The MGF and TF were offered with alloy wheels as standard from launch, a complete range of designs proliferated across the production run as successive model year changes and special editions introduced new styles. All MGF and TF alloy wheels use a four-stud fixing pattern and are centre-bore located.
The standard 15-inch wheels use a 6J x 15 rim width and accept staggered tyre sizes of 185/55 R15 at the front and 205/50 R15 at the rear. The 16-inch wheels use a 7J x 16 rim width, on the TF, these accept staggered sizes of 195/45 R16 front and 215/40 R16 rear, while the MGF VVC on 16-inch wheels used 215/40 ZR16 all round without staggered sizing. The 16-inch fitment was initially reserved for VVC and special edition models before becoming more widely available across the TF range.
Special Edition Wheel Designs
The special editions were distinguished in part by unique or limited-availability wheel designs. The Abingdon LE of 1998 introduced a six-spoke 16-inch design, fitted with Goodyear F1 215/40 R16 tyres, that gave the car a distinctive appearance. The 75th Anniversary of 1999 used 16-inch eight-spoke wheels in a Minilite style, a deliberate nod to the classic Minilite wheels associated with competition MGs, again fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres. The TF SunStorm LE and LE500 used 16-inch eleven-spoke designs.
Twist of Pepper, Staggered Rim Widths
The most technically significant factory wheel was the Twist of Pepper design introduced on the 2009 TF 85th Anniversary. Styled by MG designer Peter Andrews and manufactured by Rimstock of Birmingham, these wheels were finished in a colour called Liquid Boron. For the first time on a production MGF or TF, the front and rear rim widths were staggered, 6.5-inch at the front and 7.5-inch at the rear, allowing wider rear tyres to work more effectively with the mid-engine weight distribution. The Twist of Pepper wheels proved popular enough to be adopted as standard equipment on the 2010 Model Year TF 135, extending the design from limited-edition exclusivity to standard production.
Bolt-On Wire Wheels
For owners seeking a more traditional appearance, bolt-on wire wheel alternatives are available that fit the MGF and TF's four-stud mounting pattern. These give the mid-engined modern MG a visual link to the wire-wheeled MGA and MGB, though the aesthetic contrast between wire wheels and the MGF/TF's contemporary bodywork is a matter of personal taste.