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 - Optimum Rim size / Tyres ?


Hi all

I have a 97 VVC with standard 15" rims

I am considering changing my tyres for the F1's.

Whats the pro's and cons for going for bigger rims, 16" or 17" ?

Road holding, fuel economy, speed etc ?????

Any comments would be appreciated

Cheers

STU
Stu

Stu

Lower profiles ie 40% on 16inch give a harder rider, due to less cushioning, but imo give you more grip (more rubber less tyre role), but I've never driven a VVC with 15in rims, so couldn't speak from experience. The wider tyres on the 16 and 17in rims to give the car a lower stance, although it isn't actually any lower.

Thats my 2p worth anyway

Cheers

DJ

V679 SVV
DJ

If you need more info, check out the "tyre bible". contains pretty good info

www.fernblatt.com/longhurst/tyre_bible.html
F Aalbers

Also Tyres Online...

>> http://www.tyres-online.co.uk/ <<

SF
Scarlet Fever

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your input,

I am just trying to get a general consensus if upgrading to 16" rims is going to be worth it.

I.E what has found to give the best handling/grip etc

Has anyone uprated from 15 to 16 rims, did you notice the difference ?

Cheers all

STU
STU

Hi Stu,

interesting question - and to be honest, one that I find very difficult to answer and be objective.

Overall, I would say that most of the difference you will notice from upgrading from 15 to 16" rims is in the tyres you'll fit: they'll be a different brand or type. If that means upgrading from NCT-3 to F1 Goodyear rubber, then the answer to your question is -"Wow, 16" wheels have really made a difference".

Trouble is that difference is the improvement that can be felt by upgrading your tyres.

I've found that Bridgestone S-02s on 15" rims perform better than Goodyear F1 GS-D2 (ie not the current F1 tyre) on 16" rims.

There is not much to choose between them regarding noise/ride quality either, thanks to the ability of hydragas to soak up these characteristics.

So if you are looking to justify the upgrade to 16" rims, do so on the basis of apparence (and let's be honest, that is a major motivating factor here) and perhaps on potential future plans of fitting larger brakes.

In summary, I'd suggest that given appropriate tyre choice there is very little to choose between 15 and 16" rims. Pushing at 11/10 on the race track, you'll probably find that the increased grip of 16" wheels will help to go round corners more quickly (and the reduced side wall flex from the lower profile rubber will help here too) whilst the increased rolling resistance may hamper ultimate acceleration/top speed/fuel economy.
Rob Bell

Stu, have 17's dropped out of your consideration now?

IMO, they look superb on the 'F.

Chris

Just my 2p worth.

I found the standard 15" rims good, and had a good grip. The one thing i didn't like was the unknown factor. By this i mean you are going round a corner, and the car holds perfectly, then step over the mark just slightly and whoah!!! we've all been there.

I have since changed to 17's and they seem to have removed this unknown factor. I go round the corner and i can feel the car gradually begining to slide out, and i can gradually ease off the power a bit.

As far as which grip the best, hard to tell, but imho the 15's? not sure. However with the gradual slide out, rather than the all or nothing of the 15's, i'd much rather have the 17's. I can now drive the car with complete confidence, and can go into cormers a lot faster because of this.

The ride is however compromised a bit, and sometimes feels a bit like a skateboard, but hey its fun.

Paul
paul weatherill

I agree with rob,
I changed from 15-16s.
on the 16 i had 195f 205r goodyear NC3 (or whatever)
in the Wet/damp/dampish they were very scary on round abouts.
i changed to 16s with 215 F1 rubber all round.

I think it's mostly the tyres that make the difference

Although the car looks 10 times better.

oh and techspped lowering makes even more differnce
Kingsley

It would be interesting to put high(er) profile 14inch wheels and rubber on - just to see what happens to the handling; the original spare is a 14inch so they do fit over the brakes etc.
My feeling is that the standard car (mine's a '97 VVC with 185/55 15 and 205/50 15 wheels) is a little over-tyred - just for fashion (esp if you want controllable fun rather than the limits of adhesion).
I think some of the MR2s (MK II ?) had 14inch wheels.

It all depends what you want - it's all a compromise.

Steve
Steve

You could always put 185/55s on the rear Steve - they're the same sized rims as the front :o)

Actually, you are probably right regarding the size of the rear tyres - they probably are larger than the fronts in order to quell oversteer, and probably promote understeer. One of the most successful MGF sprinters always ran 195/50s all round. Had a nicely balanced car.

IIRC I remember reading on this BBS that the 1.8i was due to be released with narrower rear tyres, but a late decision was made to release both versions of the MGF with the VVC tyre combo of 185/55 front 205/50 rear.
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 30/07/2002 and 31/07/2002

MG MGF Technical index

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