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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Tyre Choice Survey-my turn to ask!?............

I realise that this is not the first time that this topic has come up-but I'm looking to replace all four tyres before going on the V8 register Tour of Germany this September(9th to the 18th).
I've been faithful to Goodyear NCT2 185x70x14 on 6J GB alloys which I have found to be very good but tyres have probably moved on and I get the impression that the Touring NCT3 is more of a comfort tyre than a performance tyre.I don't do a high mileage every year so I want to trade life for performance.I dont want anything less than say 60 profile as this will screw up the speedo and cause more camber thrust with the 1 deg neg camber at the front end

Anyway I thought I'd ask everyone what they currently thought was working for them-and any bad tyres to avoid...


Regards John Bourke
John Bourke

If you're willing to replace the wheels, 195/60/15s are sure bodacious, especially on something feathery like Panasport rims.
Harry

John, the tyre I like for 14 inch is the BFG 195/205X60X14 H rated.
It has a tread wear of 180 and AAA on braking, temp etc. I don't know it is available in the UK. This tyre has the same characteristics as the R series BFG (Road Race Tyre) which is a 30/50 tread wear. (More resin) Great tyre, 15K miles of driving
The other is 185X70X14 Pirelli all weather I think it's 200/220 tyre wear.

R/Bill
Bill Guzman

one of the current favourites for road-going classes in speed events is the Bridgestone S-02 Pole Position which is terrific wet or dry. Bridgestone site does not give size ranges so don't know if it is available to fit the V8.
Also v popular for grip and value-for-money is the Yokohama A520, and the Goodyear Eagle F-1 seems to fill the premium price slot very well - same comment on sizes though.
HTH (a little bit)
David Smith

I had Dunlop SP Sport and had no complaints, then replaced the rears with the only ones I could get in a hurry (unrepairable puncture on a daily driver) which were USA Generals. Avoid these at all costs - they have very poor wet grip, and can't hold a line when powering through a bend in the dry.

PaulH.
Paul Hunt

Dunlop SP 8000's grips real good but they aren't
slicks.

Dunlop SP 9000's better choice for wet surfaces.

Kelley Charger cheap, slides like oil, wears like
iron, but we never got a flat.

DOT street legal slicks:
BFG G-force hard as a rock, heavy, and a pain in
the ass to mount or remove. long life

Hoosier A really good tire for the track, expensive.
James ?

Paul H.,

You're right about General Tires - The company I work for used to be a division of General Tire, and we were given substantial discounts on them. Trouble was, I never owned an appropriate car for the tires. By the time my Dad traded in his 21 year old Mercedes 280SE on a '93 Buick LeSabre, our deal for cheap Generals had expired.

Karen's Toyota Camry came with Generals as original equipment, and they were AWFUL. The only thing I can say about them is that they were quiet.

Cheers,
Paul K.
Paul Kile

I run the BFG R compound on my street gt. I also take it to the track twice a year to give it some excersise. Amazing what these tires can do. I would not recomend any of the r compound tires for a tour in that not only do they wear quickly (who cares) but if you should ever need to replace one on a trip, they are only sold at specialized dealers. Good luck finding such on a journey!
Pete Plouf

I have been running Yokohama A509 (now obsolete) 195-65 x 14 H-rated and have really liked them. They are fitted to 6" GB Alloys too.
Martyn

I must thank everyone for their input and I hope that it was beneficial for everyone.

All the hot advice that I have been getting from this side of the water has been indicating that Goodyear Eagle F1s are indeed very good with Bridgestone S-02 also in there as well. I have heard lots of good reports also about the AVON ZV1 in say 195x65x14 and also good things being said about the Michelin XV1.
Uniroyal R540 was also reckoned to be very good but with reports of quality problems-cracking in the tread belt.

Any way I'm afraid that I have let the purse strings dictate things a little-my local tyre place with is a subsidary depot of those good guys Micheldever tyres are clearing out their stocks of Goodyear NCT3s for the new NCT5s-this means that I can buy 185 x 70x14 NCT3 for £28.63 each-now I've ordered my set -so I thought I might mention it for all the guys who are running this size over here in the UK-at that price they deserve to be snappped up.(I paid over £44 each last year for the same tyres and I thought that was cheap...)


Regards John Bourke
John Bourke

I am considering replacing tyres on original wheels (175x14 - no aspect ratio given). I feel that the steering is too heavy, possibly because the aspect ratio seems awfully large.... (as mentioned, not specified on the tyre)

Ideally I'd like to replace the wheels for 15" alloys, but finding some suitably 70's wheels is difficult (i'm not keen on minilites, Wolfrace wheels from a Scimitar would be lovely), or perhaps some steel rims?

Failing that, would a 185x60x14 look too small?? Or 185x65x14?


Rgds, Guy



Guy

Just thought that I would post my tyre purchasing experiences this weekend....

I thought that it was too good to be true-NCT3s for £28 ea..... examination of the side wall before fitting showed that they were made in New Zealand-(no offence to the Kiwis but I didnt think that Goodyear had a factory there....)-to NZ spec and a number.Now maybe that NZ spec would be perfectly OK for the UK but having heard of my friends experiences with some South Afican Goodyear NCTS-like they never wore out and didn't grip that well either-I decided to steer well clear.
I decided to listen to some of the recommendations on this thread and go up to 195 x 65 x 14 which is approximately 5 % less in diameter. The tyre depot had this size in the Goodyear NCT3.(£53 ea!) I was worried that this might lead to wheel arch clearance problems as the section width is theorectically 10mm bigger. I have my own design of panhard rod which allows much tighter arch clearances than standard.
I measured the old tyre section width before the tyres were removed with a large tyre caliper and also when the new tyres were fitted and I can say that the section width is actually 2mm LESS than before when fitted to my 6J GB alloys. The actual tread width is now 6.5" instead of 6"

Maybe I hahve been running a rim width which is slightly too big for the NCT sidewall. Anyway I've yet to try them out properly as I am fettling the car for the V8 register Tour of Germany startin on the 8th.....


Regards JB
John Bourke

Are people running 195x65x14 on the standard original factory V8 alloys?

I have been told that they'll only take a 185 tyre..... perhaps I'm misinformed?


Rgds,

Guy
Guy

Guy,
The 195s will fit with no clearance problems, but the biggest issue is the clearance for the spare. The PO of my Factory V-8 put 195s on the stock rims, but had to force the floor closed over the spare to get the Dzus fasteners to catch. I now have a permanent circular crease on the underside of the floor!

Cheers,
Paul Kile
Paul Kile

JB- you did well to stay away from the NZ spec tires. Tire manufacturers use different compounds in the tires to comply with gov't regs, and to accomodate climate. Softer compund tires for cold and harder for heat or something like that. I may be backwards, tire school was years ago.
Sean Squires

Guy,

one of my friends has a factory V8 and he is running 195 tyres on factory rims. It does depend on your particular body work and you have to check beforehand.
A panhard rod also helps to maintain more precise sideways axle location and tighter wheel arch clearance. Wider tyres generate more sideways force which means more arch clearance needed with the std suspension.


JB
John Bourke

This thread was discussed between 09/08/2000 and 03/09/2000

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