The 1978 MG Midget belongs to the final chapter of one of Britain's best-known small sports cars, a light, simple roadster valued for its nimble feel and unmistakably traditional character. Owners usually approach this car with a strong eye toward preserving that compact, lively personality rather than overpowering it with oversized modern hardware. The 1978 MG Midget uses a 145R13 radial tire on a 13-inch rim, so the tire decision is more about choosing the right interpretation of that size than sorting through multiple factory fitments. Available choices include blackwall radial options from Michelin and Firestone, making appearance, road use, and wheel compatibility the key checkpoints.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1978 MG Midget
The 1978 MG Midget uses one primary tire size: 145R13. It is a radial fitment on a 13-inch rim, and the covered Base sub-model uses that same size as well. That means the main decision is not which primary size fits, but which 145R13 tire best suits the car's intended look, brand preference, and road-use plans while staying compatible with the wheel setup.
145R13 is a Euro-metric radial size in which 145 refers to nominal section width in millimeters, R indicates radial construction, and 13 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. This format is well suited to a compact late-production sports car like the 1978 MG Midget, where keeping the proper narrow-tire character matters as much as basic fitment. In this size, available choices include Michelin and Firestone blackwall radials, with tire series such as Michelin XAS-FF and Firestone F560 Radial. For most owners, the decision comes down to maintaining the car's original-size presentation while confirming wheel width and intended driving use.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward for the 1978 MG Midget. The covered Base version uses the same tire size, so the focus stays on selecting the right 145R13 radial rather than sorting through different factory size combinations.
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1978 MG Midget Base
The 1978 MG Midget Base uses the same 145R13 radial fitment as the model core, keeping tire selection simple at the sub-model level. That lets the decision center on brand, tire series, and wheel compatibility instead of chasing a different size for this particular configuration.
The tire sizes listed on this page assume factory-standard vehicle configuration. The following modifications may affect tire fitment and are not reflected in this guide:
Suspension changes (lowering, lift kits, spring replacements)
Body alterations (fender modifications, custom bodywork)
If your vehicle has been modified from factory specifications, verify tire clearance before purchase.
Best 1978 MG Midget Tires for Sale
Available 145R13 choices for the 1978 MG Midget include Michelin and Firestone blackwall radials. The product grid lets buyers compare series such as Michelin XAS-FF and Firestone F560 Radial, along with rim-width guidance and other size-specific details where applicable.
These FAQs focus on the 1978 MG Midget's 145R13 radial fitment, 13-inch wheel requirements, product selection, restoration-minded appearance, and the checks worth making before regular road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1978 MG Midget?
The 1978 MG Midget uses a 145R13 radial tire. That is the primary fitment for this model year, and it matches the compact, narrow-tire layout that suits the Midget's lightweight sports-car character.
Because there is one primary size, the real choice is which 145R13 tire to run rather than whether a different original-size option applies. It is still worth confirming that the car retains 13-inch wheels and a compatible wheel width, especially if it has been modified over the years or fitted with aftermarket wheels.
What size rim does a 1978 MG Midget use?
The 1978 MG Midget uses a 13-inch rim with its 145R13 tire size. The tire size itself confirms that wheel diameter, and the available products in this fitment are built around that same 13-inch rim requirement.
Rim diameter is only part of the fitment picture, so wheel width should also be checked before choosing a tire. One available 145R13 option includes a 4.00 to 5.00 inch rim-width range, which is a useful reference when verifying that the wheel and tire combination stays within the intended size envelope.
Does the 1978 MG Midget Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1978 MG Midget Base uses the same 145R13 radial tire size as the model core. There is no separate primary size for the Base sub-model in this covered fitment.
That makes sub-model identification less of a hurdle than on vehicles with multiple trim-specific tire sizes. Even so, an owner should still look at the actual wheel and tire setup on the car, since older sports cars are often changed over time with replacement wheels, non-stock offsets, or alternate tire sizes.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 145R13 tire for a 1978 MG Midget?
