Paul Walbran Motors, The MG Parts Specialists, Auckland, New Zealand

 

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Technical Notes

Alloy wheel options for the Midget

Performance Wheels do a 13"x5.5" Superlite .It’s touch and go as to whether these will fit a square arch Midget. We have encountered a number of customers who have had Superlites fitted who have had problems with fouling the inner wings. As I understand it, they are clear static but foul on bump and cornering, even after jacking the wheelarch.

On the other hand, our K Midget is running 14x5.5" Minilites with 175-60x14 Formula R's (quite wide on the tread) and 175-65 road tyres. It cleared on the right hand side, but fouled lightly on cornering on the left (Asymmetrical bodyshell as usual!).

We jacked the left hand rear wheelarch about 5mm at the rear intersection of the tyre and arch - as much as you could go without creasing the outer wing. That solved the problem, but we do have a panhard rod fitted and without it we get light rubbing.

The difference between the two wheels according to my listings and measurement is not great. The backspace (mounting face to inner edge of rim) is listed as 101mm for the Superlite, whereas for the Minilites I have measured it as 103mm.

So the Superlite is offset 2mm more to the outside than a wheel which needs jacking on the left (it's usually the left which is a bit tighter) and a panhard rod to keep things in place.

My conclusion would be that without either of these measures you'll have a problem with the 13x5.5" Superlite, with them you might squeak through but it may depend on the actual body, it's previous history and how any repairs in the area have been done.

The alternative to this is the 13x5" Minilite, which clears comfortably.

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Paul Walbran Motors
Leaders in service - advice - value for money
17 Brownie Rd, Laingholm, Auckland 1007, New Zealand 
Phone: (09) 817 8194   Fax: (09) 817 8164   Mobile: 021 886 723   Email: paul@mgparts.co.nz