This section covers the wheel securing hardware and the specialist tools for both steel disc and wire wheel installations. The wheel nut thread type, BSF or Unified, is determined by chassis number on steel-wheeled cars, while wire-wheeled cars use centre-lock spinners with handed threads.
Wheel Nuts, Steel Wheels
Steel-wheeled cars use five conventional wheel nuts per wheel. A complete car set comprises 23 nuts, five for each of the four road wheels, plus three for securing the spare wheel to its rear-mounted carrier. BSF-threaded nuts fit TDs to chassis number 12284; Unified-threaded nuts fit TDs from chassis 12285 and all TFs. A wheel brace is available in the Unified specification, owners of BSF-thread early TDs require a different brace appropriate to that thread.
Mixing BSF and Unified hardware on the same wheel is not possible: all studs and nuts must match the thread type.
Hub Caps and Medallions, Steel Wheels
The hub cap, sometimes referred to as a wheel embellisher or knave plate in period terminology, fits over the centre of the steel wheel and is retained by three pins per wheel. Two versions are available: with the centre pierced for the MG medallion (the standard appearance), or undrilled for owners preferring the plain finish or fitting their own emblem. The MG medallion is available separately complete with its retaining clip, allowing a damaged medallion to be renewed without replacing the entire hub cap. The spare wheel hub cap is a separate item from the road wheel caps, with its own MG medallion specification.
An MGA-style hub cap removal lever is available for clean removal without scratching the chrome plating.
Spinners, Wire Wheels
Wire wheel spinners are available in three ear patterns: two-ear (the original factory standard, available in plain and with MG logo), octagonal (available in plain and with MG logo), and three-ear (available in plain only). All are side-specific with opposite-hand threads, right-hand thread on the right of the car, left-hand thread on the left, ensuring that forward rotation tightens rather than loosens the spinner. The spare wheel spinner is a specific item with its own MG medallion. Spinners should always be tightened firmly using the appropriate hammer (described below), running a wire-wheeled car with a loose spinner allows the wheel to work on the splines, ultimately damaging both the splined hub and the wheel itself.
Spinner Tools and Hammers
Copper hammers, in both the original pattern and an alternative copper-and-hide combination, are the correct tools for tightening and loosening spinners. The soft head transfers the impact to the spinner without marking the chrome plating; a steel hammer is not a suitable substitute. A lead hammer is a further alternative, and a plywood spinner saver provides additional protection for the spinner ears during fitment. Dedicated spinner removers in both two-ear and octagonal patterns provide additional leverage for spinners that have seized on the hub.
A spoke spanner is essential for wire wheel maintenance, allowing individual spoke tension to be adjusted during wheel truing.
Valve Caps and Wheel Brushes
A chrome valve cap set finishes the appearance of the rubber tyre valves, and an anti-theft set with the MG logo is available for owners concerned about wheel security, the anti-theft caps incorporate securing screws to deter unauthorised removal. A dedicated wire wheel cleaning brush makes the laborious job of cleaning between the spokes considerably more practical than improvised brushes.
Ordering Considerations
Confirm the chassis number when ordering wheel nuts, BSF or Unified thread. Confirm the side of the car (left or right) when ordering wire wheel spinners, and specify the ear pattern (two-ear, octagonal, or three-ear) and whether the MG logo version is required (noting that three-ear spinners are plain only). Hammers, spoke spanners, and tools are common across all variants. Hub caps and their medallions are common across all TD and TF specifications regardless of chassis number.