Start with the correct size, which is 145R13, then compare the available radial choices by brand, tire series, sidewall presentation, and wheel compatibility. For this MG Midget, both available options are blackwall radials, so the decision centers more on the character of the tire series and the details of the specification.
Wheel width deserves attention before making a final choice, especially on a small car where even modest fitment changes can alter the overall look and clearance. It also helps to think about how the car will be used, whether that means occasional local drives, regular fair-weather road use, or a restoration-oriented presentation.
What brands offer tires for the 1978 MG Midget?
The 1978 MG Midget's 145R13 fitment is available from Michelin and Firestone. In this size, the product choices include the Michelin XAS-FF series and the Firestone F560 Radial series, both in blackwall form.
Brand is only one part of the decision, so it helps to compare the rest of the specification at the same time. Weight, rim-width guidance where given, and the overall style of the tire series can all matter on a lightweight British roadster, particularly when the goal is to preserve a traditional small-sports-car appearance.
What tire series are available for the 1978 MG Midget?
Two tire series are available in the 1978 MG Midget's 145R13 fitment: Michelin XAS-FF and Firestone F560 Radial. Both are radial tires and both use a blackwall sidewall style, so the series name becomes one of the main distinctions in the available product lineup.
Choosing between series is usually about the type of presentation and specification details that matter most to the owner. On a compact vintage roadster, that can include maintaining a traditional visual scale, checking whether the wheel width suits the tire, and comparing the finer product details instead of assuming every 145R13 behaves the same way.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1978 MG Midget?
A period-style starting point for a 1978 MG Midget is the original-size 145R13 radial. Staying with that narrow Euro-metric size preserves the small, tidy tire profile that looks appropriate on a late MG Midget instead of giving the car an oversized or overly modern appearance.
From there, the choice comes down to which available 145R13 radial best matches the car's intended presentation and use. Owners pursuing exact originality should compare the tire against marque references, restoration photos, or historical documentation, because a correct size alone does not automatically confirm a specific brand or series for an individual car.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1978 MG Midget?
On a 1978 MG Midget, radial construction is part of the proper fitment story because the primary size is 145R13 radial. That helps keep the car's visual character aligned with a late-production small sports car rather than making it look like an earlier machine on a different type of tire.
Appearance is shaped by more than construction alone, since overall tire scale and sidewall treatment also influence how the car sits visually. Keeping the original-size radial format usually matters more here than chasing a dramatically different tire shape, and blackwall styling supports the understated, roadgoing look many owners want from a restored Midget.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1978 MG Midget?
Yes. A 1978 MG Midget may have had wheel, suspension, or ride-height changes over the years, and those changes can affect how a 145R13 tire sits in the wheel opening. Even when the tire size is correct, a different wheel width or offset can alter clearance.
That is why the actual car should be checked before settling on a tire choice. Look at wheel diameter, wheel width, steering clearance, and fender clearance, especially if the car has aftermarket wheels or suspension parts. Small British sports cars do not leave much room for guesswork once the original wheel setup has changed.
What should I inspect before driving a 1978 MG Midget on new tires?
Before putting a 1978 MG Midget back into regular road use on new tires, inspect the wheels, valve stems, and overall tire seating, then confirm that tire pressure is set properly for the chosen tire. It is also smart to check for any rubbing at full steering lock or through normal suspension movement.
A broader pre-drive look matters on collector-era cars because tire condition is only one part of the picture. Check for loose or damaged wheel hardware, aged suspension pieces, and signs that the previous tires wore unevenly. Those clues can point to alignment or mechanical issues that should be addressed before relying on the car for more than a short test drive.
How should 145R13 tires on a collector 1978 MG Midget be maintained?
145R13 tires on a collector 1978 MG Midget should be checked regularly for air loss, sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, and uneven tread wear. Even a car that sees limited mileage still needs periodic inspection, because age and storage conditions can affect tires long before the tread is used up.
Proper storage makes a difference on a lightly used roadster. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, excess heat, and ozone sources helps protect the tires between drives. It also helps to move the car occasionally, maintain inflation, and inspect the tires before each outing rather than assuming a low-mileage collector car is automatically road-ready.
