MG MGB Tires

MG MGB applications in this range use four tire sizes: 165R14 from 1963 through 1980, 560-14 from 1963 through 1967, 155R14 from 1968 through 1974, and 520-14 from 1968 through 1974. Every listed option uses a 14-inch rim diameter. The metric sizes, 165R14 and 155R14, are radial constructions in the available products, while 560-14 and 520-14 are bias-ply sizes.

That means an MG MGB owner should match the car by both year and tire type rather than by rim diameter alone. An early car may be restored on 560-14 bias-ply tires or run on 165R14 radials, while a 1968 to 1974 car has several listed possibilities that can reflect different setups. Checking the tires already on the car, wheel width, and restoration goal will usually point to the right choice.

A 560-14 tire on an MG MGB is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 560 refers to a nominal section width of about 5.60 inches, and the 14 is the wheel diameter in inches. Available products in this size are bias-ply tires built for 14-inch rims, with listed rim widths of 3.50 to 4.00 inches.

That sizing format matters because it does not correspond directly to a modern metric radial number. A 560-14 is the right kind of size for an owner preserving the original bias-ply look and driving character of an early MG MGB. It should be fitted as a bias-ply setup rather than mixed casually with radial sizing assumptions, and it uses an inner tube.

A 1968 MG MGB has three listed sizes because that year sits in the overlap between radial and bias-ply fitments. The sizes are 165R14, 155R14, and 520-14, and all three are 14-inch tires. The split is not a wheel-diameter change; it is a construction and sizing-format split within the same model year.

That means year alone is not enough to choose correctly for a 1968 MG MGB. The practical step is to identify whether the car is already set up around a bias-ply size or a metric radial size, and whether the goal is authentic restoration or regular road driving. Looking at the existing wheel width and the car's present tire size will usually narrow the choice quickly.

MG MGB tube requirements depend on the tire type being used. The listed bias-ply sizes, 560-14 and 520-14, should be treated as tube-type applications, while the listed metric radial products in 155R14 and 165R14 include tubeless-style radial offerings. The available Michelin 165HR14 product, for example, is marked TL, while the bias-ply offerings are the kind of construction that call for tubes.

An MG MGB owner moving between bias-ply and radial tires should not assume the same installation method applies to both. Tube choice also needs to match the wheel condition and the exact tire size. If the car still carries older wheels or a restoration-era setup, having the wheels inspected before mounting fresh tires is a sensible part of the process.

MG MGB applications in this range support both crossply and radial choices, depending on year and owner intent. The bias-ply options are 560-14 for 1963 to 1967 and 520-14 for 1968 to 1974, while radial options include 155R14 for 1968 to 1974 and 165R14 from 1963 to 1980. Crossply suits period-correct restoration priorities, while radial sizing is the more road-oriented choice in the available products.

The right answer depends on what the car is meant to be. A show-focused early MG MGB often looks and feels more authentic on bias-ply tires, especially with the correct sidewall treatment. A driver-oriented car generally benefits from staying within the listed radial sizes instead, provided the wheels and overall setup support that choice consistently.

Yes, radial tires can change how an MG MGB feels on the road compared with bias-ply tires. The available radial sizes for the MG MGB are 155R14 and 165R14, and they represent a different construction from 520-14 and 560-14 bias-ply tires. In practice, that usually means a different steering response, ride feel, and overall road manners than a period-style crossply setup.

That difference is important because many owners are balancing authenticity against drivability. If the goal is to preserve the period character of an early or mid-production MG MGB, the bias-ply sizes remain relevant. If the car sees more regular road use, the radial options may better suit that mission, but the whole set should be chosen as a matched system rather than one axle at a time.

An MG MGB should be treated as an all-bias-ply or all-radial car rather than a mixed-construction setup. The listed tire range clearly separates the car's options into bias-ply sizes, 560-14 and 520-14, and radial sizes, 155R14 and 165R14. Mixing construction types changes the way the car responds and undermines the consistency that a lightweight sports car needs.

The practical approach is to decide first whether the MG MGB is being restored to period feel or prepared for radial road use, then fit a full matched set accordingly. That also makes it easier to choose the proper spare, tube arrangement where required, and sidewall appearance. Consistency matters more than trying to blend two tire eras on one chassis.

A 1970 MG MGB has three listed tire sizes: 165R14, 155R14, and 520-14. All three are 14-inch fitments, but they do not represent the same kind of setup, because 165R14 and 155R14 are radial sizes while 520-14 is a bias-ply size. The correct choice depends on whether the car is staying true to a period-style bias-ply presentation or has been set up around metric radials.

The most useful check is to look at the tires and wheels already on the car and compare that with the intended use. A restored MG MGB aimed at authenticity may point toward the bias-ply option, while a driver on metric radials should stay with one of the radial sizes. Measuring wheel width can also help separate a narrow bias-ply setup from a later radial-oriented one.

MG MGB tire options in this range include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The radial 155R14 and 165R14 products are blackwall, while the 560-14 bias-ply size is offered in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall versions. The 520-14 bias-ply size appears in narrow whitewall form.

That gives an MG MGB owner room to match the car's era and presentation. Blackwall is the straightforward choice for a more sporting, factory-like appearance on radial-equipped cars, while whitewall options can suit owners building to a particular period look in bias-ply form. Sidewall style should be treated as the final cosmetic choice after the correct size and construction have already been settled.

The available MG MGB tire range includes products from Pirelli, Michelin, Vredestein, BFGoodrich, Firestone, and Premium Sport. Pirelli, Michelin, Vredestein, and Firestone appear in the radial sizes, while BFGoodrich and Premium Sport cover the listed bias-ply options. That spread gives the MG MGB owner access to both road-oriented radial choices and period-style bias-ply selections.

