MB Wheels vs BG Rod Works

[Chargerguy74]

I ordered some MB wheels and was surprised to have received BG Rod Works wheels. They look pretty much identical to the MBs I ordered. I'm not sure if I should make a big deal of this yet, because they look identical. Anyone familiar with both brands? I see the BG are made in China. Are the MBs as well?

BTW, I am pretty clueless when it comes to the wheels world.

Thanks

[Dino]

Same deal, same factory as far as I know, but I can't confirm that.  I recall reading that BG now sells the MB wheels, the old school model at least.

My MB wheels came with 4 chrome center caps, 2 are blank and 2 say BG.

Did you order from Discount tire?

[Chargerguy74]

Thanks Dino. I won't raise a stink then. They were from tiresnwheels.ca.

[myk]

Wow that's strange.  In any case, I'm pretty sure the MB wheels are from China as well.  Put some pictures up!

[Chargerguy74]

I was told that Voxx makes the wheels for MB and BG. I'll post pics once the MBs arrive. The rears showed up first, which were B/G. The fronts will be MB. They are old school wheels. I thought I'd give them a try after seeing them on that yellow '70 in the general discussion (can't remember the members name, and I have a hard time with this site's search function).

[Chargerguy74]

And they look sick on your car Myk.

[Chargerguy74]

Lol, Dino too? I've never had a close look at the wheels in your avatar before.

[myk]

Lol, Dino too? I've never had a close look at the wheels in your avatar before.

Thanks for the compliment, but Dino deserves all the credit.  The Old School looks so good on his car I ordered mine soon after he got his; that man ended a 15 year search for wheels.  I'm convinced that these wheels could make a Prius look good...

[Dino]

Actually Travis probably had them first, but I didn't find out until after we got ours!   

They are awesome wheels, I haven't regretted getting these for a second.

Chargerguy what size did you get?  I have 17x9.5 on the rear and there is a slight rub on the inner wheel well because of the 5.5 backspace.  I plan on adding 1/2" billet spacers and longer wheel studs on mine.

[Chargerguy74]

I bought brand new 275 60 15 tires, and spares, and then I noticed my rims were for bias ply only, so I ordered 15x8s.

[HPP]

Never heard of bias ply specific wheels before. I have seen drum brake specific ones, but never bias ply specfic.

[Chargerguy74]

They're old centerlines.

[HPP]

How exactly are they different? The bead seat area from bias to radial did not change and many radials were put on bias rims in the early '70s without incident when the radial transition was taking place.

Here is the opinion of someone in the industry: http://www.dbtires.com/rimstress.html

I guess its moot if you purchased new rims, but it may save you some grief if you are going to sell your old ones.

[JR]

The yellow 70 is my car.

My center caps actually say "B/G" as well, even though I ordered them as MB Old Schools from Summit Racing.

Near as I can tell, the wheels were just re labeled as BGs.  They are identical in every way to the MBs. The box they came in actually said "MB Old School".

So don't worry about it man, their the right wheels you ordered. No big deal.

I actually want to replace the center caps with some 3 bar knock off style caps found on ebay for American Racing wheels.

[Chargerguy74]

How exactly are they different? The bead seat area from bias to radial did not change and many radials were put on bias rims in the early '70s without incident when the radial transition was taking place.

Here is the opinion of someone in the industry: http://www.dbtires.com/rimstress.html

I guess its moot if you purchased new rims, but it may save you some grief if you are going to sell your old ones.

I read a bunch of that stuff too, but decided to play it safe. Besides, they're just centerlines.

[Chargerguy74]

Thanks JR. It was funny because I was thinking of getting a set of Weld Draglites before I looked at your thread. I think I still will and slap on a set of Z rated tires.

[JR]

No problem man.

Either way you go, I cant stress how important the tires are in changing how well the car drives. Its no comparison how well the car drives on the new Nitto 555s vs the old TAs. Im never going back to outdated, rock hard tires.

Post pics when you get em on the car.

[familymopar]

No problem man.

Either way you go, I cant stress how important the tires are in changing how well the car drives. Its no comparison how well the car drives on the new Nitto 555s vs the old TAs. Im never going back to outdated, rock hard tires.

Post pics when you get em on the car.

JR,

I just ordered a set of Nitto 555's.  I have seen iffy reviews going both ways, mainly that if you run through a puddle the tires will not perform well, being summer tires.  I went with them because they are what I could find in the sizes I wanted, and anonymous reviews are notoriously worthless to me.  How has your experience with the 555's been?  What size are you running and how long have you had them?  Will you buy them again?  Thanks.

