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MG MGF Technical - Help wanted re tyres

I have just purchased a spare set of alloys to use mainly while I clean my vvc wheels up. These have two new BF Goodrich G force profiler tyres on them. When inquiring how much a matching pair for the front would cost I have been told that only Goodyear tyres are suitable for the mgf.

Q. Is this just MG Rover protecting a deal with Goodyear or will a different brand/ tread pattern cause the car to miss behave

Your thoughts and experiences would be appreciated

Cheers

Don
don at work

Mild rubbish is what they're talking... I had the same from a tyre place in Cambridge when I asked them to fit the Toyo Proxes I had delivered to them... they actually said, and I quote, "you must be stupid".. oh well... the Toyos are excellent since I've had them on.

They also said... "If it was my car, I wouldn't go anywhere near those mate..." So tempted to say "well, it's not your car... your car is the kev'd up XR2 out the back mate... so just fit the tyres eh and be a good lad" :-)
Chris Tromans

When you turn up at your tyre dealer looking affluent driving a sports car, then you will be offered the most expensive tyre available. Unfortunately a lot of Motoring Magazines rate the Goodyear Eagle F1 highly, albeit opinions vary on this BBS.

Are your spare wheels 15in ?? If so, why two sets of Summer tyres ?? Have you considered Goodyear Eagle GW03s M+S for the Winter ?? About £60 each on Internet.(£115 from UK Dealer).

Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Don, I go with what both Chris and Geoff have said here.

Note: all car manufacturers protect THEMSELVES not just trading deals. Read your Owners Handbook for MGR tyre advice.

In addition, a few months ago there was a spate of people complaining about F1 with the newer tread and compound (sorry fogotten the exact name D3 ??); cars became unpredictable when a pair at one end only were mixed with another tyre type on the other axle.

MGR & GY precluded this tyre on the MGF - I don't know if it is still on the NONO list. Owners experience (on this bbs) has shown that the tyres are more than safe and acceptable "provided they are fitted in full sets and are run in for 300-500 miles".

I had original F1s on my F, changed them for TOYOs, ran those in and was more than happy.

A recent bbs poster fitted TOYOs to the rear with original NCT3s on front and lost stability; TOYO Tech told them to complete the full set and run them in.

I believe MGR are currently fitting GY F1 to TF160 models as oem. The TF135 seems to have Continentals.

Suggest you search the archive and read the reams of comments on tyre choices.

JohnP

>Are your spare wheels 15in ?? If so, why two sets of Summer tyres ?? <

Yes spare wheels are 15" Main purpose is so I can clean up my VVC wheels which have some corrosion on the inside rim. 2nd purpose is to keep a spare set for use on track days :-)

Comments Re mixing tyre types makes sense and I would agree that it would be wise to have the same tyre type all round, hence why I wanted to match the New rear BF Goodrich tyres which on the face of it have an excellent write up.
don k

I have been running TOYO Proxes T1s on my '98 VVC for 8months and they have been absolutely superb. Grip levels immeasureably higher than originals and more progressive when they do break away.

I also went up to 195s on the front which has helped to make the handling a little more neutral. I would definitely not advise mixing these tyres though.
JA Goldfinch

I completely concur with John's summation on this subject. I also agree with the comments regarding MGR protecting their corporate butts with the 'Goodyear only' recommendation. A number of different tyres have been found to work superbly well on the MGF, including the Bridgestone RE720/ S-02/S-03, Toyo Proxes T-1 etc. BUT it is always advisable, when changing tyre brand or type, to replace all four tyres at the same time. The Goodyear F1 GS-D3 have gained a very dodgy reputation for this reason - as have the Avon range of tyres.

I am currently running on GS-D3s all round, and they're pretty good. The best tyre I've used is the Bridgestone S-02 - but these are only available in certain sizes now... and not for the 15" wheel. S-03s are an option: Paul Nothard has these on his car...
Rob Bell

For road use I'd look for a minimum cost solution.

I recently had no problem sourcing 2 rear F1 GSD2 for my TF 160 to maintain 4 of same type without having to scrap the lightly worn fronts.