Brand choice should come after the larger fitment decisions are made. Once the correct size and construction type are clear, the owner can compare brand families by sidewall appearance, rim-width compatibility, and whether the car is being driven regularly or restored for show presentation. On an MG MGB, the right brand is the one that supports the right era-correct setup first.

A stored MG MGB should be kept in a cool, dry, dark place with the tires protected from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with oil or solvents. Tires on a collector car age from time, heat, and environment as much as from mileage. If the car sits for long periods, maintaining proper inflation and moving it occasionally can help reduce flat spotting and casing stress.

Owners who keep an MG MGB for seasonal driving or display often do well with clean, stable indoor storage and regular pressure checks. If the car is stored for an extended period, supporting the vehicle appropriately and avoiding months of weight on one contact patch can be beneficial. Bias-ply tires in particular may show storage-related shape changes sooner than a regularly driven radial set.

Tires on a MG MGB should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly several times during the season, even if the car covers very little mileage. A visual check should look for cracking, bulges, punctures, sidewall damage, irregular wear, and signs of pressure loss. On a collector sports car, long periods of inactivity make condition checks more important than odometer-based intervals alone.

That routine matters because an MG MGB may look ready to drive after sitting, while the tires may have aged quietly in storage. Inspection should include the spare, valve stems, and wheel condition, especially on cars running tube-type bias-ply tires. Any change in steering feel, vibration, or ride quality deserves attention before the next outing rather than after it.

Tires on an MG MGB should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separations, chronic air loss, or visible structural damage appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector cars often wear out tires by time rather than by mileage. A tire can look cosmetically good and still be too old or too deteriorated for reliable road use.

That is especially important on an MG MGB because many cars are driven intermittently and then asked to perform at highway speeds. Replacement decisions should be guided by overall condition and age history, not by tread alone. If an owner is considering an older period tire, the tire should be evaluated as a service item first and a cosmetic match second.

MG MGB fitment in this range includes both period-style bias-ply and radial options, rather than one single tire type across the entire production run. Early cars from 1963 to 1967 list 560-14 alongside 165R14, while 1968 to 1974 cars list 165R14, 155R14, and 520-14. That means original-correct restoration work needs to be tied to the specific year and the exact specification of the car being restored.

For a judged or highly accurate MG MGB restoration, the best next step is to compare the car against factory literature, surviving original examples, and marque-club guidance. The tire categories available here are useful because they reflect the era split between older bias-ply practice and radial fitments. Originality questions are rarely answered by year alone when a model has overlapping tire eras.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both presentation and judging on an MG MGB, especially when the car is restored to a specific year and period standard. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all shape whether the car looks right for its era. A blackwall radial gives a different visual and historical impression than a narrow or wide whitewall bias-ply tire, even when both fit the same 14-inch wheel diameter.

That makes tire choice part of the restoration story rather than a minor finishing detail. Owners concerned with concours standards or long-term value should align the tire with the car's exact restoration goal and consult marque-club references where originality is critical. A thoughtfully chosen tire often helps the whole MG MGB sit correctly and read properly to knowledgeable enthusiasts.

MG MGB restoration sidewall choices in the available range include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall, depending on size. Blackwall is offered on the radial sizes and also on 560-14 bias-ply, while whitewall choices appear on the listed bias-ply options. That means sidewall correctness depends on both the tire size selected and the specific restoration vision for the car.

An owner restoring an MG MGB to a sporting, factory-like appearance will usually look first at blackwall options, especially in radial form. Whitewall bias-ply tires suit builds that intentionally lean into a period presentation rather than a later-driver look. The key is to choose sidewall style after deciding whether the car belongs in the bias-ply or radial portion of the fitment range.

A properly selected and properly maintained tire from the listed MG MGB sizes can be suitable for public-road use, but safety depends on condition, age, correct inflation, and matching the tire type to the car's setup. The available range includes both radial and bias-ply constructions, and they should be treated differently in terms of feel and intended use. Any collector car tire should be evaluated as part of the whole vehicle, not in isolation.

On an MG MGB that sees regular driving, a matched radial set usually aligns more naturally with modern road conditions than an older-style bias-ply setup intended for period authenticity. Regardless of construction, the tires should be inspected closely and paired with sound wheels, brakes, and suspension. Public-road safety starts with the complete condition of the car as much as the tire itself.

Before driving an MG MGB, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and whether all four tires match in size and construction. A quick walk-around should also catch obvious issues such as low inflation, cracking, bulges, or a tire rubbing the body or suspension. On a collector sports car, those simple checks matter because long periods of inactivity can create problems that are not obvious from tread depth alone.

It is also wise to make sure the spare is usable and that the wheel hardware and overall chassis condition are sound. An MG MGB running bias-ply tires deserves extra attention to tube-type service condition and wheel integrity, while a radial-equipped car still needs regular pressure discipline. Small pre-drive checks are one of the best ways to prevent bigger roadside issues.

A sensible speed for an MG MGB on period-style tires should reflect the age, construction, and overall condition of the tires rather than the car's theoretical capability. Bias-ply tires and older collector-car fitments generally call for more conservative driving than a fresh radial setup. Even where a modern radial size is fitted, the tire is only one part of a vintage sports car system that includes aging suspension, steering, and brake components.

The practical rule is to drive an MG MGB at speeds that suit the condition of the entire car and the kind of tire installed. Fresh, matched radials in the correct size can support more confident road use than a period bias-ply setup chosen mainly for authenticity. If there is any doubt about age, condition, or previous storage history, restraint is wiser than testing the upper limits of the car.