MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - Different size front and back tyres.

Why do MGFs have different size front and back tyres? Is it OK to have the same size all round?
Nev

it's for handling, the wider tyres at the rear give more grip and lessen the chance of spinning the car.

I'd ask your insurance co if they minded first.

any particular reason why you want the same size all round?
Will Munns

Hello Will,

Just got a really good set of 4 wheels with tyres off eBay. They are all 205x50x15, so I would like to put them on as a set, unless there is a good reason not to?
Nev

one of the mgf releases had the same size all round, but i don't remember if they made any suspension changes for this.

Will Munns

Nev, for every day use I run 205's all round which are Toyo T1 R. For a serious workout I use 195/55 x 15 front and 205/50 x 15 rear which give the best feel and responce, plus times at the race track they are Bridgestone RE 55's.
Andrew W Regens

If you can get away with fitting same size all round, I would. There is the limiting factor of some handling diferences as already pointed out. BTW I have wider at rear than at front, and directional; pain in the proverbila when it comes to tyre rotation as the only way to do it is between fronts as a pair and rear, and involves breaking the tyres from the rim to allow them to be put on the opposing corner.
A M Cox

When Changing your tyre sizes you should follow a simple rule of stepping up! For the front your options are quiet simple. Your standard size is 185/55 15 if you step up to a 195 width you should step down in profile so you should fit 195/50 15. This will keep the rolling radius closer to the original spec and keep ride quality. If you change your wheels to 16" you should use the same principle.

185/55 15 change to 195/45 16
205/50 15 change to 205/40 16

These sizes will improve handling and stay closer to the rolling radius.

205/40 16 front and rear would be fine but the stearing will be heavy and make the cars handling feeling sluggy. This is why you have a narrow tyre on the front of the mgf. Its so the car feels light and turns easy when parking.

The profile of the tyre your fitting is very important. It is a percentage of the width. Take a 195/50 15 the 50 profile is 50% of the 195 from the top of the tyre to the bead which you can't whens its fitted.

I would say that the best compromise for tyres all round would be 195/50 15 these are a populr tyre size and will be quite cheep.
Stan


205s all round work but tend to tramline quite a lot.

Invest more in a quality tyre and a proper tracking setup (I used parallel all round after much trial and error). That will be more beneficial (and cheaper!) than simply bunging wider rubber at the front.

There's also the fact that wider wheels at the front are heavier. Thus your unsprung weight is more and the car may not feel as responsive. i.e. It'll hold on better but change direction more slowly.

Having said that, if you're going down the road to Tescos you'll probably not notice the difference. :-)

P.
Paul Nothard

This thread was discussed between 19/04/2008 and 24/04/2008

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now