The 1979 MG MGB represents the final chapter of one of Britain’s most familiar open-top sports cars, a simple, engaging roadster that still appeals for its mechanical honesty and compact proportions. By this point in the model’s run, tire selection plays a big part in preserving the car’s balanced, vintage driving character. The 1979 MG MGB uses a 165R14 radial tire on a 14-inch rim, and the covered GT Coupe sub-model uses the same fitment. Available choices stay within that classic Euro-metric radial size while varying by brand and tire series. The real decision is how closely to match the car’s period-style appearance and intended road use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1979 MG MGB
The 1979 MG MGB uses one primary tire size: 165R14. That means the fitment question is straightforward, with a radial tire mounted on a 14-inch rim, and the covered GT Coupe sub-model follows the same basic size. From there, the decision shifts to selecting the right tire within that size based on brand, tire series, rim-width compatibility, and the kind of road manners or period-style presentation you want from the car.
A 165R14 size uses a nominal section width of 165 millimeters, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim diameter. In this Euro-metric format, the aspect ratio is not stated in the size itself and is commonly associated with a traditional 80-series profile. For the 1979 MG MGB, this keeps the tire choice aligned with the car’s later-era radial fitment, and it is available in blackwall form from Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein across series such as Cinturato CA67, XAS, and Sprint Classic. Choosing within 165R14 is mainly about matching wheel width, desired appearance, and how closely you want to preserve the car’s classic road feel.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward here because the covered 1979 MG MGB configuration uses the same core tire size. Checking the exact sub-model still matters, but the tire decision remains centered on choosing the right 165R14 radial for your wheel setup and intended use.
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1979 MG MGB GT Coupe
The 1979 MG MGB GT Coupe uses the same 165R14 radial fitment as the core application, keeping wheel-diameter and size selection simple. That lets the focus shift toward choosing among classic blackwall radial options, confirming wheel width, and deciding how closely to maintain a traditional late-MGB appearance.
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 1979 MG MGB Tires for Sale
Available 165R14 options for the 1979 MG MGB include blackwall radial choices from Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein. The main comparisons are tire series, wheel-width compatibility, load specification where stated, and whether you want a more touring-oriented or period-style presentation.
Owners of a 1979 MG MGB usually want clear answers on 165R14 fitment, 14-inch wheel compatibility, brand and series differences, and the checks worth making before regular road use or a longer drive.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1979 MG MGB?
The 1979 MG MGB uses a 165R14 radial tire. That size pairs a 165-millimeter nominal section width with radial construction and a 14-inch rim diameter, giving the car the classic Euro-metric tire profile associated with later MGB fitment.
Since there is one primary size, the main choice is not between multiple fitments but between the available 165R14 tires themselves. Wheel width, brand, tire series, and the look you want from the finished car matter more than simply finding any 14-inch tire, especially if the car has replacement wheels or has been modified over time.
What size rim does a 1979 MG MGB use?
The 1979 MG MGB uses a 14-inch rim with its 165R14 tire size. The tire size itself confirms the rim diameter, and the available products for this application are all built around that same 14-inch wheel diameter.
Rim diameter is only part of the fitment picture, so it is still important to confirm the wheel width before choosing among available tires. Some 165R14 products include stated rim-width ranges, and those details become especially useful if the car has aftermarket wheels, restored factory wheels, or a setup that differs from standard later-MGB wheel dimensions.
Does the 1979 MG MGB GT Coupe use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1979 MG MGB GT Coupe uses the same 165R14 radial tire size as the core 1979 MG MGB application. That keeps the basic fitment simple and avoids the sub-model tire-size split seen on some other collector vehicles.
Even with the same size across the covered application, product selection still deserves a careful look. Different 165R14 tires can vary in series, rim-width specification, weight, and overall character, so the better question becomes which tire best suits your wheel setup, restoration goals, and the kind of road use the GT Coupe will actually see.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 165R14 tire for a 1979 MG MGB?
Start with the confirmed 165R14 size and 14-inch rim diameter, then compare the available radial choices by brand, tire series, sidewall style, and wheel-width compatibility. For this application, the choices stay within a classic blackwall presentation, but they differ in product details that can matter on a light vintage sports car.
