MG Car Repair: mg midget tires, tire mileage, fuel mileage

Question
QUESTION: Hello Howard,
Thank you for the previous advise.
Once again 1972 midget with 155/70/r13 tires (canada).
I would like to increase the ride height of the car without changing rim sizes or suspension tinkering.
I was searching the web and found a site that stated I could install 175/70/r13 or even 155/80/r13 onto the stock set up.
My question is whether this is accurate and second what affect will it have on the ride?  The car is for pleasure driving not racing. Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Rico,
Many owners of Midgets here in the US have run larger tires then what came on the car. The side benefits are that the gearing is a little higher (which most MGs could use) and the larger tires tend to give longer tire mileage and even a fuel mileage increase using the larger diameter tires. Plus a little better traction. The only draw back is with the larger diameter versions you get a speedometer that reads a little wrong so you just need to watch speed limits and account for it.
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the response Howard.  Given that many people do increase the tire size, what is the largest that I can install on a stock midget and stock steel rim?
Based on what I was reading, 175/70/r13 and/or 155/80/r13 are the largest available....is that accurate?  I'd welcome any sizes you recommend.  once again, the main focus is on increasing the ride height.
I'm fine with the compensation with regards to the speedometer.


Answer
Sorry Rico, I have not personally tried larger tires on a midget so I can't tell you how large you can go. That would best be answered by a tire company. The only thing I can tell you is that I seen customers come in with large diameter and also wide tires and most just said that in a full lock turn the tire rubbed a little but they said they lived with that just to have the large tires.
Take the car to what ever brand tire you are wanting to purchase and ask them to measure clearances with the steering all the way to lock and measure the clearance in the rear wheel well to get an idea of how large you can go.
Howard