1962 MG Tire Fitment Guide

1962 MG vehicles use six sizes across three model lines: 165R14 and 5.90-14 for the MG, 155R15 and 560-15 for both the MG and MGA, and 145R13 and 520-13 for the Midget. The 14-inch sizes are unique to the MG, the 15-inch sizes are shared by the MG and MGA, and the 13-inch sizes belong to the Midget. Rim width guidance appears on some products, including 4.0 to 5.5 or 4.5 to 6.0 inches for certain 14- and 15-inch radials, 4.00 to 5.50 inches for several 155R15 radials, 4.5 to 5.5 inches for some 560-15 bias-ply tires, and 3.5 to 4.0 or 4.0 to 5.0 inches for several 13-inch tires.

That means the first step is identifying the exact model, and on the MG itself, confirming whether the car is on 14-inch or 15-inch wheels before narrowing down tire type. Once the model and wheel diameter are settled, the decision becomes much simpler: choose between the size families that actually belong on that model, then compare construction style, sidewall appearance, and product details within that size.

On a 1962 MG, 560-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 portion refers to nominal section width in inches, while the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. This size appears on 15-inch-wheel MG and MGA applications and stays within the traditional bias-ply sizing language used before alphanumeric and modern metric radial sizing became common.

For an owner, 560-15 usually points toward an era-correct visual and driving presentation, especially when paired with period-style sidewall treatments such as narrow or wide whitewalls. It should not be treated as interchangeable with every 15-inch radial by assumption, because construction and tire profile behavior differ. Confirm that your car belongs to the MG or MGA branch of the 1962 lineup and then compare the available 560-15 products by sidewall style and wheel-width compatibility.

On a 1962 MG, 155R15 is an older Euro-metric radial size. The 155 identifies a 155-millimeter section width, the R indicates radial construction, and the 15 is the wheel diameter in inches. In this style of sizing, the aspect ratio is not written into the code, and it is commonly understood as an 80-series profile in period radial applications.

That decoding matters because 155R15 belongs to the MG and MGA, not to the Midget, and because it represents a different construction approach from 560-15 even though both fit 15-inch wheels. Owners comparing those two sizes are usually deciding how they want the car to feel and present, not simply trying to match wheel diameter. Once you know the car is an MG or MGA on 15-inch wheels, compare speed rating, tube marking, and rim-width compatibility within the 155R15 range.

For a 1962 MG or 1962 MGA on 15-inch wheels, the choice between 155R15 and 560-15 is primarily a construction decision. The 155R15 is a radial size offered in blackwall form, while the 560-15 is a bias-ply size offered with blackwall-adjacent period styling through narrow and wide whitewall versions. The radial choices also span multiple speed ratings and tube markings, while the 560-15 range stays firmly in the bias-ply, period-style lane.

Owners restoring a car for a more original-era look often lean toward the bias-ply 560-15, especially when sidewall appearance matters. Owners who expect more regular road use often prefer to start with the radial 155R15 family and then narrow the decision by brand, speed rating, and tube type. The key is to treat the two sizes as different approaches to the same 15-inch fitment rather than as simple duplicates.

1962 MG tires span several sidewall presentations depending on size. The radial sizes 165R14, 155R15, and 145R13 are blackwall offerings, while the bias-ply 560-15 is available in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions. The 520-13 size for the Midget appears in both blackwall and narrow whitewall form.

That variety matters most to buyers chasing a particular restoration look. A blackwall radial generally suits owners who want a cleaner, understated presentation, while whitewall bias-ply choices shift the car toward a more stylized period appearance. For a 1962 MG, the best sidewall choice depends on the model, the wheel diameter, and whether the car is being finished to a factory-like sports-car look or to a more personalized vintage aesthetic.

1962 MG fitments are covered by several established names. The 165R14 size is available from Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein; 155R15 comes from Firestone and Michelin; 560-15 comes from Firestone and US Royal; 145R13 comes from Michelin and Firestone; and 520-13 comes from Firestone and Premium Sport. That spread gives the year and make a mix of European-style radial offerings and traditional bias-ply choices.

