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MG MGF Technical - Tyre selection

1998 MGF. Appauling handling particularly within the first few cold miles, hops and skips all over the bumpy Dorset lanes but is less bad (rather than good) when the car is warm. All bearings and bushes in the running gear are in good, tight, condition. The suspension was re-pressured to 363mm 'ride height', front and rear tracking re-set with me looking over his shoulder and distance from wheel spindle to wheel spindle distance either side checked. Various tyre pressures tried but settled on the 26/28 in the hand book as it made little difference, this also keeps me legal. My local tyre man who did the re-alignment suggests that the less than half worn Kumho tyres could be to blame and that I should invest in a new set of Michelins (but then he would, wouldn't he?). I would welcome any advice from your collective experiences as to which tyres to short list and which to avoid. Adam
A. H. Price

I think your tyre man is dead right.
MGFs are very dodgy on comedy brand tyres.
Mine came to me with a mix of Good Year, Stunner and some un pronouncable Korean tyre.
All was restored to normal with a new set of Avon ZV3s.
They wear well, look good and bset of all the car handles superbly in wet or dry conditions.
http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/

The above link to Rob Bell's excellent site will give you loads of info on tyres if you click on the technical section you will see tyre choices.
I took part in the survey and really rate the Avon.

HTH

Tony H
Tony Harrison

Toyo R1s are the preferred choice at the moment.
Jon Baker

I agree that the *F* is very tyre dependant BUT to say 'comedy brands' will be dodgy is not exactly helpful - I have a pair of Malaysian Budget tyres on the front end and they have always behaved extremely well and I now have Toyos on the rear and the car is as good as it was when new with the tyres that were supplied as OEM BUT the best it has ever been was on the Bridgestone SO4 Pole Position tyres then the cars stuck to the road like the proverbial 'poo' to a blanket.

BTW I have a 1996 MPi
Ted Newman

Hi
I have just replaced my tyres on mine to Avon ZV3 and I agree with Tony They look good and handle well.

The Toyo I have found to be to soft, rear tyres 12K if your lucky.
M Carr

Soft compound = good grip BUT also = quick wear - the price you pay for sticking to the road.

BTW 12K is good compared to some things I was lucky to get 8K on my big beemer bike!
Ted Newman

Don't you mean S02s Ted ?
Remember Neil who worked for Bridgestone used to post on here a few years back, he was very hopefull of the SO3's but sadly they didn't match up to the SO2s they replaced. The OEM Goodyear NCT3s were a poor tyre. When the Mk2 came out in 2000 it was shod in Goodyear F1s sadly the GSD2 F1 was replaced by the GSD3 which MG issued a warning not to fit. You can still get GSD2 F1s but you must get the European made version not the far east one.
Jon Baker

You can still get SO2s, at least in 16" and they are still fantastic, though wear quite quickly - especially on track! I've run 205x45xR16 SO2s all round for the last six years.
Dave Livingstone

> The OEM Goodyear NCT3s were a poor tyre

Yep, but a damn sight better than some of the other tyres out there. I remember reading a post that stated NCT3's were at their best on the side of boats, and though it appropriate.
Leigh Reid

Hi All
We just replaced original worn fronts with Federal Super Steel 535, DOT Certified, 205 50 R15 86v
Price in NZD was $125 ea, amazing prformance and very quiet
Karen Appleby

THe NCT 3 was not a bad tyre but its now long gone.

I only use Goodyears on my cars.

If you look back in the archive you will find it was one of my posts many years ago that said the best thing to do with a Dunlop was to hang it over the side of a boat, AND NOT A Goodyear.
Joe one

Toyos have various models and if you are not interested in track days look at some of their other models other than T1 R's.
Andrew W Regens

Jon

Yep 2 not 4 - Senior Moment:-)
Ted Newman

Have now gone back to S-02s after a dalliance with Goodyear (both the F1 GS-D2 and the GS-D3). Goodyears were good tyres (not the NCT3 which were awful, particularly in the wet - so perhaps not ideal for the sides of boats - Dunlops probably better there ;o)) - but the Bridgestone is sooo much better. It's great to be back - even if you have to buy new 16" alloys to fit them!

I'm using the same combination as Dave - 205/45R16s all round. Steering feel much improved over the previous 215/40R16 Goodyear F1 (which may also be a function of the narrower tyre section?)

Toyo remain the budget performance tyre option for the F (particularly the T1R)

If the Bridgestone becomes unavailable even for the 16" wheel, then I may try the Michelin Pilot Cup tyres - but these are semi-track tyres that are not likely to be particularly cheap!!!
Rob Bell

Are the S02s still being made Rob ?

The F1s supposed had the manufacture date on them but I couldn't find it on my old ones.
Jon Baker

SO2's in 16" have certainly been easily available for some years. It was the 15" sizes that got dropped.
Dave Livingstone

Thanks to all who responded and especially to Tony H for pointing me at Rob Bell's website. It looks to me like a choice between Toyo or Avon, not Bridgestone as I will be staying with 15" wheels and not Michelin as I will not be going anywhere near a track! A coin might be flipped very soon. Thanks again, Adam
A. H. Price

>> Are the S02s still being made Rob ? <<

I am not 100% sure to be honest Jon - but as Dave says, they've been readily available over the last couple of years in the 205/45R16 size (perhaps because a manufacturer is still using them/ used them on their cars?) But I do know that Roy had to search around for the ones on my car: 3 from one source, 1 from another...?

Will see whether I can find a build date on the tyre.
Rob Bell

My SO2's are getting a bit ropey now (they must be 5 years old) - delighted to know I can get some more even if i have to think about changing to 16" wheels. However, if the ones available are old stock isnt there a risk that theyre begining to perish? Someone once told me that tyres start to crack etc after 5 or 6 years. Am I just being gullible?
marc h

I have just replaced my rear Toyo T1 R's and my tyre place told me they had lasted 31000km and still above the legal limit and the fronts are just over half worn. I have been very pleased with the grip and considering the amount of track work, motokhana's infact all types of driving surfaces as happens with car clubs they were great value for money. The replacements were cheaper than the originals bought over two years ago.
Andrew W Regens

Saw this thread.

Here's a link
http://www.ctyres.co.uk/tyres/

See the ratings!
Lynne Davidson

Shame the S-02 isn't rated - it'd be a 4.5/5 tyre for sure! :o)
Rob Bell

The Toyo T-1R Proxes went on today. FAN-BLUDDY-TASTIC. I am now in control of the car with plenty of feel and a lot less noise. Thanks guys. Adam
A. H. Price

Well done Adam

Thanks for your update.

TH
Tony Harrison

I wonder what has befallen the MGF that had this lot of treads on the car!

http://i4.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/ab/13/27ad_12.JPG
Leigh

Goodness! Looks like quite a selection of different tyres - including the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D2!
Rob Bell

Rob, I'd be amazed if it could be driven out of the car park in a straight line with that array of tyres on it.
Leigh Reid

This thread was discussed between 21/06/2007 and 03/08/2007

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