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MG MGF Technical - EAGLE F1 GS-D3

I need a new pair of rear tyres. So I looked on www.mytyres.co.uk I specifically wanted EAGLE F1s. Their search engine came up with two versions

EAGLE F1 GS-D3 215/40 R16 82W &
EAGLE F1 GS-D3 215/40 R16 86W XL BSW

What the difference?

And are there any rear GS-D2s left any where in the UK?

Thanks
Steve
Steve Ratledge

I had no problems getting hold of a set of 4 GS-D2's in May. I got mine from a small local tyre company (i.e. non-franchise) and the price was only £10 more than what it would have cost to buy them online and get him to fit them.
His supplier even recommended against fitting GSD3's, so its nice to know someone at least they where clued up.

So I would check local companies as well as online.

I would also consider Dunlop SP9000's, a set of which I have fitted to my 'trackday' wheels. I find then just as good as the GSD2's.
Steve White

Hi Steve,

If there's a branch of Hi-Q near you, try them, they're Goodyear's own retail chain.

The difference between 82W and 86W is the load rating, the higher the number the greater the vehicle weight they're designed for. Sidewall stiffness is the main variable, I believe.

If you still have GSD2s on the front, then I would leave no stone unturned in the quest for GSD2s for the rear, the rear steer that comes from GSD3 rear / GSD2 front is quite frankly 'orrible.
Mike Hankin

Very informative page here - http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/tyre_bible.html

The F has approximately 55% weight on the rear axle, so a load index of 70W should be plenty.
Mike Hankin

Thanks Mike I tried Hi-Q but they had none in stock and their computer showed that Goodyear were out of stock - with no restock date.

In addition they wanted £96 each for the GDS3 - mytyres were £60 + about £10 for a mobile fitter.

So it looks like I might just have to go for the GDS3 and get them bedded in PDQ!
Steve Ratledge

£96 each!! Ouch.

In fairness I think the rear steer issue is largely down to wheel alignment, I suspect if I was to have the same mix now with parallel rears and toe in at the front, the nasty behaviour might not be so evident.
Mike Hankin

No, it's not an alignment thing. I had GS-D2 on front and GS-D3 on rear. It was horrible - oversteer all the time. Changed the rears for Toyo T1-R, and it completely changed. Acres of grip, wet or dry.

Mike
Mike Howlett

OK any top tips on where to get a good price for a pair of Toyo Proxes T1-R 215/40 R16?
Steve Ratledge

Try Camskill, I have used these previously and these have often been much cheaper than mytyres. These are for tyres only and you will have to arrange your own fitting, but you can usually get this done fairly cheap anyway.

215/40-16 Toyo T1R tyres look like they're £55 a tyre.

You may have to cut and paste this address into your browser. It shows the page for all tyre sizes, just click on the size you want and it'll show you what's available...
http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s0p0

Hope this helps.
P James

>In fairness I think the rear steer issue is largely down to wheel alignment

Err, I beg to disagree, wheel alignment may worsen the problem but tyre wall stiffness plays an important part here.

And GSD-3s are definitely softer than GSD-2s. There is a noticeable difference in the ride too (more comfortable with GSD3s).

My GSD-3s took a good 10'000 km to "run in". Before that they were close to dangerous. And I have a TF so no ride height problems, the wheel alignment was correct (and this was on 16' rims).

The Toyo Proxes T1-Rs I fitted recently were not only "run in" after 300 km, but they are much, much, much better in terms of stiffness than the GSD-3s.

I reckon my former 215/40 16 GDS-3s were even softer than the Continental "Wintercontact" snow tyres (195/50 15 rear) on which my TF is currently running !
Anthony Braham

Try http://www.etyres.co.uk for the Toyos. Their prices are fully inclusive of fitting + new valves & balance.
Kelvin Fay

Well the only place I could find that still had the GS-D2s ex-stock was Demon Tweeks. So I have been there today and had them fitted.

I also had Etyres come and fit 3 Dunlop SP9000s on the Volvo - very cheap, quick and its a mobile service. So they come and fit them at your home. They also price match so there is no reason not to use them (except for GS-D2s which they could not get until the end of Jan). But they did know about the GS-D3/MGF issue!

Steve - Happy with lots of tread all round.
Steve Ratledge

This thread was discussed between 22/12/2006 and 29/12/2006

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