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MG MGF Technical - Best Tires for MG TF135

Hello

First, i'm a french guy, so excuse me for the mistakes in my writings.

I would like to know what are the best tires for MG TF135 'cause i've got:
front: good year eagle f1 GSD2 195/45 R16 80W
rear: good year eagle f1 GSD2 215/40 R16 82W

But the GSD2 for the rear tires don't exist anymore,
replace by GSD3.

So if someone already change their tires please answer me

Thanks......
Kakashi

Hi Kakashi,

welcome to the board! :o)

The answer to your question is that unless you intend to replace all four tyres at the same time, you should try and source a pair of Goodyear F1 GS-D2s - mixing the new GS-D3 has often lead to unsettled handling, and therefore I'd recommend that you avoid this.

GS-D2s are obsolete - BUT are still available because they are an OE tyre. Your local MG dealer should be able to source them. You could probably get a better deal from a tyre specialist - I know that tyre dealers here in the UK can still obtain them - although supply is often erratic.

If you are happy replacing all four tyres at the same time, then go for the GS-D3s - I have these and am delighted - but you'll have to fit the wider 215/40s to the front wheels as well, rather than the recommended 195/45s.

Other tyre choices to consider are Toyo Proxes T-1s (very good value) and Bridgestone RE720s or S-03s. Again, you can be a little limited on tyre sizes available.

Hope this helps
Rob Bell

Rob

Why do you say you have to go with wider tyres on the front with the GS-D3s are the narrower sizes not available?

What about Toyos and the others? is it just that the correct sizes are not available or is there an advantage with fitting the wider tyres?
Kevin s

Same answer on the french board, thanks rob ;)

maxime

mabonnet

>> Why do you say you have to go with wider tyres on the front with the GS-D3s are the narrower sizes not available? <<

Exactly - the narrower sizes are not available, and interestingly, the GS-D2s are still current tyres in 195/45R16 sizes...

Not sure of Toyo size availability off hand - but the Toyo website should have all this info.
Rob Bell

The narrower sizes are available (195/45) but only in reinforced (XL) which adds weight to the tyre.
Thierry

Rob,
I have just replaced all 4 tyres on my TF160 with GSD3s. The 195/45 R16 is definitely available.
Steve
Steve Greenhalgh

That's good news Steve - they definitely weren't available when I replaced my tyres under a year ago... :o)
Rob Bell

Yes steve a good news, but can u give us which type of tyres they are exactly, i think:
front: good year eagle f1 GSD3 195/45 R16 84V XL
(and not like the GDS2 80W - in the owner's
manual the front tyres must be 84V !!!)
rear: good year eagle f1 GSD3 215/40 R16 82W

And what about the pressure ? the manual says:
front: 1.8 bars
rear: 2.5 bars
With my GDS2 i put these and no problemo

Ciao....
Kakashi

Why do you think the front need a different speed index and load index than the rear ones?
Thierry

If load index means what I think it means, the lack of weight over the front wheels means that a more substantial tyre is unnecessary. But the different speed rating doesn't make that much sense.

What I think has probably happened is that MG have simply used tyres off the existing Goodyear 'shelf' - which probably means that the rear 215/40s have a higher than necessary speed and load rating.
Rob Bell

Apologies for taking so long to reply

Fronts are
195/46 R16 84V GS-D3 (no reference to XL)

Rears are
215/40 ZR16 82W GS-D3

Tyre pressures are 32psi all round. I also had the tracking done at the same time and the car handles perfectly.

Steve

ps. Cost was £295.00 for all 4 (incl tracking) from Saxon Gate Motorist Centre in Biggleswade -- Had to wait 2/3 days for them to come in.
Steve Greenhalgh

Had front&rear GS-D2, one month ago replaced rear GS-D2 (profile <1mm) with GS-D3, car handling above 90kmph is rubbish, like a jelly pudding, especially if the road surfaces are not even (the worn tyres drove better!). So I'm now reading everywhrere this GSd2/GSD3 doesn't combine, and I should swith to all four wheels on GSd3. Anyone driving around a lowered VVC with GSd3 that has positive experience?
Thx, Steven
Steven

I have had 195/50/15 GSD3 on the front and 205/50/15 GSD2 on for the last 15 months and 17k miles. They started off shakily as many do report, but after the first 3-400 miles they have been consistently excellent wet & dry.

It is not clear which end of the car contributed most to the initial handling uncertainties, but rest assured that they will wear themselves in.

Peter.
Peter Ambrose

GS-D3s all round and they're excellent Steven - but I'm using 215/40s all round.
Rob Bell

Toyo Procis S are very good. I just run mine a few pounds over pressure.

Toyo R888's however are THE business!!!
Neil

Rob,

thx, I also have the 215/40 on all ends. Just for you all my experience with MG/Goodyear:

This morning I contacted my dealer and explained the situation me passing 140kph on the German Autobahn and my MGF not stable anymore. According to him it might be the balancing of the wheels. Not! So I called the Goodyear mainoffice in Holland and the chap over there told me that mixing GS-D2/D3 must not be done, this causes at higher speeds an instable MGF. He also told me they sent a mailing by fax to rover dealers regarding replacing GS-D2->D3. With these information I took the afternoon off and went to my dealer. The chief engineer and I made a made a test drive in (sub)urban area clocking > 120 kph 5th and the car started 'floating' a bit. Now the chief enigeer realised there was a problem. I told himm about the Goodyear mailing, but he wasn't aware off due to lots of mail and holiday time (...), but agreed to give me a discount on 2 new front tyres. I counteroffered his same offer, adding that they should find the fax and do not do this to any other MG driver, because this is really not safe. So hopefully tomorrow the new tyres are fitted and it's off again.
Steven

Today the dealer called. New tyres 4xGSD3 were fitted. At the end of the day collected it drove to my parents and back (400 kms return) and drives superb again. Only problem, or better saying something to watch out for are those roads with deep spaces that can cause aquaplanning. Here the tyre needs to roll in and find its grip I feel, but with <100 kph you wouldn't feel a bit, with 123/130 kph you will feel it a bit. Overall I am very happy with the feeling and handling of the car. While accelerating you can feel the tyres sucking onto the road. The only thing I would like to ask you all with GSD3 tyres is the tyre pressure you have front/rear?
Steven

Good news - GSD2 215/40 are still available in UK.

I specifically wanted to avoid any problems mixing D2 front and D3 rear.

I have just had two 215/40 GSD2 fitted for ~ £164 at Bathwick Tyres in Bath.

They had to order them from Goodyear, as opposed to using their stock of GSD3 but it wasn't a problem and they only took a day to arrive.

In fact they ordered 5 and so have 3 left.

The only bad news is that they spotted that one of my alloy wheels was slightly buckled :-(

jt
John Thomas

This thread was discussed between 22/07/2004 and 06/08/2004

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