[Dino]

I run Nitto 555's on the front and they're fine.  I've driven through plenty rain showers with them without any issues.

[familymopar]

I run Nitto 555's on the front and they're fine.  I've driven through plenty rain showers with them without any issues.

Thanks Dino.  I really look forward to getting the new wheels and tires later this week and running them this weekend.  Just about anything has to be better than the BFG Radial T/A's!

Appreciate the review!

[Dino]

I run Nitto 555's on the front and they're fine.  I've driven through plenty rain showers with them without any issues.

Thanks Dino.  I really look forward to getting the new wheels and tires later this week and running them this weekend.  Just about anything has to be better than the BFG Radial T/A's!

Appreciate the review!

Sure thing.    

For what it's worth, I have NT450's on the rear as it was the only tire available in the size I wanted and likewise an excellent tire.  I've never had BFG's but haven't heard much good about them, except the way they look.

NT450's are going to be discontinued so there should be more sizing available in the NT555's.  Mine are 17" btw.

[familymopar]

I run Nitto 555's on the front and they're fine.  I've driven through plenty rain showers with them without any issues.

Thanks Dino.  I really look forward to getting the new wheels and tires later this week and running them this weekend.  Just about anything has to be better than the BFG Radial T/A's!

Appreciate the review!

Sure thing.    

For what it's worth, I have NT450's on the rear as it was the only tire available in the size I wanted and likewise an excellent tire.  I've never had BFG's but haven't heard much good about them, except the way they look.

NT450's are going to be discontinued so there should be more sizing available in the NT555's.  Mine are 17" btw.

I ran NT450's on my truck for years and I loved them.  But they are all weathers.  I don't know why I am worried about the 555's, the car has never been rained on.  Just wanted someone's opinion from here.

[JR]

JR,

I just ordered a set of Nitto 555's.  I have seen iffy reviews going both ways, mainly that if you run through a puddle the tires will not perform well, being summer tires.  I went with them because they are what I could find in the sizes I wanted, and anonymous reviews are notoriously worthless to me.  How has your experience with the 555's been?  What size are you running and how long have you had them?  Will you buy them again?  Thanks.
[/quote]




I have 225/45/17 in front on an 8 inch wide wheel, and a 275/40/17 on a 9.5 inch wheel in rear. Smaller time sizes than most guys here, but I sacrificed a tiny amount of ride quality for a stiffer sidewall, as I'd like to autocross this car soon.

I've had them for a few months now, under 1500 miles, but that's going to change soon with some autocross added in.

My experience has been fantastic with them. Summer tires make perfect sense on an old muscle car because we don't drive then in winter/cold weather usually, and the difference in grip between all season and summer tires is no contest. My track day and autocross friends call the latter "no season" tires because all seasons generally are so much of a compromise,  their outclassed everywhere.

Admittedly,  the 555's aren't the newest tire, and the bad reviews are probably coming from people comparing them to the newest batch of competitors, but they seem fantastic in this application.

There's no tramlining on the highway, no road noise at all, ride quality is hardly compromised with the shorter sidewall, yet road holding and responsiveness is WAY improved.

In all honestly, I haven't driven them in rain yet, but I have driven them on wet roads just after rain and found them to be perfectly fine.

I believe the bad reviews are from guys comparing them to the newest batch of tires, and honestly the 555 is a few year old design now. And I'd your car saw occasional track day use I'd advise skipping over them entirely and going straight for Hankook RS 3s or Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

But for street use considering how most of our old chargers will be driven, I say their fantastic. You won't be disappointed.

[Chargerguy74]

Well the front wheels showed up today, finally. Reboxed in Vision Wheel boxes and were clearly mounted at some point. Deep scratches and paint chips caused by a socket. Truly unacceptable lol.

[myk]

Dude that sucks!  I hope the vendor makes it right for you!

[Dino]

Well the front wheels showed up today, finally. Reboxed in Vision Wheel boxes and were clearly mounted at some point. Deep scratches and paint chips caused by a socket. Truly unacceptable lol.

Get yourself a full refund, let the company pay for return shipping and shop elsewhere.  Like I said, Discount Tire has these and they have a reputation to uphold.  I've never had an issue with those guys.

[Chargerguy74]

So I sent them some pictures of the wheels. Apparently they're "perfectly fine". Still trying to make this right.