The steering wheel is the part of the car the driver touches more than any other, and replacing the original large-diameter factory wheel with a smaller, deeper-rim aftermarket alternative is one of the most popular and noticeable upgrades that can be made to a classic MG. Smaller wheels, typically 13, 14, or 15 inches, give a more direct feel to the steering, free up legroom, and for many owners simply make the cockpit feel a generation younger. Across the MGB, MGA, Midget, MGC, MGB GT V8, and the wider classic range, the principles of fitment and the families of compatible product are essentially the same, which is why this overview section gathers the wheels, boss kits, wheel centres, and gearknobs together, each of which is also covered in its own dedicated section.
Wood & Leather Steering Wheels
The wood-rim and leather-rim range is led by Moto-Lita, who have been hand-crafting steering wheels in the United Kingdom since the late 1950s, the range covering polished mahogany rims with machine-turned alloy spokes for period-correct cars and traditional black leather rims for owners who prefer a softer, warmer grip, in 13, 14, and 15-inch diameters with both flat and dished spoke options to suit the seating position and steering-column angle of each model. The Classic wood and leather range offers similar options at a different price point, and the Momo Prototipo is the contemporary motorsport choice for owners after a more modern aesthetic.
The original factory wheels were large-diameter items, typically 16½ inches on the earlier cars, with the MGC distinguished by a sewn-on black leather cover on the rim against the MGB's plain rim, and both the leather-rim and plain-rim original patterns are available as replacements alongside the aftermarket range. Every wheel is supplied without the boss attached, as the boss is matched to the car rather than to the wheel, and a period-correct reproduction 1960s competition wheel with machine-turned spokes is available for owners wanting the period look.
Boss Kits & Wheel Centres
A boss kit is the splined adaptor that connects the aftermarket wheel to the steering column, each wheel brand using its own bolt pattern so the boss is ordered to match both the wheel brand and the car, Moto-Lita boss kits not fitting Momo wheels and Classic kits not fitting either. Moto-Lita and the Classic range generally use a nine-hole pattern while Momo uses a twelve-hole pattern, and the car-side of the boss is matched to the steering-column spline of the model in question, the MGB, MGA, Midget, MGC, and MGB GT V8 each having specific bosses, with the horn arrangement, push-button on dash, push on the wheel, or stalk-operated, determining the boss variant.
When ordering, the wheel brand, the model, and the horn arrangement should all be specified. The wheel centre finishes the centre of an aftermarket wheel, stocked in three patterns, a fixed decorative centre with no horn function, a small horn-push button, and a full-face horn-push that activates the horn when pressed anywhere across the centre face, in polished aluminium and chrome finishes with MG-logo and plain options, the choice depending on the wheel brand, the boss type, and whether the car has an alternative horn switch on the indicator stalk.
Gearknobs, Gaiters & Fitting Caution
Gearknobs in walnut, leather, polished aluminium, carbon-effect, and Momo finishes are stocked alongside leather gaiters in a range of colours and contrast-stitch options. The gear-lever thread is common across the A-Series cars including the Midget 1275cc and the MGB four-speed family, so a single walnut or leather knob will fit a wide range of classic MGs, while gaiter sizes vary by gearbox, the Triumph 1500 single-rail unit, the A-Series remote, the MGB four-synchro, and the various five-speed conversions all using different gaiter apertures, so the model and gearbox should be confirmed at ordering. A torn or perished gaiter is not just cosmetic, allowing exhaust fumes, road noise, and draughts into the cabin, so renewal is part of any sensible interior refresh. An important caution applies to steering-wheel work on the later cars, as the MGB from chassis 258001 on chrome-bumper cars and all rubber-bumper cars are fitted with a collapsible steering column, where undue force during wheel removal or refitting can permanently collapse the column, so this work should be done with care or by a qualified workshop.
If the wheel and the gearknob are upgraded together, the cockpit can be transformed without touching the dashboard, the seats, or the trim.