The MG Midget was offered with steel wheels as standard equipment throughout production, with wire wheels available as a factory option until 1976. Today, alloy wheels provide an additional choice for owners seeking a modern appearance or wider tyre fitment. The wheel type fitted to the car determines the hub, half shaft, and wheel nut or spinner specification, so correct identification is essential when ordering.
Steel Wheels
The standard steel wheel changed during production. Early 1275cc cars used a plain pressed steel wheel with a dished hub cap carrying the MG logo. With the GAN5 facelift in late 1969 (1970 model year), the Rostyle wheel was adopted, a pressed steel wheel with a distinctive slotted appearance that became the standard fitment through to the end of 1500 production. The Rostyle wheel uses a chromed or stainless steel centre cap with the MG badge, and wheel nuts are available in standard, chrome, and stainless steel finishes, with or without the MG logo.
Wire Wheels
Wire wheels were offered as a factory option for most of Midget production, dropping from the option list in 1976. They were only offered in painted finish by the factory, although chrome wire wheels are widely available today as a popular replacement choice. Wire wheels use a knock-on spinner system with splined hub adaptors, rather than the bolted studs used on steel wheels. The spinners are handed, right-hand thread on the right side of the car, left-hand thread on the left, to prevent them from unscrewing under driving loads.
Two spinner styles were offered: two-eared and octagonal, each available with or without the MG logo.
Spline Maintenance
Wire wheel splines require regular greasing to prevent the sharp knocking sound that occurs under heavy acceleration or braking when the splines are dry. If spline wear has progressed to the point where the spline peaks are sharp rather than slightly rounded, both the wheel and hub adaptor should be replaced, worn splines on one component will rapidly wear a new mating component, so renewing only one is a false economy.
Alloy Wheel Options
Alloy wheels are available in several styles including centre-lock designs that use the existing wire wheel hub adaptors, and stud-fitting designs that bolt directly to the steel wheel hubs. The most popular sizes are 5x13 and 5.5x14 inches.
When fitting alloy wheels, the tyre size should be confirmed to ensure adequate clearance within the wheel arches, particularly on lowered cars where the suspension travel brings the tyre closer to the inner arch.
Wire Wheel Conversion Kit
A wire wheel conversion kit allows a steel-wheel car to be converted to wire wheels. The kit includes the splined hub adaptors, spinners, and all necessary fixings.
This is a reversible modification that does not require any permanent alteration to the car, the original steel wheel hubs can be retained and refitted if the conversion is later reversed.
Wheel Accessories
Wheel nuts in stainless steel and chrome, valve caps, tyre trims, Rostyle renovation kits, stainless wheel trims, and wire wheel cleaning brushes are available. Tyre savers and tyre valve replacements help maintain wheels during winter storage, where flat-spotting and valve perishing are common issues on cars laid up for several months.