Road wheels are one of the most visually distinctive differences between the two models. The TD was fitted with steel discs as standard, plain solid on the earliest cars, replaced by the perforated design from January 1950, whilst the TF made centre-lock wire wheels standard. Both types remained available throughout production, with a factory service kit offered to convert disc to wire. Wheel type is essential for ordering the correct hubs, drums, studs, spinners, and hardware.
This section covers Steel Wheels, Wheel Nuts/Caps/Spinners/Tools, Wire Wheels, and Upgrades and Alternatives.
Steel Wheels
Steel disc wheels are catalogued in three specifications, all on a customer's own unit reconditioned basis: the plain unpierced 4-inch wheel for the very earliest TDs (to chassis 500), the perforated 4-inch wheel for TDs from chassis 501 and any TF supplied with steel wheels, and a 4½-inch competition wheel that was offered as a factory option for cars used in spirited driving. The change from plain to perforated wheels in January 1950 was one of the first production modifications to the TD. Wheel hub cap retaining pins are a common item.
Wheel Nuts, Caps, Spinners and Tools
This sub-section covers the steel-wheel mounting hardware (wheel nuts in BSF or Unified thread to suit the chassis number), hub caps with the MG medallion, spinners for wire-wheel cars in two-ear, octagonal, and three-ear styles, and the specialist tools needed to fit and remove them, copper hammers, copper-and-hide hammers, lead hammers, and dedicated spinner removers. A spoke spanner is also catalogued for tightening or replacing individual wire-wheel spokes.
Wire Wheels
Wire wheels are catalogued in three sizes: the 48-spoke 4 x 15-inch (TF standard, painted or chrome), an optional 60-spoke 4½ x 15-inch (painted or chrome) for wider tyres, and a 72-spoke tubeless 5½ x 15-inch in chrome for modern radials. Long and short spokes and nipples are available, the 48-spoke uses 80 long and 160 short, the 60-spoke 100 long and 200 short. Rebuilding is specialist work. From chassis TF/3811 (April 1954) improved front wheel grease retainers were introduced on wire-wheeled cars; from TF/6887 (August 1954) the wire wheel inner flange was deepened.
Wire Wheel Conversion Kits
The factory offered a wire wheel conversion kit when the TF was introduced, allowing TD owners to fit centre-lock wire wheels to their cars. A modern equivalent kit is available for both TD and TF specifications, comprising splined hubs (right- and left-hand specific), brake drums with their fixings, two-eared spinners, a copper hammer, a spare wheel carrier adaptor, and a spare wheel spinner. The conversion requires the existing steel-wheel hub and brake drum assemblies to be removed and replaced with the splined hub and separate drum arrangement.
Tyres and Tyre Equipment
Yokohama high-performance tyres are available in sizes to suit all TD and TF wheel widths. Whitewall tyre trims and 0.5-inch wide-band whiteband trims provide the period appearance popular on many restored cars, whitewall tyres were originally factory-fitted to cars destined for certain export markets. A tyre lettering pen allows owners to customise sidewall markings. Tyre inflator and puncture-repair aerosols, wheel cleaners, and dedicated wire-wheel cleaning brushes are all available.
Jack, Tool Kit and Starting Handle
The original-style jack set includes the two-piece handle and tommy bar, replicating the factory equipment. Modern scissor jacks (1000 kg) and bottle jacks (2000 kg) are more practical roadside alternatives, with wheel chocks essential for safety.
The original tool roll, Lucas-pattern ignition adjustment gauge and screwdriver, tyre iron set, original grease gun, stirrup pump and foot pump alternative, angled tyre pressure gauge, and starting handle with three stowage clips are available individually. The starting handle should always be carried, it provides the only means of turning the engine if the starter fails.
Ordering Considerations
The chassis number determines BSF or Unified thread for steel-wheel nuts and studs (BSF to chassis 12284, Unified from 12285 through all TFs). The wheel type fitted (steel or wire) determines which hubs, brake drums, and ancillary hardware are required, see the Stub Axles & Hubs and Rear Axle & Propshaft sections for details. Wire wheels need spinner threads handed left and right to the side of the car: right-hand thread on the right of the car, left-hand thread on the left, ensuring forward rotation tightens rather than loosens the spinner.