MG - MGB
The MGB was the replacement for the MGA, and was available for sale from 1962. The new MGB had a monocoque chassis construction which "added lightness" and saved on materials which also allowed for much more room inside as there was no chassis. The MGB was a well appointed car from the start, with wind up windows as standard. For 1965 the MGB was joined by the hard top MGB GT, fitted with a taller windscreen and a practical third door hatch back, which was a design by Pininfarina. By now the MGB had a 5 bearing version of the BMC B series 1798cc engine. For 1968 the gearbox was given full synchromesh using the MGC gearbox, an uprated unit also built to cope with the extra power. For 1975, due to US legislation, the rubber bumper era had arrived, along with raising the bodywork so that the headlights passed the U.S.A. height regulation, which was said to have an adverse effect on road holding at speed. By 1980 the MGB had seen an 18 year production life and British Leyland management decided that the new TR7 was to follow on as their new flagship sportscar.
Tyre size for MGB and MGB GT - when the MGB first came out it was fitted with cross ply 5.60x14 tyres, and the radial equivalent of this tyre is the full size (80 profile) 165R14, which is what we recommend. When the factory at Abingdon started upgrading the MGB with radial tyres, this same full profile165R14 tyre size is what was fitted (a tyre size later on also called 165/80R14) at the Abingdon factory. Blockley produces the perfect period tread pattern, steel belt 165HR14 with an excellent speed rate, which will transform the handling of the MGB - guaranteed. A wider version of this tyre with the same diameter, which many also fit to their MGB's, is the 185/70R15 tyre size, which all the tyre manufacturers were listing as an alternative by the late 1970's, although we are unaware that the factory ever fitted this size. The 185/70VR14 is certainly the perfect fitment for the MGB V8 model. See full details of these MGB tyres at the links below:
