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MG MG Y Type - Tyres Radial and/or Crossply

Hello,

Just come back from the MOT test station where I was reading Mechanics magazine and section on tyres.

Can't say this is topic I spend much time on, but made me think what the majority of owners of Y Types use. I know it is easier for likes of I an owner of YB to use Radials but do those with a choice opt for originality "Crossply" or have they sacrificed for modern?

Good topic perhaps for someone to research i.e tyre patterns, sizes benefits and advantages of each.

Regards

Richard
R E Knight

Ok Richard, that sounds good.
Away you go and we look forward to your findings.
I'm sure the Y Community would appreciate your research. Good luck.
Keith D Herkes

I have cross ply (or Bias ply as they are called in the US) on all 3 of my MG Ys, and also on my ZA and 1100. The MGB runs on radials.

Personally I like the bias ply tires - they give a much more authentic period feel to driving the car and despite the fact that we do have torential rain here I personally have not experienced the alledged waywardness of bias ply tires. Sure you have to be very alert when driving the cars with bias ply on, but I feel that people over exagerate how this feels. But that is just my personal view and totally not a professional opinion.

What about everyone else?

Paul
Paul Barrow

I have cross ply fitted too, on which the tread is getting down, so it's a question I have been mulling over as well.

The car can be very twitchy on some road surfaces, something that everyone was used to and took for granted before the advent of radials, but these days we are spoilt driving our moderns, and the handling characteristics with c/p are perhaps more pronounced to us.

A while back there was a comment made [I think it was Tony Slattery, but don't shoot me if I'm wrong Tony!] regarding the legality and safety of fitting radials onto the narrow rims - would your insurance be negated for a start? Has anybody any experience of this? Of course, different laws apply in various countries. I'm in Australia [Tasmania].

If anyone wants to do a bit of reading on tyres, or several other car-related subjects, have a look at http://www.carbibles.com/ and take your pick.

John Turner
J B Turner

Richard,
If you will contact me I will send you some information that I collected on this subject when I owned a Y type

Michael
Michael Nicholson

I have always used 560 x 15 cross plys on my YB and it always handles well [for its age] although being safety conscious I seldom go above 45 mph. I did years ago consider radials but as they are too wide to get in the spare wheel compartment without it being deflated (what's the point of that) and having to put in a tube as the wheels are not designed for tubeless tyres I left well enough alone. Also 560 x 15 are VW beetle tyres and are more common. You can new 560 x 15 now off ebay for £87 each inc delivery which is not cheap but they are made of modern compounds and are a lot safer and less puncture prone. My view is unless you use the car at higher speeds stick with the cross plys - they are also quieter than radials.
D MULLEN

Richard,
When I put my YB back on the road in 1998, I fitted 560 x 15 Camac tyres at a cost of £38 each(excluding tubes ,fitting etc) I ran these for nearly six years during which the car was used quite extensively on long(by English standards) trips to Europe and replaced them in 2004 with another set of Camacs as they were quite worn. This time the price was £50 each. Since then the annual mileage has dropped as I have used the other MGs a lot more and the treads are still very good. However, I shall probably change them later this year, now that Camacs are once again available, not because they are badly worn, but because they are getting "hard" and "flat" very easily if standing for a few weeks without use. Its only really these two factors which make crossply tyres a little "skittish" on bends and in the wet. I run mine at 24lbs front and 26lbs rear(28lbs loaded) My personal view is that cross-ply tyres are right for the car and the sort of motoring we should be doing. Radials change not only the handling but the sleek look of the Y type. Thank goodness that Camacs are back on the scene. Hope this helps.
Keith D Herkes

It may seem a strange question, but if you want your car to handle like a modern one, why not buy a modern one?

You can get a good one for less than most decent classics, and they are generally easier (and cheaper) to maintain and the parts are readily available. They are also safer with anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability program, seat belts, air bags, etc, etc. For me, the reason to own a classic is to experience the joys of motoring in a bygone age - warts and all.

My Mini Cooper Clubman has all the safety gadgets that you can think of and a 1.6l diesel engine that will leave most classics, even those with much larger engines, standing at the lights, if I feel so inclined. Its handling is faultless and it is near impossible to get it into trouble when cornering because the electronics take over and correct driver errors. The biggest risk is driving into something else, although even that is covered by the electronics now in some cars. Even if you do hit something, there is the rigid passenger cell with side impact beams in the doors, seat belts with pre-tensioners to keep you in your seat, and airbags on every side to cushion you in an impact. Not much skill is needed to drive it; some new cars can even parallel park themselves.

For its time, the Y Type probably handled better than most of its contemporaries, although, by modern standards, it is 'interesting', particularly on a wet road. It is relatively easy to get into trouble if you do not think ahead and plan your moves with care. the wheels lock easily under heavy braking, even in the dry and even with its modest power it is easy to wag the tail under acceleration in the wet. I avoid following modern cars into a bend too closely because of the tendency of modern car drivers to lose confidence half way round and apply the brakes. The modern car will forgive this, but the classic will not. The old adage 'in slow, out fast' was not just a saying. It kept you alive. Protection for the occupants of a Y Type in a crash is minimal, typical of most cars produced in the 40s and 50s

I am certain that I drive my YB much more carefully than I do the Mini. This is because I have a much greater fear of the consequences of getting it wrong in the YB than the Mini, and, probably, the knowledge that it will be extremely difficult to get new panels to replace any bent ones! The mini is expendable and could be replaced like for like without problem.