I find it extremely difficult to compare a worn out set of one make of tyre with a brand new different set.

jt
John Thomas

I put a set of uniroyal's on the rear, and i could not control the rear of the car, It was so bad it was scary to drive,so i quickly took them back to the dealer who changed them to goodyear nct5's, and i was once again in control of the car, i am now very reluctent to have any other make on the car,
harry5

>> I am currently running on GS-D3s all round, and they're pretty good. The best tyre I've used is the Bridgestone S-02 - but these are only available in certain sizes now... and not for the 15" wheel. S-03s are an option: Paul Nothard has these on his car...

And I like them. :-)

As JT says it's really really hard to compare old worn (slicks!) with new slippy tyres... but I've come round to the opinion that the S03s are a good tyre, but not as good as the S02s. <sob>

I'll probably replace them with S03s when they wear out.

Have tried various over the years. Yokos went through a spell of being hip'n'trendy on this board. Tried the A520 and the A509 tyres. Both were good. The A520s being slightly too stiff on the tyre-wall for my liking.
I actually find it very hard to compare tyres tho.
(Except the pants standard fit NCT3s which are truely horrible!

If you're just using them for track days and a temporary run about tyre... then go for the stickiest tyre you can get? Won't last long... but you don't need them to!! :-)

P.
Paul Nothard

>> If you're just using them for track days and a temporary run about tyre... then go for the stickiest tyre you can get? Won't last long... but you don't need them to!! :-) <<

Toyo R888s anyone? :o)
Rob Bell

Are there any adverse problems with running 195/50/15 tyres on the front in place of 185/55/15's ?
don k


>> Are there any adverse problems with running 195/50/15 tyres on the front in place of 185/55/15's ?

None. Been running them for ages. I'd venture to say that it's an improvement. :-)

Have even tried 205s all round. Was ok, but I prefer running with 195s at the front.
Paul Nothard

Don, check out http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/tyres.htm

I have recently fitted Pirrelli P7000 to the rear of my 96 vvc. Immediate big improvements in grip, cornering and general handling, and no problems running with the original Goodyear 'approved' tyres on the front. I will be changing the fronts out to P7000 as soon as tread depth warrants it and by bank balance allows it. Most worthwhile money spent on the car so far besides servicing. Go for it!
Don L

This is what i think is all great about this BBS. Thank you every one for your advise. I had ordered a pair of Goodrich tyres to match the rears but guess what the tyre shop got in the wrong ones...doh So I went to North Weald activity day yesterday running my standard Goodyear NCT3's.

Thank you Don L for that link, excellent info...also confirmed my thoughts on the NCT3's as they certainly didn't have any grip in the wet, but boy what a fun day. I haven't spun out so much in years :-)

don k

Been runnibg Avon RV1 on the rear and RV3 on the front with no problems.

The only problem is the ruts in the motoway slow lane...ok I know, I know I should not be using that lane but you do have to get on and off the motorway :)
John Dickson

Last time it happened to me I asked if they had NTC3's as those were the tyre that was recommended. The reply came that they had NTC5's which I pointed out were different tyres and were not any more 'guaranteed' to be suitable to the 'F' than the Bridgestone RE720's I wanted on the car.

If they say NTC5's are the replacement for the NTC3's, ask 'em if they're the replacement for the 4 or 5 tread version of the NTC3's. Generally tends to shut 'em up. Alternatively walk in with Rob Bells tyre guide page, and that normally works.

harry5 made the mistake of only replacing the rears. When changing brand, change 'em all. You may well find you can get 4 Proxes for the same as 2 NTC5's.
Leigh Reid

Just a small point, I thought al VVCs used 16" wheels or am I wrong? If so, I wouls infrom your insurance company otherwise they could refute any claim as the car would be undertyred?

Just a thought......
Kevin s

Kevin, no, all VVCs up to 1999 (with the exception of the special editions) were fitted with 5-spoke 15" wheels. All VVCs made following the introduction of the Mk2 MY2000 model had the 16" wheels fitted as standard. :o)
Rob Bell

Related to Kevin's point, my original insurer wanted to know why I'd changed the front tyres to 195 from 185, however this wasn't an issue for my current one. Something worth mentioning though.
Leigh Reid

This thread was discussed between 24/08/2004 and 04/09/2004

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