Brand choice should follow size and construction, not the other way around. A buyer with an MGA on 15-inch wheels will be comparing a different brand pool than a Midget owner on 13-inch wheels, and a radial-minded owner will see different options from someone staying with bias-ply construction. Once the correct size is settled, compare the brands within that size by sidewall treatment, speed rating where applicable, and wheel-width compatibility.

Rim width guidance for 1962 MG tires varies by size and by product. In 165R14, published ranges include 4.0 to 5.5 inches and 4.5 to 6.0 inches. In 155R15, several radial options call for 4.00 to 5.50 inches, while 560-15 bias-ply products show 4.5 inches on some versions and 4.50 to 5.50 inches on others. For the Midget sizes, 145R13 appears with 4.00 to 5.00 inches on one radial, and 520-13 appears with 3.5 inches or 3.50 to 4.00 inches on several bias-ply choices.

That spread is a reminder to verify the actual wheel, not just the nominal tire size, before final selection. The safest approach is to match your wheel width against the specific tire you are considering within the correct size family. This matters most when choosing among multiple brands in the same size, because two tires that share a size code can still carry slightly different acceptable wheel-width ranges.

Inner tube requirements on 1962 MG tires depend on the exact product, especially within the radial sizes. The 165R14 and 155R15 radial groups include examples marked TL and TT, so tube status varies by product rather than staying uniform across the whole size. The 145R13 radial size includes a TL-marked product, while tube marking is not uniformly carried across every option in every size.

That means you should check the sidewall marking and the wheel type before making a final setup decision. A tire marked TT should be treated as tube-type, while a TL marking indicates tubeless construction. On a collector car, wheel condition also matters: even when a tire is tubeless by design, an older wheel may still call for a careful evaluation before use without a tube.

On some 1962 MG applications, yes, but only within the same rim diameter family. The MG and MGA can use both 155R15 and 560-15 on 15-inch wheels, and the Midget can use both 145R13 and 520-13 on 13-inch wheels. The MG’s separate 14-inch sizes, 165R14 and 5.90-14, also share a common 14-inch wheel diameter with each other.

What that does not mean is that every original wheel is automatically correct for every tire in that diameter. Wheel width still needs to fall within the individual tire’s acceptable range where one is published, and construction differences can change the way the car feels even on the same wheel. Treat matching rim diameter as the first checkpoint and matching wheel width as the second.

A 1962 MG should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and move the car periodically so one section of tread and sidewall is not carrying the load for months at a time. Bias-ply tires usually show storage flat-spotting more readily than radials, which matters on MG, MGA, and Midget applications that still use traditional bias-ply sizes.

If the car will sit for an extended period, many collectors reduce long-term stress by rolling it occasionally or supporting it in a way that does not leave full weight on the same contact patch. Tire covers can help in bright garages or carports. Good storage habits preserve appearance as much as function, especially on sidewall-sensitive vintage tires where cracking and cosmetic aging often show up before tread wear does.

On a 1962 MG, age is usually a more important limit than mileage. Collector-car tires should be inspected regularly after about five to seven years in service, and many owners begin serious replacement consideration as they approach the ten-year mark regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the standard way to identify age, even on a car that is driven only occasionally.

That approach fits how most MGs are used today: short drives, seasonal outings, and long periods of storage can preserve tread while still aging the casing and sidewall. A tire that looks good at a glance can still be old enough to deserve closer scrutiny. When evaluating an older set, consider the car’s real use pattern, the age code, and any visible signs of hardening, cracking, or uneven wear before relying on them for touring.

Tires on a 1962 MG should be checked before every drive and given a more deliberate inspection before longer trips. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven tread wear, and pressure loss. On tube-type setups, include the valve stem and any signs of slow leakage in the inspection routine, since age-related issues there can mimic a tire problem.

Frequent inspection matters because many MGs see irregular use rather than daily mileage. A car that sat for several weeks can develop low pressure, temporary flat-spotting, or a newly visible crack that was easy to miss during the last outing. Building tire inspection into your startup routine is one of the simplest ways to catch small issues before they interrupt a drive or become more expensive to correct.

