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MG MGF Technical - Replacement tyres - suggestions

My 2001 F has suffered from excessive wear on the inner edge of the front offside tyre. I have had the 4 wheel alignment adjusted by B&G and now need to replace not only the worn front but having read the archives I think it's best to go for new tyres all round. At present the car is fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1s with the tyre size of 215/40ZR/16. Great tyres but I'm a little reluctant to replace with the same as I believe the directional tyres limit your options for equalising tyre wear by swapping around. My question is what is the primary difference between a 215/40ZR tyre and say a 205/xxyy tyre? What if any handling differences am I likely to notice in normal day to day driving? Any recommedations for replacement non directional tyres? Many thanks for any suggestions, Robert.
Robert

Almost all the 'decent' tyres one can think of these days are directional Robert - to the extent that I can't really think of any non-directional tyres that I'd recommend...

IMO it is worth some minor inconvenience to go for a directional tread pattern. If you don't want to go for Goodyear again, then Toyo offer a well-costed alternative (the T-1R or T-1S) or you could go the Bridgestone route with the RE720.

Regarding the use of 205/45 R16s - these work extremely well - just ask Dave - and ought to give you better steering feel than 215/40 R16s.

HTH
Rob Bell

Just to add to what Rob has said and to pick you up on swapping tyres round to even wear. I fitted 205s all round a couple of years ago with the intension of changing them over. However, when I finally got round to it the car handled poorly. I changed them back and the car was as good as ever. I put this down to the rear tyres being worn "flat" whereas the front ones were worn "round" at the edges due to the steering. I just resigned myself to buying two sets of rear tyres for every set of front ones.

Currently I'm running 215s on the rear and 205s on the front.
David Clelland

Robert,
I dont know where you are in Essex but give Leigh tyres a call on 01702 474711 ( Leigh on Sea near Southend) they are currently running a great deal on Toyo Proxes (T1 R's and T1 s') they may sort you out nicely.

There may be others near you, phone around see what you can get.

Adrian
Adrian Clifford

I can second DCs experience on swapping tyres. I have run 205/45/R16s all round for several years (Bridgestone SO2s). As they only last me about 10K miles I've had a few sets over the years :-) One time I had worn fronts and decided to put the part worn rears on the front and the new tyres on the rear. The result was as DC described - very strange handling. I noticed something on the motorway first, but that motorway was taking me to Castle Combe circuit where I quickly discovered that anything over 90 made it difficult to keep the car in a straight line. In the paddock I put the new tyres on the front and the older tyres back on to the rear. Back out on track and everything was back to normal. I couldn't believe the difference was just down to tyres.
Dave Livingstone

I have been doing some phoning around and looks like Toyos will be going on in the not too distant future. Regarding the actual tyre size, what is the consensus of opinion, do I stick with the 215 size or would a change to 205 be better for day to day motoring. Also, would there be any implications insurance wise if I do change size? Many thanks Robert
Robert Matthews 1

In Theory, the Certificate of Conformity for your car with 16in wheels specifies only 215/40 ZR16 Front and Rear. Any other sizes are not permitted, the car would not be road legal,it would fail the MOT and you would not be insured.
In practice, for most EEC Countries you cannot change them but in UK everybody ignores this, fit what ever suites them whether it be for better road holding or sex appeal.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Good point well made there Geoff - I would say that 195/45R16 at the front are also used as standard fitment from the Trophy160 onward.

Robert, the 215 profile rubber is a bit too wide for the front IMO. A narrower profile will give you better steering and less tramlining. Therefore I'd go for 195 or 205 at the front, and 205 or 215 at the rear. Your options are obviously limited by what is available in your tyre of choice...
Rob Bell

Geoff,

The MOT does NOT check for the size of a tyre. They do check to ensure that they are the correct load rating and that they are matched across an axel. (http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_410.htm)

With regard to the road legality of a car this would be covered by the road traffic act. I am not aware that it states that the tyres must be as per the Certificate of Conformity. However, I stand to be corrected.
Steve Ratledge

The "Theory" is that you cannot change (Modify) anything different to the C of C for your car which is peculiar to your VIN number. This states the information that is in the Type Approval for the Make, Type, Variant and Version. viz. There are different Type Approvals and permitted Tyres for the different MGF Versions. Whilst the C of C for my car states Axle 1 185/55R15, Axle 2 205/50R15, there is an additional remark permitting Axle 1 & 2 215/40R16 as there were a factory fitted option.
The MOTUK website gives the UK Practice rather than the Theory.
Geoff F
G. Farthing

Out of intrest Geoff where does one get the Certificate of Conformity?
Steve Ratledge

Hmm, so technically the law prevents me from running Trophy spec tyres on Trophy alloys, with Trophy spec suspension, on an otherwise identical car. Well, they're going to have to twist my short and curlies before I'll 'conform', I answer only to a higher authority, that which is called 'self-preservation instinct', and that has on a number of occasions had something to say about the finer points of the rubber between me and the road.
My life of crime is set to continue, it seems ;-)
Mike Hankin

I bought my car nearly new and the only certificates I can find in the owners handbook are for the alarm and the transmitter!
Blue Pocket Rocket

Sorry Robert, we have gone "Off Thread" here.

The C of C is the "Document" that goes from the Manufacturer to the DVLA (or any other EEC Authority) to show that your car Conforms to the Type Approval. therefore you will not normally see it. Registration transfers within EEC accept the existing Certification however to Register an Imported car, then it is required together with a Statement on Modifications fitted.
I bought my car in Switzerland to UK Spec and had to State that it had been converted back from LHD lights and KPH Speedo. CH not being in EEC made it an Imported car.
A Duplicate is/was available from MGR Customer Service at cost of £85
The C of C includes wheel and tyre sizes. Does the Trophy wheel not have the same wheel (rim) size but increased brake clearance ??
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

In the UK we are extremely fortunate that making modifications to a car's specification is very easy - the only penalty really being increased insurance premiums. In other EC countries, such as France, if you tried to change anything significant, you'd find yourself falling foul of the authorities in spectacular fashion.

Actually in Germany, things are rather more relaxed, although all aftermarket modifications do need to pass the TUV inspection and be approved. Rather sensible actually - as at least then you know that what you are buying passes a minimum level of safety and is presumably fit for the purpose...
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 03/06/2005 and 08/06/2005

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