Space-Saver Spare (ex. Saab 900) for MGB!

[Moderator]

So you want to carry a spare, but you don't want to lug around a lot of performance and fuel-economy killing dead weight?

A Saab 900 Space-Saver spare tire is a great choice for MGB enthusiasts.

Now is your chance to own a pristine example of the species.

All proceeds of this sale will go straight to British V8's operating budget!

I'm asking fifty bucks for the wheel and tire, plus whatever it costs to ship via FedEx Ground. (It should cost less than $12 to anywhere in the lower 48. I can quote more specifically if you send me your address via "private message".)  I'll accept PayPal, Visa, or Mastercard.

The tire size is marked "T115/70-15" - so it should easily clear a "big brake kit" if you have one!  


The lug pattern is 4 on 4.5"


Bonus: it will free up some cargo space in your "boot".

Paul Schils' MGB-GT


Simon Austin's MGB roadster


If you're tempted to go looking for a Saab spare locally, you should be aware that later model year Saab's used different lug patterns. I'm not sure when the cut-off was, but the red Saab spare wheels feature a 4-on-4.75" lug pattern. They won't fit on an MGB hub! Measure before you buy... or save yourself some time and trouble by taking this wheel off my hands. (If for some reason you prefer a 4-on-4.75" pattern spare wheel, I can sell you one of those too!)  


The "private message" system is a great way to reach me... but the rest of my contact info appears here: http://www.britishv8.org/British-V8-Contact-Info.htm

[74ls1tr6]

Question?

How wide are these spares at the furthest measurement? I will be looking into this as my gas tank does take up my original spare tire space. I was hoping some kind of spare will fit.

Thanks Curtis,

Calvin

[Moderator]

Sidewall-to-sidewall width of the tire is only 4.5", but (interestingly) the width of the steel rim (on the inboard side) to the furthest outboard projection of the wheel's hub section is about 5.75".

[ex-tyke]

Curtis,
        More importantly, what is the overall diameter - if it is used for a spare, it needs to be close to the diameter of the tires on the car.

[Moderator]

Do you think so? It only needs to get you home, or to the tire store (whichever is closer)... Aren't these "temporary use only" tires only rated for 60 miles or so?  Anyway, the tire seems to have a diameter of ~21.3" and a circumference of ~67". I should have looked to see what regular tires were used on the Saab 900... but I'm confident they were taller than that!

[ex-tyke]

Thanks for the dia info Curtis. What you say is true - generally speaking space saver tires are smaller diameter than the main vehicle tire. I have seen many a car operating on the streets with spacesavers and they appear decidedly hideous and unsafe (probably because some folks treat them as a normal tire).
It's just that I have this philosophy about using the correct part for the job and not using a compromise...must be the engineer thing!

[MGBV8]

The miss-matched wheel diameter could be hard on a posi unit if the spare needs to be on the back. Swap front wheel to the back & run the spare up front.

[RockyMountainMGB]

I'll take it.  I sent you a PM just a minute ago.

[jimfai]

1987 or older is what you need,   you can find these also on www.saabnet.com, lots of used parts.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Calvin, my space saver which came from a Lincoln Mark VIII was 5.25" wide. The hub does not project past the tire.  Jim

[iharris]

I would love to get my hands on one of these-I have an MGA 1500 with Twin Cam wheels and I've had a hell of a time finding a spare.  My understanding is that these will work.

[88v8]

Is there an equivalent for Triumph's 5-lug pattern?

Ivor

[ex-tyke]

Late model Saab (ie '95) bolt pattern is 5 x 110mm - lots of those space saver rims/tires on ebay.......so, depends if that matches the Triumph 5 -lug bolt pattern you have....

[BlownMGB-V8]

I redrilled my Mark-VIII wheel for the Chevy (Jag) 5 lug pattern.

Jim