MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Right, New boots all round

Right, I asked this months ago but I can not remember what the outcome was.

I am getting new tyres fitted Monday (all round). Got my first MOT the following Friday, and I do not think my tyres will pass.

I am obviously after good tyres, but not ones that wear easily, but still grip like a mary.

I was looking at P-Zeros at £115 at Kwik-Fit, what do you lot recommend?

Thanks

:o)
Demon

Toyo Proxes
or R888s

try mytyres.co.uk

both a lot chepaer than your price! you just need to find a place that will do the "lamb chops" swaps fitting and balancing

Neil

I need 205/45/17s (ZS120+)
Demon

We had P zero neros on our ZS when we had it. lasted about 6.5k miles on the set (including swapping fronts to backs).

Grippy as anything though!
Nick

is 6,500 good? What is the expected average?

I have not had much dealings with tyres really. before the ZS we had my wifes escort and she just used to buy any tyre for it.

I was looking at the zero neros. It is extremely difficult to decided on what is best to get. Taking into consideration I just mostly all-year-round tyre as I do not feel the need to opt for seperate Summer and Winter tyres etc.

I DO NOT want to end up ringing a tyre place and asking them, they will just sell me the most expensive.

All I know is:

1. I do not want them too soft as to wear out too quick
2. I do not want the sidewalls to be too soft as I tend to turn in rather hard and quick (showing off).
3. Obviously I do not want to pay too much.

HELP!

lol
Demon

The PZero Neros are not available in 205/45r17. The only Pirellis in this size are PZero Assimetrico and Direzzionale. If you can get the Assimetricos for £115 each fully fitted then that is cheaper than I managed to find them in this size.

This year I've mainly been driving on Assimetricos. I wouldn't get them again - in the dry they are brilliant, but on a damp or wet track they slide quite easily (or is it just my lack of skill?).

Ralph
Ralph

I have P zeros on the V6 ZS, you can get 12k average miles, I've had more, and others have had less.

I think I paid £108 at Kwik fit, Histon Rd, Cambridge.
Kelvin

When I had a ZS (120, but had 17" straights) I had Michelin Pilot sports on. Got 18k from the fronts (inc a few trackdays). Replaced with the same. I'd certainly recommend them. Cost me about £120 from Kwik fit.
JLD

Just had 4 Pirrelli's put on my ZS180. Cost me £400 all in from slow fit. Got 35k from the original Michelin's. Not bad I thought
Jeff Patterson

Some ppl say try upgrading to 225/45/R17. What do you lot think?

I have certainly found is a wider range available and great price variations from £77 to £146 (from all good makes)

?
D T A Bradnick

Some ppl say try upgrading to 225/45/R17. What do you lot think?

I have certainly found is a wider range available and great price variations from £77 to £146 (from all good makes)

?

Demon
DemonTraitor

225's are unlikely to fit if you've the old model ZS - our 215's only just did and they got a bit of rub on full lock.

Ralph, is that right? I only know that they're available in 215/35/18", just assumed they'd be available in 17 too...

No, 6.5k isn't good, in fact, downright rubbish, but our 180 seemed to just struggle to get any grip down in any conditions under acceleration, even in a straight line - wheelspin up to third gear. Very grippy on a lateral line though, allowing for some impressive cornering! :)
Nick

Nick, I've just checked the Pirelli site - the Neros are only available in the following 45 profile sizes:

195/45 R16TL 84V
205/45 ZR16TL 83W
215/45 ZR17TL 91Y
225/45 ZR17TL 94Y
225/45 ZR19TL 96W(e)

It would also appear that the Direzionale are no longer available in the correct size, either. So that narrows the choice down to one Pirelli in the original size.

DemonTraitor, 225/45r17 would put the speedo out by 3% (60mph on the speedo would be 62mph on the road). However, 225/40r17 would be just about perfect, assuming that they fit in the wheel arches.

Ralph
Ralph

Does no one use the Goodyear F1s on their Zeds? They seem excellent on the MGF/TF, and get good rating in independent tests that I've seen.

For example, Auto Motor Und Sport compared 225/45 R17 tires with Y and W speed rating. The test was performed on a BMW 325i. The results were:

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
Pirelli P Zero Nero (highest rated tire)
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
Michelin Pilot Sport

RECOMMENDED:
Goodyear Eagle F1
Uniroyal Rain Sport 1
Falken FK 451
Nokian NRY

SLIGHTLY RECOMMENDED:
BF Goodrich G force Profiler

NOT RECOMMENDED:
Kumho Ecsta KU 19
Hankook Ventus Sport K 104

More here: http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/d/54689
Rob Bell

Ok, I got Pirelli Asimetricos fitted today - 205/45/17 for £471.96 (£110.00 x 4 plus fitting)

I kept my Michelin Pilot Sports for a track day :o) - they have about 0.5 mm left on them (well legally left anyways).

DemonTraitor
DemonTraitor

Rob, I've just checked the Goodyear website - they don't make tyres in the right size for the ZS. In fact the only MGs that they list tyres for are the MGF and ZT.

I certainly rated the F1 highly on the F. If they were available for the ZS I'd fit them to my car in preference to the Pirellis.

Not sure what tyres to fit on my ZS - the front tyres are now close to the limit. As people have commented, there is not an lot of choice for the original size tyres - 205/45r17.

Ralph
Ralph

well Rob if you get a set of not recommended tyres you wont mind so much mashing them at a track day!

"slightly recommended"? only a German journalist could come up with that one
Neil

"Slightly Recommended" has to be an artefact of an AltaVista translation Neil! LOL

Not sure I'd go anywhere near a track with 'not recommended' tyres - you won't mind scrubbing them away on an airfield, but for a circuit, you want the best tyres available... I really want to try those R888s! :o)

Ralph, I hadn't twigged the unusual size - that's a problem :o/
Rob Bell

Yeah R888's oooh the darkside is strong!

I would think you have to make all the bushes stiffened up to make the most of them though. I am not so sure about my F's as the car is coing up for 9 yrs old and I havent done the bushes other than the compliance things at the back!

Yeah ralph dodgy tyre size
:¬(

Neil

Okay, I've done a bit of research into the 205/45r17 issue. I've found two other tyres that haven't been mentioned yet that are available in the correct size. These are Bridgestone RE040 and Avon ZZ3.

Any comments/preferences on these tyres? Both of these appear to be somewhat cheaper than the Michelins and Pirellis.

Ralph
Ralph

Well, so far I have done about 30 miles on my Asimetricos and have come to the following conclusion.

Ride seems quieter, and smoother (but my previous tyres were 0.5 mm off being illegal).

I have tested the tyres at 40mph around one of my fav roundabouts - more like a chicane really. I try to hug the left hand kerb, trying to keep the tightest line possible. Gripped like a good'un. Will try this at 45 next time.

:o)
DemonTraitor

This thread was discussed between 10/12/2004 and 14/12/2004

MG ZR ZS ZT Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG ZR ZS ZT Technical BBS now