he changed the entire front end to accommodate them.



And though she be but little, little she is fierce!

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