A 1962 MG MGA would have belonged to an era when bias-ply construction was still the traditional factory norm, even as radial adoption was becoming more familiar in some markets and enthusiast circles. Within the fitments used on the MGA, the key period-correct size family is the 15-inch set: 560-15 in bias-ply form and 155R15 in radial form. That gives restorers a clear size path while still leaving room for market-specific and owner-preference differences.

If you are restoring a 1962 MG MGA to strict factory-style presentation, start by confirming the car’s original market and wheel setup with a marque club, build record, or trusted MG specialist. Tire judging often turns on a combination of size, construction, and sidewall style rather than on size alone. That is especially important on British sports cars, where a visually subtle shift from bias-ply to radial can still change the car’s authenticity profile.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1962 MG because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall presentation very quickly. A radial on a car judged for strict originality can stand out just as much as an obviously incorrect whitewall treatment or a size tied to a different MG model. On cars such as the MGA and Midget, the wheel diameter family is also part of getting the presentation right.

For show use, think in layers: first match the model to the right size family, then decide whether the event rewards original-style bias-ply construction or allows a more touring-oriented radial approach. Sidewall treatment can matter as much as construction in the final look. Event standards vary, so marque clubs and judging manuals are still the best final reference when the goal is maximum authenticity rather than general correctness.

For 1962 MG applications, Michelin XAS and Michelin XAS-FF appear within the 155R15 radial range, and both carry H speed ratings in the examples here. The notable setup difference is tube marking: the Michelin XAS appears as 155HR15 82H TT, while the Michelin XAS-FF appears as 155HR15 82H TL. Both also share a published rim-width range of 4.00 to 5.50 inches in this size.

That makes the comparison less about basic fitment and more about how the tire is intended to be installed and what wheel condition or wheel design you are working with. Owners trying to preserve a period European radial look may compare these two closely, but the correct final choice still depends on the wheel, the intended setup, and the way the car will be used. Checking the sidewall marking is essential before committing to one or the other.

1962 MG tires can be suitable for highway driving when the tires are in good condition, correctly fitted, and used within their design limits. The radial selections in 165R14, 155R15, and 145R13 include T- and H-rated examples, which correspond to 118 mph and 130 mph ceilings respectively. Those ratings are well above ordinary U.S. highway speeds, though a 1962 MG’s brakes, suspension condition, alignment, and overall mechanical state remain just as important as the tire itself.

The larger safety question is usually not whether the tire can exceed normal highway pace, but whether the whole car is ready for sustained road use after decades of collector life. Bias-ply and radial tires also communicate differently on the road, so familiarity with the car’s setup matters. Before a long highway run, verify age, pressure, balance, and condition, and make sure the car tracks straight and stops predictably.

Inflation pressure on a 1962 MG should begin with the factory vehicle recommendation and then be checked against the tire’s own rated pressure information where it is published. Examples within these fitments include 1,102 pounds at 51 psi for one 165R14 radial, 1,045 pounds at 44 psi for a 155R15 radial, 970 pounds at 32 psi for 560-15 bias-ply products, 825 pounds at 44 psi for one 145R13 radial, and 770 pounds at 32 psi or 1,100 pounds at 60 psi among 520-13 products.

Those figures should not be transferred from one size to another or used as blanket operating recommendations for every 1962 MG. They are tire-specific load-and-pressure references, not a substitute for the car’s own setup guidance. The best practice is to identify the exact tire on the car, confirm its sidewall information, and then compare that with the original handbook or a marque specialist’s recommendation for your specific model and use.

Before a longer drive in a 1962 MG, inspect all four tires and the spare for pressure, tread condition, sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, and any sign of impact damage or unusual wear. Look closely at valve stems, and if the car is running a tube-type setup, pay extra attention to slow leaks and age-related stem issues. Tire condition should be treated as one part of a broader pre-drive check that also includes brakes, steering, cooling, and fluid levels.

That broader approach is especially important on vintage sports cars because long-distance reliability depends on the whole vehicle, not only the tires. A fresh-looking tread pattern does not cancel out old rubber, and a well-running engine does not offset poor tire pressure or a weak spare. A careful walkaround before departure can catch the kind of simple problem that would otherwise shorten a trip or create an avoidable roadside stop.