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MG MGA - New tyres

Hi All.
Took my A out for a nice drive yesterday in the lovely spring sunshine. All good but now winter seems to have reappeared. I looked at the date stamp on my Fireztone F-560 tyres. They still have plenty of tread left and the side walls show no side of cracking but I think they were made in the 1990s.
So it might be time for some new ones. I want to stick to 165 x 15s which look right and I certainly don't need any low profiles.
Any recommendations please.
Thanks
s page

Last year I had the same experience with my Firestones, good tread no signs of distress, but date codes or lack of them suggested they were about 20 years old.

I bought five Michelin XZX from Longstone tyres. https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic-car-tyres/mg/mga/165sr15-michelin-xzx.html

Did 4,500 km on them UK-France-Switzerland-Italy and return in May-June 2018, and am very happy with them. Price has risen since I purchased in 2018.

Co-driver in photo says that she likes them too.

Mike Card


M D Card

I use vredestein Sprint Classic in MGA and MG TD, good grip, classic drawing and cheaper than other classics.
Gabriel Martínez

Like Mike Card, I too purchased Michelins from Longstone two years ago; it was actually cheaper to buy them in the UK and ship vs. buying from a domestic provider (got my tubes & liners from them as well). The Michelns are great tires and they have that period look that seems correct for the A. As for your Firestones, no matter how good they may look, they are well beyond their useful and safe life expectancy; don't drive on them. 6-10 years is useful life for a tire, it all depends on the brand and the environment in which they are used. Here's a link from Hemmings which discuss the issue of old tires:

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2016/07/07/open-diff-when-it-comes-to-tires-how-old-is-too-old/
Nick Kopernik

You should certainly change them. XAS and XZS were appropriate for 1950s and 60s roads and look authentic t shows. There are modern treads that give the A the grip you need at todays road speeds. They generally are also less expensive.
Roger Walker

I went for Michelin from Longstone 3 years ago. I was only getting 2 but they had 4 for the price of 3 so 2 went on car straight away and the others the next year. Happy with result and they don’t squeal on corners like older Michelin’s.

As I understand sun is bad for rubber products which I guess is backed up by bad experiences in Florida quoted in article. So ok in shaded garage in Scotland. On my spare set of wheels I have a Goodyear G800 and Michelin X that go back to the 70s but I only use these as props, never for driving.

Paul
Paul Dean

Hi. I am learning towards a set of Continental contact 2 cr tyres. I can get them for £66 each and I need 5. They seem to a reasonable price and a well known make. The Michelins are twice the price and if I am doing it again in 7 years time, it seems to make sense to me.
Some Chinese tires I have never heard of aren't that much cheaper so O feel happy with a manufacturer I am aware of.
s page

They will not disappoint.
Roger Walker

This thread was discussed between 02/04/2019 and 04/04/2019

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