So the question cross ply or radial? As far as I am concerned, cross plies should be used without exception on cars made for them. In my view, it is like using cross headed screws to hold the wood trim in place - just not done. Keep the originals and drive with the skill and concentration that the car demands.

Mike
M Long

Mike - that was funny :-) ... but true! MAybe that was what made it funnier!!

Paul
Paul Barrow

If I where richer I might be tempted to buy the 550x16 Michelins that look period and are radial.

But I'd probably stick with the crossplies on the YA, because I like the quaint handling. As with Mike I too drive a much better handling 'modern' but in that car I sometimes forget were and how I drove for the last miles. In the Y you remember every inch.

I read somewhere that the safest car is a Citroën 2CV (or MG Y?) with a driver-facing sharpened stainless steel pin fitted on the steeringwheel. You'd keep you distance from other cars and watch twice before crossing a road in that!

As said in an earlier thread I first bought Dunlops of which I didn't like the 'modernish' lettering, so I bought two Avons when the 'NOS' Engleberts really became to old. The Avons look wonderful but have much less grip than the Dunlops.

Willem vd Veer

For those of us who live in California where some of the highway pavement is grooved (for wet weather traction) along the direction of travel I found with bias ply tires that sometimes the car would suddenly swerve to one side or the other due to this highway surface. Never happened on any other highway surface. For me radials are by far safer for my driving conditions.

FWIW

Larry
Lawrence Hallanger

It looks like five to one in favour of cross-plys so far. Has anybody got any "before and after" photographs of a side view of their car when cross-plys have been changed for radials? It would be interesting to compare the change in how the cars "sits" on the road with the lower profile radials.
Keith D Herkes

Well Keith 5 to 2 now as I will be fitting radials to my YA when I have finished my restoration. I have modified the rear boot floor section to allow me to position the spare wheel in the spare wheel well below the floor through the boot rather than the spare wheel door.

Purists may hold their hands in the air but I will also be fitting a 5 speed gearbox, an anti roll bar, an alternator, seat belts, twin leading shoes and a remote servo.

Personally I want to enjoy driving the car in modern traffic without having to constantly worry about whether we will make it home safe and sound.

I fitted similar upgrades to my MGTD during its restoration and have had hours of pleasure on the open road, I hope the YA will compare favourably when its finished.

If I really what the pleasure of driving a modern car I get my AUDI TT 3.2 quattro roadster out the garage but thats a different animal completely!!
C A Pick

Hi Chris,
As they say, "each to their own"- it's your car, so you are entitled to do what you wish.
I wonder if you have it insured at the moment, even though it is under restoration, but it will be interesting to know if the premium changes as a "modified" car. Has anyone out there had any problems when advising insurance companies of "modifications" to their classic car?
Keith D Herkes

hi I have cross ply's on my YA and allso on my other car an Austin not as fast as the MG but I find they both drive very well on crossply's,so think they look better then radial tyre's
p west

Chris

Venturing a little off topic here so I will keep it brief, if you are going to TLS braking you may also need to change the back plates of both front and rear to YB/TD style ... and then probably the drums too and front stub axles and replace the rear axle with a TD one too as the bolt pattern I think might be different too. If you do that you will also need new wheels and therefore new tires too at 15x5.50 too. Maybe there is someone out there who can confirm my worries or dispell them?

Certainly any way, do not get too far down that road without checking into it.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Paul,

I have already carried out the modifications, the answer is to modify the original YA backplates to accept the brake cylinders and brake shoes from the YB/TD, You can then use the original drums I won't go into a long winded description but the job is reasonably easy for anyone with an engineer background and welding skills.

Once the car is on the road and road tested I will send you photos and step by step instructions for your web site.
C A Pick

Getting to the end of the long restoration and I have installed radials as well as a five spreed transmition and electronic ignition.
I plan to drive the car and may end up driving from home near Toronto to Vancover so want the advantage of the superior grip in rain and driveably of the radials.
Frank
F.G. Russell

Hey Frank, if you are coming all the way over to Vancouver, hop on the ferry across to Port Angeles and drive down to me - I am only about 120 miles from PA and you are welcome to come and stay over.
Paul Barrow

Thanks Paul but it will be a few years. Trying to keep a small business going in this economy so I can retire in about 4 years. May actualy move to Victoria at that time.
F.G. Russell

I must agree with Lawrence, in that the roads in Utah where we have the "Greatest Snow on Earth" radials are the best choice. As much as I appreciate originality - and have gone to great lengths to maintain it on Hyacinth - safety comes first.
F Inman

Thanks to those who replied.

Think I may go for cross plys next time. Suppose personal choice at end of day.

Richard
R E Knight

16" Radials on wider than standard rims for driving - I have a spare set of standard rims for Concours with Bias plys for originality points.

The cost of Bias ply for a lower level of safety just does not seem right - radials for me any day (or wet rainy night at 110km/h).
A L SLATTERY

H'mmm, I got done in Australia last year [fine in the post back to the UK!]for doing 108kph (abt 68mph) as the legal limit on the Hwy (near Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne) is 100 kph....can you go at 110 kph in Queensland....not sure I would fancy it in a Y type even in the dry!
D MULLEN

There are many motorways & highways in Australia with a posted speed limit of 110km/h.

The YT has no trouble doing those speeds, even towing the Y-Trailer, and on radials is very sure footed even in the rain.

My last trip from Brisbane to Melbourne the car averaged 90km/h (including fuel stops), so a well setup Y makes are quite reasonable highway cruiser for it's age.

You just have to do it !.
A L SLATTERY

This thread was discussed between 21/02/2012 and 26/02/2012

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