MG Midget Tires

MG Midget uses five tire sizes across the years covered here. The 1947 to 1949 cars use 450-19 on 19-inch rims. The 1950 to 1956 cars use either 155R15 radial or 550-15 bias-ply on 15-inch rims. The 1961 to 1967 cars use either 145R13 radial or 520-13 bias-ply on 13-inch rims, and 1968 to 1979 cars use 145R13 on 13-inch rims.

The key is to match the tire to the wheel diameter and the way the specific MG Midget is set up today. A restored car may still wear its period wheel size, while a long-owned driver may have been converted between bias-ply and radial during its life. Start with the year, then confirm the rim diameter stamped on the wheel or measured at the bead seat before choosing among the listed sizes.

A 450-19 tire on an MG Midget is an early numeric bias-ply size. The 450 portion refers to a nominal section width of about 4.50 inches, and the 19 identifies a 19-inch rim diameter. Unlike later metric radials, this older code does not include an aspect ratio or an R for radial construction because it belongs to an earlier sizing system and a bias-ply tire type.

That matters because a 450-19 belongs only on the early postwar MG Midget applications listed for 1947 through 1949. It should not be confused with the later 15-inch or 13-inch fitments used on other MG Midget generations. If the car still has its original-style narrow wheels and period setup, this is the family of tire to investigate, and tube-type installation is part of that period-correct arrangement.

MG Midget uses three rim diameters across the years covered here: 19-inch, 15-inch, and 13-inch. The 1947 to 1949 cars use 19-inch rims with 450-19 tires. The 1950 to 1956 cars use 15-inch rims with either 155R15 or 550-15, and the 1961 to 1979 cars use 13-inch rims with either 145R13 or 520-13 depending on year and construction choice.

Wheel diameter is the first fitment point to verify because it separates one MG Midget generation from another more clearly than tread pattern or brand. A tire for a 15-inch wheel will not interchange with a 13-inch or 19-inch wheel even if the car carries the same model name. Check the wheel itself before going further, especially on restored cars where wheels may have been swapped during earlier ownership.

MG Midget applications using the bias-ply sizes 450-19, 550-15, and 520-13 require tubes. Those sizes are all listed in period bias-ply construction, and tube-type fitment is part of how those tires are intended to be used. The radial sizes 155R15 and 145R13 are listed separately and do not carry the same tube-required note in this fitment group.

That distinction is important if you are choosing between a period-style bias-ply setup and a later radial setup for the same year range. Tube selection also needs to match the tire size and wheel diameter, not just the car's model name. If your MG Midget still runs original-style wheels and bias-ply sizes, plan the tire and tube as one package rather than treating the tube as an afterthought.

MG Midget appears here with both bias-ply and radial choices in two year groups. From 1950 through 1956, the options are 550-15 bias-ply or 155R15 radial on 15-inch rims. From 1961 through 1967, the options are 520-13 bias-ply or 145R13 radial on 13-inch rims. Earlier 1947 through 1949 applications are bias-ply only, and later 1968 through 1979 applications are radial only in the sizes listed.

The decision usually comes down to authenticity versus later driving feel. A bias-ply tire preserves the earlier look and period-correct construction, while a radial better suits owners who want the later tire technology listed for the same wheel diameter. Keep the choice consistent with the way the car is restored and used, and avoid treating the model name alone as the guide because MG Midget spans several distinct tire eras.

A radial tire can change the driving character of an MG Midget because it uses a different internal construction from a bias-ply tire. In the fitments listed here, that comparison applies directly to 1950 through 1956 cars choosing between 155R15 radial and 550-15 bias-ply, and to 1961 through 1967 cars choosing between 145R13 radial and 520-13 bias-ply. The later 1968 through 1979 cars are already listed only with a radial size.

Owners often make that decision according to how the car will be used. A concours-minded restoration may favor the bias-ply setup that matches the period, while a regularly driven MG Midget may be better aligned with the radial option already listed for the same wheel diameter. If the suspension and steering were sorted around one type long ago, evaluate the whole setup rather than changing tire construction in isolation.

An MG Midget should be fitted with one construction type as a complete set rather than mixing bias-ply and radial tires on the same car. The overlapping fitments listed for 1950 through 1956 and 1961 through 1967 show that MG Midget can use either construction in those periods, but they do not suggest combining the two constructions on one vehicle. Each type has different casing behavior and road manners.

