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MG MGF Technical - Latest view on specific tyre questions

Sorry to bore everyone about tyres again, but the archives give a mixture of views on these particular questions or simply fail to answer them.

GSD2s on the back and time for new tyres on the front to replace the Avons (not my choice). Currently running correct sizes front and back.

Assuming I can get new GSD2s I am wondering about getting them for the rear axle and switching the part-worn (but evenly) rear tyres to the front axle. I'd end up with 205/50 all round, but avoid the stickier tyres on the front dilema.

Any views?

If I can't find GSD2s and can't justify 4 new GSD3s, anyone have a suggestion for another tyre to mix with the GSD2s to avoid the problems heard here?

Regards and thanks

Chaz
Chaz

Chaz,

>>Assuming I can get new GSD2s I am wondering about getting them for the rear axle and switching the part-worn (but evenly) rear tyres to the front axle. I'd end up with 205/50 all round, but avoid the stickier tyres on the front dilema.

I run 205 (Bridgestone SO2) all round and have done this rear to front swap twice. The odd things is, that the second time I did this I got very weird handling - dangerous steering feel at speed - almost an inability to keep it in a striaght line (this fortunately was on Castle Combe race circuit and was some 300 miles on from fitting the new tyres). Inbetween sessions on the track I had the tyres changed back, so that the original rears were back on the rear and the new tyres were now on the front. Immediately the handling reverted to normal! I have no idea what causes this. I don't recall having any problems the first time I swapped rears to the front and put new on the rear.
Dave Livingstone

Uneven tyre wear affecting the contact patch, swap them back straightaway!
They were porobably pretty well shot at that point anyhow Dave
Neil

Whilst a must is same tyres on one "Axle", a preference is 4 same tyres alround.
I had a damaged GSD2 at 7000 miles and then ran GSD3 Rear and GSD2 front for 15000 before completing GSD3s alround. This is on 215/40 ZR16. The remaining GSD2 is now on an alloy spare.
You may find 4 Bridgestone, Toyos ot other BBS suggestions at little more than two Goodyears.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Using 205/50R15s all round is fine Chaz. Regarding mixing the 'D2s and 'D3s, well, there seems to be so much inconsistency in the reports that it is difficult to truely advise - but what I'd probably do is try them, and if the handling doesn't settle down, be prepared to swap the tyres front to rear as Dave suggests.

HTH
Rob Bell

Chaz
you should be able to get GSD2's I got 4 last saturday from Kwik fit no problem, they had to order them but they came in on the next delivery.

robert
R Allan

Can't comment on the Goodyear mix, but I had a similar experience to Dave Livingstone. I fitted 205 Toyos all round to my car with the idea of swapping them back to front to even out the wear. The first time that a swapped them over, the handling went to he11. I put this down to the rear wheels being worn "flat" whereas the front ones will have "rounded edges" due to them steering the car. Changed them back after a few hundred miles and handling was back to normal. Resigned myself to buying two sets of rears to every front set. When I got round to getting new rears (same make and size) the handling was scary for about 1000 miles.
David Clelland

I run GSD2 on the front and GSD3 on the rear with no problems apart from the first 500 miles which felt scary but once bedded in the GSD3 have felt fantastic and will shortly be replacing them with a new set of GSD3 due to getting near the wear limits. They have done approx 20000 miles so not bad.

Tom
Tom Randell

Thanks guys. Neil's comment about uneven contact patches and David C's experience, sound as though putting part worn front tyres on the rear axle is a bad idea. But Dave L's tale suggests otherwise. My rear tyres look to have worn pretty evenly (poly tie-bar bushes fitted and Techspeed suspension set up) though obviously you can't tell that much by eye.

So far though, no one has said that putting new tyres (GSD2s or GSD3s) on the front axle and leaving the GSD2s on the rear will cause any great problems. Is that right?

Finally, all of you seem happy to run 205 or even 215 on all four wheels. Can anyone explain any difference in steering, turn-in, tram-lining and general feel when compared to standard 185?

Thanks as always.

Chaz
Chaz

<<Finally, all of you seem happy to run 205 or even 215 on all four wheels. Can anyone explain any difference in steering, turn-in, tram-lining and general feel when compared to standard 185?>>

Chaz, I can't, but like you I'd like to hear from someone who can!
Paul Bevan

>> Finally, all of you seem happy to run 205 or even 215 on all four wheels. Can anyone explain any difference in steering, turn-in, tram-lining and general feel when compared to standard 185? <<

Having used 185, 195 and 205 wide tyres on 15" rims, my experience is that tram lining increases in proportion to tyre width, but the effect is neglible until you start getting seriously wide tyres (215s, as fitted to 16" wheels). Turn in actually improves with the wider tyre - perhaps in part thanks to the shorter side wall - and similarly, steering feel also improves - although feel is masked by a low geared steering rack and rather a lot of deformable rubber in the suspension system.

My impression was that 195 tyres gave the best trade off in all departments, but 205s were perfectly okay.

HTH
Rob Bell

Thanks Rob. Tyre decision has been delayed by possible clutch problem and fact that tyres are still OK, though some inner edge wear evident.

Regards

Chaz
C Golvala

This thread was discussed between 16/03/2005 and 18/03/2005

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