MG U9 ute owners facing replacement tyre shortages

Owners of MG U9 dual-cab utes are reportedly having trouble sourcing the factory-fitted tyres for their vehicles, due to their unusual size.

In a recent social media post, now deleted, the Australian owner of an MG U9 complained about the lack of stock of standard-fitment Giti 275/60R19 tyres locally – with retailers unable to provide other brands or sizes as a suitable replacement.

“MG Motor Australia has been working with the local distributor for Giti tyres to ensure ongoing supply of the specified 275/60R19 tyre fitted to the MG U9,” a spokesperson for the car company told CarExpert in a written statement.

“Additional tyre stock from Giti is expected to arrive in Australia between September and October 2026 and ongoing monthly orders will support future demand.”

The unusual 275/60R19 tyres are fitted to the MG U9 Explore X variant, with the entry-level U9 Explore and premium U9 Black Edition coming with 265/65R18 tyres, and the U9 Explore Pro flagship riding on 275/55R20 rubber.

Meanwhile, the twin to the MG U9, the LDV Terron 9, avoids any issues by coming standard with either 18- or 20-inch wheels.

While the 275/55R19 tyre size is a close match to the tyres on the Explore X, and would theoretically fit its 19-inch alloy wheels, the 27.5mm reduction in overall diameter would make it illegal in several Australian jurisdictions – by just 1.5mm. However, given the vehicle is available from the factory with 18-inch tyres, the change may be deemed legal.

MG isn’t the only automaker to face shortages over the years due to unusual tyre sizes.

It’s understood Toyota had similar headaches after fitting 265/55R19 tyres on the LandCruiser Prado Kakadu 150 Series several years ago. The current-generation 250 Series doesn't experience the same issues, because the SUV now comes with more common 20-inch tyres.

Ford dealerships also encountered problems when trying to source replacement tyres for 19-inch alloy wheels fitted to the FG Falcon.

Other manufacturers have been caught out when fitting unique tyres to their vehicles, with US owners of the Rivian R1S and R1T initially only having access to an expensive 21-inch tyre from Pirelli.

Similarly, an expensive set of Bridgestone tyres was initially the only option for owners of the first-generation BMW i3.

MORE: Explore the MG U9 showroom