The practical approach is to decide first whether the car is being restored around period bias-ply appearance or later radial performance characteristics, then fit a matched set in the correct size for the wheel diameter. That keeps the handling balance predictable and avoids the confusion that comes from comparing one axle to another. If the car came to you with mixed constructions, treat a full, matched replacement as the better path.

A 1950 MG Midget has two listed tire sizes: 155R15 and 550-15, and both fit 15-inch rims. The difference is construction type rather than wheel diameter, with 155R15 as the radial option and 550-15 as the bias-ply option. That same pattern continues through 1956, so the correct choice depends on how the specific car is equipped and whether it is being kept in a period-style setup or a later radial setup.

Begin with the wheel diameter, then look at the tire type the car is already using and the restoration goal for the car. If the MG Midget has long been driven on radials, replacing like with like is often the cleanest path. If the car is being returned to an earlier appearance, the bias-ply size may better suit the project. Original photos, workshop records, and marque-club advice can help settle close calls.

MG Midget tires in the sizes listed here are available in more than one sidewall style. Blackwall appears across all five sizes, while 520-13 also appears in Narrow Whitewall and Wide Whitewall versions. That means later 13-inch bias-ply applications from 1961 through 1967 have the broadest sidewall-style choice, while the other listed sizes remain blackwall only.

For most sports-car restorations in this model line, blackwall is the more restrained and generally era-appropriate look. The whitewall options in 520-13 are more specialized and may appeal to owners building a custom presentation rather than a factory-style restoration. Sidewall style should be chosen after the wheel diameter and construction type are settled, since appearance comes second to getting the actual fitment family right.

MG Midget tires in these sizes are offered by Excelsior, Ensign, Firestone, Michelin, Avon, Vredestein, and Premium Sport. Brand coverage varies by size. Early 450-19 includes Excelsior, Ensign, and Firestone; 155R15 includes Firestone, Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein; 550-15 is listed from Excelsior; 145R13 includes Michelin and Firestone; and 520-13 includes Firestone and Premium Sport.

That spread gives owners room to match the tire not only to the wheel size but also to the intended character of the car. Some buyers are looking for a traditional bias-ply presentation, while others want a period-style radial from a European marque long associated with vintage sports cars. Once the correct size is established, comparing brand, construction, and sidewall style becomes a more meaningful way to narrow the field.

MG Midget tires here span several distinct series, including Excelsior Bias Ply, Ensign B5, Triple Road, Comp H, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, F560 Radial, Michelin X Radial, Michelin XAS, Michelin XAS-FF, Avon CR6ZZ, Vredestein Snow Classic, Vredestein Sprint Classic, and Premium Sport Lowrider. Some of those are bias-ply touring styles, some are period-style radial road tires, and some are more specialized performance or visual-style offerings. The series differences are tied to construction type, intended look, and period character rather than to one universal MG Midget setup.

Choose the series only after the size and wheel diameter are settled, because the same model name covers very different generations. A 1948 MG Midget on 19-inch bias-ply tires has very different needs from a later 13-inch radial car. Series choice is where you refine the result, whether the goal is strict period appearance, traditional touring use, or a more sporting road presentation within the correct size family.

A stored MG Midget should be kept in a cool, dry, dark environment with the tires away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Clean the tires first, set inflation correctly, and move the car occasionally if it remains on the ground for long periods. If the storage period will be extended, reducing constant load on the tires with proper support under the chassis can help limit flat spotting and casing stress.

That matters even more on small, lightly loaded sports cars because owners often assume a lightweight car is easy on tires. Collector cars still age their tires through time, temperature swings, and inactivity. If your MG Midget runs on bias-ply tires, careful storage is especially worthwhile because period-style constructions can react more noticeably to long stationary periods than a modern daily-driven tire package.

Tires on an MG Midget should be inspected before each drive and more closely at regular intervals during the season. Look for cracking, sidewall distortion, tread separation, embedded objects, uneven wear, and signs of age around the bead area. On bias-ply applications such as 450-19, 550-15, and 520-13, also pay attention to tube-related concerns such as slow pressure loss and any signs that the tire has shifted on the rim.

Collector cars often accumulate little mileage, so calendar inspection is more important than tread depth alone. A car that sits for weeks can still develop pressure loss or sidewall issues that affect the next outing. Build tire inspection into the same routine as checking fluids and brake operation, and be more cautious with an MG Midget that sees sporadic use, long winter storage, or older restoration work.

Tires on an MG Midget should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often age out before they wear out, especially on low-mileage sports cars that spend more time stored than driven. Bias-ply tires deserve particularly careful age-related scrutiny, because a sound-looking tread surface does not guarantee that the casing remains suitable for road use.

