MG-Cars.info

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

Recommendations

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 MGF Technical - Bridgestone Potenza RE720

Got an interesting offer from a local dealer to replace the tyres with Bridgestone's Potenza RE720.

Has anyone got any experience with these tyres fitted to a MGF?
Freek

They were on my shopping list but I went for Toyo Proxes T-1S.

Got a good deal on them but the main reason I chose them was the look. They look BRILL !!

Very happy with them, fine grip, wet or dry.
Clive

Fitted RE720's on the F about 9 months ago, and still going strong! Excellent tyre in the wet or dry (especially when compared to the original NCT-3's!!!). Other BBS users rate the Toyos and Yokohamas, but each to their own. Why not check out Rob Bells site at http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/ for further comments on tyre choice - the RE720's come out quite favourably.

Mike H
Mike Hall

I've had them for the best part of a year now and have been really impressed with them. Excellent grip, especialy in the wet. I even convinced my girlfriend to replace the Kwik-Fit cheapies on her MX5 with the RE720s and she's now got more confidence in the car's handling.

BTW - take it easy for the first couple of hundred miles to let them 'scuff' in.
Ian Matheson

I have a set on my MG Montego Turbo - all four ex MGF - the 195s on front, 205s on rear. Excellent. ...:o))
MGJohn

quikfit are recommending 185/55/15's on the front is this right?
R Turpin

Excellent on wet and dry but if you're an "enthusiastic" driver the rears won't last for much longer than Eagle F1s. Much smoother though.
Anthony Braham

>>quikfit are recommending 185/55/15's on the front is this right? <<
This is the standard size (if you have 15inch wheels!)
There is no problem with this size - but you may find that 195/50/15s are marginally cheaper.

Since Tech-Speed sorted my suspension/tracking out, wear rate on my RE720s has been drastically reduced.
I won't consider fitting anything else now - I currently have the 185/55 fronts, but may fit the 195s next time - if the 185s ever wear out !

Slightly off topic - my spare tyre is now 7.5 years old; should it be replaced purely on an age basis ?
Steve

I've had RE720 since last May and they are far far superior to the OEM NCT3s, but feel a little skittish to me in the wet.

Previously I had a set of P7000s which were very capable wet or dry, but were about twice the price of RE720s and started to lose their grip below around 3mm.

I couldn;t find any reference to replacing the spare at a set time. Perhaps it's covered by a check as part of the annual service?
Chris
Christopher Marshall

I got the GY eagle GDS3 fitted to my TF a couple of months ago as a replacement to my original tyres ('02 TF). I was told initially that the running in was longer than the GDS2... Fair enough I thought. That said, the reality was that those tyres ended up being a nightmare over more than a thousand miles (especially in the wet) resulting in some serious unstability issues. Throughout the weeks /miles the improvement came through and at reasonable speed (call it 90 mph) the unstability issue disappeared. However I had the chance yesterday to drive the car for a while up to 120mph on decent stretchs of dry roads...and I got seriously scarred feeling the car getting unstable again. Please note I had the chance in the past to drive the TF up to that speed and it always felt like it was glued to the ground... I think these tyres are a joke....

What should I do? should I write to Good Year? what is your experience with these new tyres. What have you guys done about it? Which replacements are suitable?

Stéphane

Stephane, this is a well known problem with GS-D3 tyres I am afraid - see http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/popups/tyres/GS_D3.htm

What you are experiencing is a grip incompatibility between the old front tyres (GS-D2) and the new rear ones (GS-D3). There isn't an inherent problem with GS-D3s - I like many here use them - but a problem that these particular tyres seem to expose more often than any other.

You have one of two options: replace the new tyres or replace the old front tyres - in both cases, keeping to the same tyre all round (be that GS-D2 or GS-D3 or what ever) is the objective.
Rob Bell

Thanks Rob... let's say this is good news... my front tyres will have to be replaced soon and all should fall ba
stéphane

RE720s are far better than NCTs and, in my view, Toyo Proxes too. I found the softness of the Toyos meant they wore down quickly. I'd recommend the RE720 every time!
Dimo

Had RE720's on since March last year, no problems.

Much, much better than NCT3's..... 185's on the front, 205's on the rear.
Neil Sutton

This thread was discussed between 06/01/2005 and 14/01/2005

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now