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MG MGF Technical - Goodyear F1 GS-D3's

Hi all, I have been looking at http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/ regarding tyre choice etc and found a warning regarding Goodyear F1 GS-D2/3's

When i took my car to the the garage recently i had my rear tyres changed, over two visit, they couldn't get a second tyre in time to do them at the same time.

When they were both fitted i noticed that the tread on the tyres were different and queried it at the time. The garage looked into it and said that they were the same tyre but a newer model. Obvioulsy now i know that the 2nd tyre is a new DC3. I didn't think the handling of my mgf was of concern before i had the tyres changed, but since i have noticed a difference......its not bad, but it isn't great either. I paid around £200 for the pair......i can't really afford to get another new tyre....and if i replaced just the newer DC3 would that affect the handling i.e. the other rear tyre being worn???? Hope my rambling makes sense?

Andrea
A Hall

>>When i took my car to the the garage recently i had my rear tyres changed, over two visit, they couldn't get a second tyre in time to do them at the same time.<<

Unfortunately, this is a problem that is going to become more frequent, as the GS-D2 tyre line is now obsolete in the 215/40 R16 size. However, they should remain available from specialist outlets because they are fitted as original equipment by MGR to MGF and TF. In fact, your local dealership might be your first port of call for GS-D2 tyres.

>>When they were both fitted i noticed that the tread on the tyres were different and queried it at the time. The garage looked into it and said that they were the same tyre but a newer model. Obvioulsy now i know that the 2nd tyre is a new DC3.<<

I think that this is a little naughty - especially as neither Goodyear nor MGR are prepared to endorse the GS-D3 tyre for use on F/TF.

>> I didn't think the handling of my mgf was of concern before i had the tyres changed, but since i have noticed a difference......its not bad, but it isn't great either. <<

That's a relief. New tyres often feel worse than the ones you've just removed because they have a slippery covering that takes a while to scrub off. The car's handling should improve over time. Goodyear tyres always seem particularly bad in this regard in my experience.

>> I paid around £200 for the pair......i can't really afford to get another new tyre....and if i replaced just the newer DC3 would that affect the handling i.e. the other rear tyre being worn???? Hope my rambling makes sense? <<

Tricky decision. Personally, I'd prefer to have the same tyre/type on the same axle, and would certainly recommend this course of action.

Regarding mixing GS-D3s on the rear with GS-D2s on the front, this does seem to have caused problems in the past, but the pattern is not all that clear cut. I suspect that you'd be fine in doing this.

For the record, I've gone to D3s all round, and now they're scrubbed in, they're great. Like the D2s that preceeded them, it took about 500 miles before they felt sure-footed - but now they've been 'tested' around Goodwood, they're terrific :o)
Rob Bell

Rob, I have just spoken to Goodyear who have said that the do not recommend mixing tyres and also they do not recommend the D3's for the mgf.

I am going to try and see if the garage will do something about it, but i did spot it at the time, and obviously didn't do anything about it then! I would say that i have done about 1500 miles in them now.

Andrea
A Hall

Why are Goodyear not recommending the D3's for the MGF? I have had two D3's fitted to my MY2000 F, and have had no problems, apart from the few hundred mile bedding in period, that was not that bad anyway.

I have always liked the feel of the Goodyear F1, and will continue to purchase these.

I am just concerned why Goodyear themselves, do not recommend them. When I have spoken to tyre specialist, they have advised that the D3 is a direct replacement for the D2, and provides better all round grip, wet or dry.
Steve Green - KX51 NUH

I am also running on GS-D3's all round.

Yup, I had an absolute nightmare when I first got them, but now they seem to be up to the job.

As you said, only down side about them seems to be the cost.

paul weatherill

I got a pair of D3's from ProTyre in Bristol for £150 inc VAT and Balancing. Thought that was fairly cheap for these tyres.
Steve Green - KX51 NUH

£150 for a pair of GS-D3s is very good money Steve. As for why neither Goodyear nor MG Rover are prepared to endorse the 'D3, it is probably a question of whether they've actually taken the time - and spent the money - to test the new tyres on the cars.

I am 100% confident that if you rang MG Rover and asked about tyres, the only tyres they'd recommend for the the MGF would be the diabolical NCT-3 and the GS-D2 F1. These tyres are a known quantity to the company, and for product liability issues, they won't recommend any other tyre that they've not approved. Which doesn't mean other tyres are necessarily problematic on the MG F/TF - although we know some are decidedly worse than others...
Rob Bell

I have just spoken to the garage and they are going to replace the D3 for a D2 FOC.

Good hey???

Andrea
A Hall

Good work Andrea - and well done to the garage :o)
Rob Bell

>>> - and well done to the garage :o) <<<

They screwed up before, so....

Anyway, I think it is even illegal to drive around in Belgium with two different tyres on the same axle.
Erik

When I looked into this in June '03 for my TF160 GY told me at the time they and MG were not recomending D3's as the suspension was tuned to the characteristics of the D2; claiming the D2 original equipment tyre was a joint development. Further they said MG were doing testing and claimed MG found greater slip/less adhesion with the D3's. However they expected conclusions 'shortly'. More gen and picture at

http://www.xpower-mg.com/forum/showthread.php?s=b706e78a1af23a922a82760549a3c481&threadid=7305

As I had a trashed tyre I managed to source D2's easily from mytyres.net.