A restoration-oriented car may call for a tire with a more traditional visual character, while a regularly driven MGB may push the decision toward the product that best matches the actual wheels on the car. Checking rim width, load specification where shown, and overall condition of the suspension helps narrow the choice sensibly.
What brands offer tires for the 1979 MG MGB?
The 1979 MG MGB has 165R14 tire options from Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein. Those choices cover classic radial offerings including the Pirelli Cinturato CA67, Michelin XAS, and Vredestein Sprint Classic, all in a blackwall configuration suited to the application.
Brand choice should be treated as part of the overall fitment decision rather than a shortcut to the right tire. The better comparison is how each product aligns with your wheel width, the appearance you want, and whether the car is being set up for careful restoration use, weekend touring, or regular collector-car road miles.
What tire series are available for the 1979 MG MGB?
Three distinct tire series are available for the 1979 MG MGB in 165R14: Pirelli Cinturato CA67, Michelin XAS, and Vredestein Sprint Classic. Each stays within the correct size and radial construction while giving the buyer a slightly different classic-tire presentation.
Series selection matters because a vintage sports car often benefits from a tire that looks right on the car as well as one that suits the wheel itself. Once the correct size is confirmed, compare each series for stated rim-width range where available, load details where stated, and the overall style that best complements the MGB.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1979 MG MGB?
A period-style 1979 MG MGB tire choice starts with the correct 165R14 radial size and a traditional blackwall appearance. From there, classic series such as the Pirelli Cinturato CA67, Michelin XAS, and Vredestein Sprint Classic give the car a presentation that remains in step with its late-production sports-car character.
The best fit for a restoration depends on how strictly the car is being finished and how it will be used once completed. If exact historical authenticity matters beyond general period style, marque references and vehicle-specific restoration documentation are worth checking before settling on one brand or series over another.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1979 MG MGB?
On a restored 1979 MG MGB, tire construction affects stance and visual character as much as it affects the driving experience. Since this application already uses a radial 165R14 fitment, staying with a classic-style radial preserves the later-MGB look more naturally than forcing a tire style from an earlier era.
Appearance is shaped not only by construction but also by details such as sidewall treatment and tire series. Because the available choices here are blackwall radials, the visual decision becomes more subtle, focusing on a tasteful vintage presentation that suits the car’s final-year personality without overstating originality claims.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1979 MG MGB?
Yes. A 1979 MG MGB may use the correct 165R14 tire size on paper but still present fitment issues if the car has aftermarket wheels, altered ride height, suspension changes, or bodywork differences. Those factors can change clearance at the fender, suspension, or steering range even when rim diameter remains correct.
Any modified car deserves a close check of wheel width and how the tire sits in the wheel opening before a final choice is made. A tire that suits one MGB setup may need more verification on another, particularly when replacement wheels or nonstandard suspension parts have changed the car from stock configuration.
What should I inspect before driving a 1979 MG MGB on new tires?
Before road use, inspect wheel condition, verify that the tire size matches the 14-inch rim, and confirm proper inflation for the tire and vehicle setup. It also makes sense to look over the suspension, steering, and brakes, since a classic sports car will only feel right if the rest of the chassis is in sound condition.
A short local drive is a smart way to confirm there is no rubbing, pulling, or unusual vibration before regular use. Recheck tire pressure after the first outings and look for any contact marks inside the wheel well, especially if the MGB has older replacement wheels or any changes from standard ride height.
How should 165R14 tires on a collector 1979 MG MGB be maintained?
Collector-car tires should be inspected regularly for cracking, bulges, cuts, uneven wear, and slow air loss, even if the 1979 MG MGB is driven only occasionally. A 165R14 radial that spends long periods parked can age out long before the tread is fully used, so condition matters as much as mileage.
Proper storage helps preserve the tire as well as the car. Keep the MGB away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources, and check pressures before each drive rather than assuming they have held steady. Regular visual inspections are especially important on cars that sit through long seasonal storage periods.
