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MG Metro wheel

PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 7:05 pm
by Chris59
Hello guys,

My Mk2 wheels (sort of Minilites) have an excessive "positive" offset, ie the tyres are not fully covered by the wings, it's illegal in France.

Do you think that a set of MG Metro 12" alloys could fit ?

I can't check for the moment, as front and rear drive trains are removed from the car, but the more I look, the more I think that these wheels may foul something (rear shock absorbers, front Wheel arches…) as their "negative" offset is important.

Do you have any experiences with these wheels on a Mk2 ? I don't really want to play with spacers, as wheel bearings rarely appreciate the game.....

Re: MG Metro wheel

PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 7:22 pm
by Stuart
Measure the C-dimension (inner rim edge to hub surface mounting face) of the wheel, you can just about get away with 95 mm dependant on tyre size, subframe centralisation and damper position, the subframe is over to the drivers side by about 5 mm, and you can move the dampers in a little by elongating the top mounting holes.

I'm going to guess that they're not going to fit.

Re: MG Metro wheel

PostPosted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 12:56 am
by benofbrum
If the tyre sticks out by no more than 15mm, then Justin's Easywider moulding might do the trick. He developed them for his Cortez and went on to commission a back moulding.
Check them out on https://easywider.co.uk
The picture of the blue car on the website is his Cortez

Re: MG Metro wheel

PostPosted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 12:57 am
by benofbrum
oops, that should read "batch" not "back"

Re: MG Metro wheel

PostPosted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 2:22 pm
by fozzza
Again Stuart is correct.
When I ordered my mk2 from the Corby factory, Harold did ask me what wheels I was fitting and I told him MG Metro. He straight away said they won't fit and informed me of the correct offset measurements.
I may have them written down somewhere but this was thirty years ago.

Re: MG Metro wheel

PostPosted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 6:27 pm
by Chris59
Thanks Guys, I'll check the C-dimension on my MG Metro wheels, but, as you said, I'm pretty sure they won't fit now.

Apparently, the best thing to do is to wait : once everything will be put back together on my Mk2, I'll take measurements and try to find the right wheels.

@ Benofbrum, thanks for the link (my browser do not want to open it for security reasons ??), but I Don't want to modify the body on this car, it's already a jocke on Wheel (well, nearly…) in itself !

Re: MG Metro wheel

PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 8:54 pm
by johno
Chris, The Metro wheel is a strange size when compared to the Mini. Hence the problem members with the Mk3 have in fitting 'after market' rims as few makers produce wheels to fit the Metro. I suspect your wheels (if 12") may not be the correct offset for the mini and could have come from a Hillman Imp which has the same pcd at4" but a smaller offset.
There is a website http://www.wheeldictionary.net/ which should help. Also http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/ is a valuable source of information.

Re: MG Metro wheel

PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 8:58 pm
by Chris59
Thanks Johno, it will be usefull.

Re: MG Metro wheel

PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:02 pm
by johno
Chris, The key piece of information you needs seems to be that fitting disc brakes often means an extra 1" 25mm of track width. This pushes the outer edge of the tyre further out than may be original to the car.

Re: MG Metro wheel

PostPosted: Fri Dec 07, 2018 2:15 pm
by fozzza
I fitted Metro 4 pots to my Mk2, the track width is just about road legal even though mine is a later model with wider wheel arches.