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MG MGF Technical - Handling terrible after tyre change

I recently had my rear tyres changed on my 1997 F, since when the road handling at "motorway speed" (you know what I mean!) has been shocking... it feels like I'm piloting a canal boat in a strong cross-wind.

I don't have the posh low profile tyres, just the standard 15" wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1. And yes, the replacements looked genuine enough to me.

Spoke to very helpful man at MG garage who said Goodyear have recently changed the design of the tyre and he's had dozens of calls about this, but so far it seems only to affect owners of those swish low profile jobs, not ordinaries like me.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? If so, what's the solution? Are there more immediate mechanical faults I should be worrying about rather than conspiracy theories involving tyre manufacturers?
PeterH

The new style (GS-03) F1's are only available in 195/50 from what I'v heard. The recommended size for the rear is 205/50. Do you have the old style 205/50's(GS-02)or new style 195/50's fitted?
Steve White

Tyres can take a few hundred mile to scrub in. My F1's felt very sloppy for a few days after I bought them, now I love 'em!

tim woolcott

Peter

I recently did the same, I previously had SO2's on the rear. The F1's sharpened up the steering but did give me some concern at motorway speeds.

They have since bedded in but I am not totally covinced by them.

You could try varying the tyre pressures a little, it may help. I intend to give this a try.

I am thinking that maybe a front splitter will be needed if that doesn't work.

Pete
Pete Fincher

Yes Peter, I suffered the same fate when I renewed the rear tyres on my '96 MGF 1.8i, for the standard original spec tyres (Eagle F1). The car became unbelievable difficult at anywhere over 60mph; and felt dangerous. This was so scary I thought there must have been a fault with the power steering making it over sensitive. My garage suggested the handling was a result of only replacing the rear, not all 4 tyres. It did settle down and the car was fine after a short while. Obviously check the pressures, but be sensible until the tyre walls settle in from use.

Rob
Rob Speare

Exactly the same here Peter - 4 new F1s on 15" wheeels (GSD3 on the front & GSD2 on back) and the handling was dreadful.

The tyre pressures were far too high, so when I went back to 26/28 it improved greatly and better still when the tracking was re-done.

I am now very happy with them - eventually.

Peter.
Peter Ambrose

Thanks everyone - it's a relief to know that it's not just me. The tyres were changed about 10 days ago, I guess they're still finding their feet.

I will double-check the pressures tonight. I drive a fair old distance up & down the M4 each day, which is enough of a white-knuckle ride at the best of times - could do without this!
PeterH

I agree with the others about checking the tyre pressures.
I replaced both my rear tyres a couple of months ago and the “tyre fitters” decided that the pressures should be 40 and 42!!


Alan

Well, what a difference! I stopped off for fuel last night and checked the pressures, and my new tyres were indeed inflated like party balloons - both at 36 psi according to the rather knackered air-line sight glass. Dropped them both back to somewhere between 28 and 30 (it really was a knackered sight-glass!) and this morning the car felt rock solid.

I've also signed up to this website - there's a wealth of experience in those archives, especially for Mk1 owners.
P Hudson

Welcome to the club Peter! :o) Being finding this site a wealth of useful information for the last 5 years! :o)
Rob Bell

>(it really was a knackered sight-glass!) and this morning the car felt rock solid<

Can I recommend investing in a pressure gauge. The last time I compared a garage gauge against mine there was a good 5lb/in difference Eek.
tim woolcott

Tim - will do. I've always considered a pressure gauge as the sort of thing one's dad would buy because "you can't trust those garages"... but I have to admit it is probably a wise investment given my recent experience. And you can't trust those garages.
P Hudson

Replaced all four tyres on my Trophy recently and had the new tread pattern rear ones fitted. I've hated the feel of the car ever since. I'm now wondering if my local MG dealer did in fact give me the right info when he said the pressure data had been changed recently (apparently I was running the previous set at too low a pressure).

Can anyone please give me the definative pressures as the handbook for the Trophy doesn't state my particular tyre sizes (195/45R16 front and 215/40ZR16 rear).
KENNETH JAMES MATTHEWS

I also recently had 4 new GSD3's fitted to my car and it became a real pig, sufficiently so that I hated driving it much above 65 (usually the other way around).

After several return visits to the tyre depot for checking - balance, tyre pressures and tracking etc and following a test drive by the manager they agreed that the car was positively dangerous!.

Fortunately they swopped all 4 tyres for Toyo Proxies at no cost to me, the car now drives as sweet as ever.

Marc
Marc

I had 2 new F1s fitted on the rear yesterday and have had no problems on the M4!! The tread pattern has changed slightly, but the handling is fine - feels more positive than before the change.

Peter - make sure you wave if you see me on the M4 - I'm usually between J11 and 8/9 between 8 and 8:30 and other way at about 5:30.

Maria

HV51 RZD
Maria White

I understand that the Trophy should have an additional Important Information insert for the handbook (RCL0419ENG) which shows tyre pressures for Goodyear and Yoko

Tyre Pressures - Goodyear tyres
195/45 R16 84V (front) 24 lb/in 2 1.7 bar
215/40 ZR16 82W (rear) 36 lb/in 2 2.5 bar

Tyre Pressures -Yokohama tyres
Normal driving conditions
195/45 R16 80V (front) 26 lb/in 2 1.8 bar
215/40 R16 86V (rear) 36 lb/in 2 2.5 bar
Speeds above 100 mph (160 km/h)
195/45 R16 80V (front) 30 lb/in 2 2.1 bar
215/40 R16 86V (rear) 36 lb/in 2 2.5 bar

Tyre specification
7.0J x 16
Front: 195/45 R16 80W Goodyear Eagle F1
195/45 R16 80V Yokohama A539 type
Rear: 215/40 ZR16 82W Goodyear Eagle F1
215/40 R16 86V Yokohama A539 type
JohnP

Maria - will do! I'm usually on the A33 Three Mile Cross roundabout at 8, and joining the M4/J11 (500 yards away) at 8.30!

Peter

Black P761 DRX

PS. I do of course give a cheery wave to all Fs I see...
P Hudson

Kenneth

I have D3's fitted on the rear of my Trophy and they seem fine. However my car has had the Tech-speed treatment and the tire pressures have been set to 28 all round so try that rather than 24 front and 36 rear.
Blue Pocket Rocket

Peter.
I know exactly what you mean.
I had the same problem after fitting the GS-D3 tyres last autumn, a "drifting" like feel.
I persisted at lower speeds for about 400miles(!!!!!!) & after they had bedded in I can highly recommend them. I'll defo be getting them again when need be.
I got the from micheldever.com who were A LOT cheaper than anywhere else. Add £7 for p&p mainland UK.
Hope all goes well.
quikstu

Yep, my 60-mile daily trip up and down the M4 is making lots of difference now, they're much more solid. I think the conclusion is - they're pretty scarey for the first 300 miles, and much more sensitive to variations in pressure. Will know for next time!
P Hudson

This thread was discussed between 27/03/2003 and 01/04/2003

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