Use tread depth as only one part of the decision. If the MG Midget has sat for years, has unknown tire age, or shows vibration and shape change after standing, replacement should move higher on the list. The safest habit is to evaluate tires by condition and age together, then have any questionable collector tire inspected by a specialist who understands vintage casings rather than treating visual appearance as the final word.

MG Midget does not point to one single original tire across the full span covered here because the model name includes several generations and size systems. The listed fitments move from 450-19 in 1947 to 1949, to 155R15 and 550-15 in 1950 to 1956, and then to 145R13 and 520-13 in 1961 to 1967, with 145R13 alone from 1968 to 1979. That means original-style fitment depends first on the exact year and wheel diameter of the car.

For restoration work, the right question is not simply which tire fit the MG Midget, but which tire fit your MG Midget in its exact year and configuration. Once the correct size family is identified, construction and sidewall style help refine authenticity. Factory literature, surviving original cars, and marque-club judging guidance are the best references when you want to match the car as closely as possible to period presentation.

Correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and the judged accuracy of an MG Midget. Judges and knowledgeable buyers usually notice whether the car carries the proper rim diameter, the right general size family for its year, and a construction type that suits the restoration approach. A 19-inch postwar car, a 15-inch T-series-era car, and a later 13-inch Midget all present differently, so tire choice is part of the car's visual and historical identity.

That does not always mean one answer for every owner. A touring-focused restoration may deliberately use a listed radial where the same year also allows a bias-ply option, while a concours build may aim for the more period-correct construction and sidewall look. If value and judging matter, match the tire to the standards of the event or club where the MG Midget will be shown rather than relying on general collector-car assumptions.

Blackwall is the sidewall style available across the full MG Midget fitment range listed here, and it is the clearest restoration choice for most period-correct sports-car presentations. Whitewall options appear only in 520-13, where Narrow Whitewall and Wide Whitewall versions are also offered. That makes whitewall a choice tied specifically to the 1961 to 1967 13-inch bias-ply size rather than to the whole MG Midget line.

For an authenticity-minded restoration, blackwall is usually the conservative direction unless the specific car has period evidence pointing elsewhere. Whitewall treatment can quickly change the visual character of a small British sports car, so it should be chosen with intent rather than just preference. If the MG Midget is being prepared for judged events, compare the sidewall style to period photographs and marque-club guidance for that exact year.

A MG Midget can be driven on public roads when it is fitted with the correct size, the tires are in sound condition, and the car itself is mechanically ready for use. The listed tire options cover both bias-ply and radial constructions depending on year, and each should be matched to the proper wheel diameter and overall setup. Safety depends on the condition of the individual tires and the condition of the suspension, steering, brakes, and wheels as much as on the size itself.

That means tire choice should be part of a whole-car evaluation rather than a standalone decision. An early car on 19-inch bias-ply tires calls for a different level of expectation than a later 13-inch radial-equipped MG Midget used for local touring. Before regular road use, inspect age, pressure retention, wheel condition, and alignment so the tire package supports the way the car is actually being driven.

Before driving a MG Midget, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, and that all four tires match the intended size and construction for the car. Also inspect the wheels for damage, make sure the valve stems are sound, and confirm that any bias-ply setup using tube-type sizes is maintaining pressure properly. A quick walkaround often reveals issues such as a low tire, a cracked sidewall, or a wheel problem before the car leaves the garage.

Tires should be checked alongside the rest of the car's road-readiness items, especially on collector vehicles that are not driven daily. Steering play, brake function, and wheel fastener security matter just as much as the rubber itself. On an MG Midget that sits between outings, those checks are worth repeating every time because elapsed time, not just mileage, tends to be the hidden variable in vintage-car road use.

A sensible speed for an MG Midget on original-style tires depends on the exact tire type, its age, its condition, and whether the car is running bias-ply or radial construction. Earlier bias-ply applications such as 450-19, 550-15, and 520-13 should be treated with more caution than later radial-equipped cars, especially if the tires are used primarily for collector driving. No vintage car should be driven at modern traffic pace simply because the tread appears healthy.

The prudent approach is to build speed gradually after the car proves stable, properly inflated, and mechanically sound. Collector-car driving is usually best treated as moderate touring rather than sustained high-speed use, particularly on narrow period tires. If the MG Midget is wearing a period-style bias-ply setup, keep expectations modest and leave a margin for braking and handling that respects both the tire design and the age of the overall car.