Ian Walker

OK, I'm trying to work this out ... Goodyear and MG work on a derivative formulation on the D2 tyre for MGF/TF right?

MG supply a F/TF with the Goodyear OE tyres (the jointly developed special formula one - specific for F/TF right?)

Due to wear and tear I need a pair of tyres and of course head to Joe Bloggs tyres to get a pair of D2s. Joe Bloggs says yes I've got a pair in and pops them on the motor. Now has Joe Bloggs supplied me with the Goodyear OE (special formula and all that ...) tyres as originally supplied by MG or do I have a pair of 'generic' D2s ?
Gaz R

Gaz

I raised this some months ago as I was concerned about the possible insurance implications if you had an accident on a car where one or more of the tyres had been replaced. There was no real answer then. I had to have a rear tyre replaced on the wife's TF160 last week. There didn't seem to be any problem in getting a D2, and I specifically mentioned that it was for a TF. Does anyone know if there are any identifying marks on the TF tyres that identify they are OEM "specials", and has anyone got an answer from MGR what to use when D2 supplies eventually dry up? If they recommend D3s, what about the suspension set-up? Will this need revising for D3s? Will this be covered by warranty?

As a side issue, the fronts on my Alfa need replacing. I've currently got GS/D2s all round, and there's plenty of tread on the rears. D3s on the front, or swap the current rears to the front and put the D3s on the back?
David Dewick

I know of at least two F drivers who have mixed D2 and D3 eagle F1 tyres on their F and have no complaints whatsoever. One is on the French board (Maxime I think, although I may be wrong, sorry Maxime if I am), and the other is a friend of mine, with his 2001 VVC, GSD2 front and GSD3 rear, and he reckons the D3s are just as good, probably even better, and has not suffered handling problems.

I think Dr. Bell gave us the real answer as to why D3s are not recommended: product liability issues; not tested so not apporved, even if they're as good.
Anthony

I have GS-d3 on the back and think they are fantastic tyres but only after they where bedded in as for the first 500+ miles they did feel a bit scary but once they where worn in they grip extremely well in both wet and dry conditions.

I was so happy I was going to get them put on the front only to find that they where not available and had to stick with GS-D2 but have no problems.

The moral of the story is get GS-D3 fitted but give them time to bed in and then you will wish you did it earlier.

I got them from micheldever for £147 for a pair and have done approx 14000 miles since and have plenty of tread left.

Tom
Tom Randell

Hi,

At 21k I fitted (OK, the tyre shop fitted) two 215/40 R16 DS3's to the rear (the fronts are still fit for another 20k!). I had the usual tale from the tyre shop that the DS2's were obsolete: like me he probably couldn't be bothered to search for them. (£160 for the two, by the way, and even though the fitter - a young lad - had a struggle removing the old tyres the rims were unmarked.)

I haven't noticed any difference at all in the driving characteristics, and I have now done over 1k with them. Perhaps it's my moderate style of driving.

Although it's legal in the UK to have tyres of different pattern on the same axle, I think that habit should be reserved for (and is fairly common on) 'ordinary' saloons, beater cars as the Americans say. I would be very unhappy with a mix of tyre types on my F.

As for MG not recommending any other tyre than the original fitting, I'm not surprised. To recommend a tyre, or any other non-original product, is opening a whole can of worms in liability claims, as Rob says. Although it's natural to read non-recommendation as meaning the products are inferior, it's not necessarily the case. I would be quite happy with DS3's all round, and I am happy with them on the back. That's not a recommendation though, you make your own choice!

Regards, Kes.
Kes

I have had D3s on the rear of my TF160 for about 8K and I still have mixed opinions. The handling sometimes feels a little scary, but there are some poor quality roads in my area. From reading this thread, there seems to a general shift from a few weeks ago when the D3s had a very bad name on the TF to now where a number of people have had them fitted and seem happy with them.
Would anyone care to recommend some tyre pressures. I have a TF160 with D2s on the front and D3s on the rear ?
Thanks
Steve
Steve Greenhalgh

Like Tom I have had fitted D3s on the back of my Trophy and no handling problems at all once bedded in.

Steve G

Try 28 psi all round and see how it goes. 36 psi in the back tyres is too much.
Blue Pocket Rocket

Currently got GS-D2's & cannot fault them. Although they do take a bit of "Bedding in".

Just about to buy 4 x Toyo Proxes T1-s. £174 for 4 (15" rims). Heard they are good & they are certainly cheaper than the F1!
quikstu

I have D3's on front and D2's on rear.
Have no noticable ill effects, though I would not recommend different models on same 'axle" either (induced yaw when you need it least!)

The guy was desparate to sell me Pirelli's (P6000)at a cheaper price, but I stuck with Goodyear.

Antony
Antony

Blue Pocket rocket,
28psi all round - interesting. I currently have 26 in the front and 32 in the rears. I'll give it a try
Steve
Steve Greenhalgh

This thread was discussed between 06/11/2003 and 10/11/2003

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