MG-Cars.info

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

Recommendations

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 - New tyre setup for the TF 160

I remember sometime ago reading on this BBS that someone had successfully fitted 225/40 tyres on the back 16" wheels of his MGF (theoretically, 225/40 16" tyres are exactly the same diameter as 205/50 15" tyres). Maybe this is also possible on the TF? The width of the Sport pack 2 16" wheels on the TF is 7,5" which is fine for 225/40 tyres.

So, what I reckon might be the neatest solution for a TF with 16" wheels is to put the back wheels at the front (215/40 instead of the OE 195/45 which look ridiculous on much too wide 7,5 inches wide rims - like some Max power guy who just had the money for big wheels but not for the matching tyres... ;-) ) and then to put 225/40 tyres on the "front" wheels and put them at the back.

The Good Year Eagle F1 GS-D2s are made in the 225/40-16 size - to match the 215/40s now at the front - and the front/rear grip balance would be more or less maintained.

If your car then happens to have the lower Sport pack 1 suspension, you just might find yourself the owner of the meanest looking TF around...

Any thoughts?

Per
Per

>the lower Sport pack 1 suspension, you just might find yourself the owner of the meanest looking
>TF around...

And the only TF which farts as it goes over speed humps
Will Munns

Per, just a quick note.

in the dry, big fat wide tyres are great, increased grip.

in the wet, increased tyre width = larger footprint = less pressure on road = less grip.

in the snow, it starts to get scary.



paul weatherill

Paul,

Good points, certainly to be remembered if considering such a change!

As for the farting, Will, not sure what you have in mind...?? If you think that the car will be lower and touch the ground on speed humps, this is not the case since the sidewalls would be a few mm higher and, consequently, ground clearance would be raised by the same number of milimeters. But maybe I misunderstood your point...

Per
Per

Nope, it's more the sidewalls rubbing on the wheelarches whenever the suspension compresses
Will Munns

I see. Yes, that is also a good point, although 225/40-16 tyres are - at least theoretically - of exactly the same diameter as 205/50-15 tyres, which are OE on lesser TFs...

I guess one would have to try it out to know for sure.

Per
Per

Per,
I don't know if it was one of my posts that you read, but I have those tyres fitted to my F : 225/40-ZR16 (rear) & 205/45-ZR16 (front).
As you said re. diameter, this combination is a perfect match together and with the O.E. 205/50-15.
I've had this for more than 1,5 year and I'm pleased with that. I first fitted G-Y F1's (GS-D2), but now I'm on my second set of 225 rear tyres, Dunlop SP9000's (since I wasn't amazed by the F1's compared to the great impression left in my memory by Bridgestone S02's). BTW, those Dunlop's aren't better, IMO... Maybe the F1 GS-D3's are the ultimate weapon ?
But don't be blinded by those rhetorical tyre brand comparisons above : this size combination provides HUGE amount of grip... I sometimes wish I had narrow 185's all round just to "play" and have some slide ;o)

The only thing I'm not so sure about is the difference between front and rear width. Because at the very limit, I can really feel understeer, and I would maybe prefer something more neutral, like it was when I had 215/40-16 all round... But I'd better stay on the safe side :)

regards,
Fabrice
Fabrice

This thread was discussed between 05/09/2002 and 06/09/2002

MG MGF Technical index

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