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MG MGF Technical - Worrying In The Wet

Strange one this. When braking in the wet my F seems to wander, not really a pull to one side but more of a "wiggle". This only happens in the WET, in the dry its as straight as an arrow. Does anyone else experience this, or is it just mine? I often find myself "powersliding " on corners too at relatively slow speeds.Is there somthing wrong with my car set up or is it just the under rated NCT tyres i have? the pressures are spot on. Davey.
Davey

almost certainly just the tyres....
David

>>the pressures are spot on.<<
I assume this is measured cold with an accurate pressure gauge - i.e. not at a filliing station, or a guage on a footpump.
You could try experimenting with the pressure - i ran my NCTs about 2lbs under the recommended pressure. This worked in my case, but try 2lbs under and 2 lbs over to see what happens.
(I've now got rid of the NCTs)

how old is the car (and tyres) ?

Steve
Steve

Tyres - without a doubt.

The NCT's / MGF combination is quite the worst handling car I've driven in the wet. Especially coming to an F from hot hatches. If you want real excitement brake or accelerate hard mid bend in the wet; roundabout for example. There's been quite a few off's through that. In the early days RAC were alledged to recover more spins thans breakdowns.

With a FWD the car will tend to understeer. The F / TF will snap oversteer - much harder to control especially in the wet. MGR have put on narrower front tyres to balance the car toward understeer but get the back going big time and you're in trouble. Interesting cos in the dry powerslides are easy to control, wet another matter.

Going into a wet slippy corner on a trailing throttle allowing the engine to brake the rear wheels only can also provoke a breakaway. Brake before bend, hold steady throttle and accelerate progressively from the apex that way higher exit speed (in the right direction!).

Most people rave about Bridgestone SO2/SO3's I think. Never tried them but GY F1'1's on 16" wheels are much better in the wet on the F and TF. The 2002 GY F1's are reported to be even better.
Ian Walker

Davey,

Tyres first and foremost... but as you complain about the grip only under breaking, could it also be that your tracking is badly out at the rear?

Or...

Even with good tyres, the rear end can be slightly twitching when breaking *hard*.
To this end, you can fit rear tie-bar compliance washers (very cheap. See archives for details).

But I agree with all above comments. I loath NCT3s on a vigerously driven 'F.

P.
Paul Nothard

if you guys are getting rid of the NCTs I would love them. Absolute ideal for autotesting as they let go allowing the back end to do what I want. Let me know if you have some spares.
david stonehouse


<laughs>

David, your comments say so so much!! :-)

Alas, my Peugeot took the 185s, and I wore the 205s out in 10k. Ooops!

Paul.

ps. NCT3s on the front of the Pug are perfectly respectable. (As are NCT5s found on all new Minis!) I just think they're so not suited for hard driven 'Fs.
Paul Nothard

Hi David

How did you get a good enough handbrake to do autotests?
I used to do them years ago in a Mini and was thinking about having another go, although I'm probably not as good as I remember!

Alastair

Alastair McLeod

Thanks for the input guys. Steve>>>> the cars a '98 and the tyres were replaced all round a year gone easter. Pressures always checked cold, usually running 2 over all round. Might try 2 under to see if it helps. All>>>> Been thinking about the compliance washers anyway, so i might also try those.As it happens i need a new tyre soon so it may be worth considering a new set.Anyone confirm how good the Bridgestones are? Iam going to need a good wet/dry combination tyre, i might look quite good powersliding all over the place on the NCT's but id rather have peace of mind and leave that stuff to colin Mcrae and the like! Cheers! Davey.
Davey

>>Anyone confirm how good the Bridgestones are<<
I'm using Bridgestone RE720s all round (standard tyre sizes on 15inch rims)
Excellent, they really suit the car.

Steve
Steve

Davey

I will add my vote for almost certainly the tyres. However, you might also consider how many miles you have on the shock absorbers and suspension bushes.

Chris
Chris Reeves

>>Anyone confirm how good the Bridgestones are<<
I have used SO2pp and was amazed at the grip, but disappointed with the short life, am now using RE720 and find the grip almost as good with a much improved life.
Jason H
Jason H

>>Anyone confirm how good the Bridgestones are<<

I'm on my last set of S-02s - they are now irreplacable. Simply the best tyre I've ever tried. Dry and wet weather performance are both superb. Very difficult to lock up the front wheels with these tyres (although I managed this a few times at the tyre chicane at the Silverstone sprint last weekend, LOL!). When breakaway comes, the tyres give you plenty of 'feel through the seat of your pants' warning, and oversteer is readily correctable.

I'll be very sorry to see them go. Have GY F1's on 16" rims to replace them.

BBS tyre survey (now a little out of date): http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/tyres.htm
Rob Bell

Davey,

I've Michelin Pilot's on the rear wheels of my 97 VVC and they seem pretty good even in the wet. I agree with some of the earlier comments though about the pressures being either 2 above or below !! Hope you get it sorted !!
T Lynch

Davey,lost my VVC many times due to rapid rear end breakaways ( probably my poor car control) but have experienced Paul N's VVC with rear complience washers and I think some tech speed kit? Its very nice!
Mike Satur is fitting the poly bushes and lowering my car should get it back soonish ( Please Mike! )if you want to have a compare we can arrange to meet somewhere local.Chris now drives a freelander so what does he know about handling? Sorry Chris.
Terry

<blush> Thanks. I hope you really meant me! :o)

All I have changed with the suspension is lowering knuckles, compliance washers and well setup tracking.
Techspeed did it and it was very well setup.

Only other work done is brakes and, recently, some head work.

Remember that I'm still on 15" wheels and they will always give more warning before letting go. 16" wheels will have more absolute grip, but grip isn't much use if you're not quick enough to grab the rear end when it lets go quickly! I don't think I have the speed to catch 16"s...

I think the key to the feel of a car is the tracking without a shadow of a doubt.
I have experimented with different settings and, for me, I love parallel all round. There is less initial turn-in, but the back end does not snap round either.

Had S02s all round and I share Rob's views.
Now have S03s and they are not as good. :-(
Was not liking them for a while... and then I went to Castle Coombe. My faith has been restored!!
They're still not as good as S02s, but they are still a damn fine tyre!
Paul Nothard

Terry

> Chris now drives a freelander so what does he know
> about handling?

LOL. Tempted to say only what you taught us all on the various MGF Scotland trips, except that others lead in that hall of shame :-)! (Anyway, the Tonka toy is a great car for plugging through today's weather!)

Seriously, spinning my former MGF on the M90 with tyres in condition but overdue for replacement shock absorbers was a lesson I felt lucky to escape with only my pride in tatters.

When do you get the MGF back from MS? Part of my plan for returning to the MGF community is to send some money in the direction of MS.

Chris
Chris Reeves

Bridgestone SO2 won the Autocar test UK for performance tyres in 1999

being best in wet and second in the dry competitions. (was only a couple of points behind leader in dry which was a pirelli, but a WHOLE lotta points ahead of the nearest competitor in the wet - hence overall first place)

I think they won again in 00 and possibly 01 but i cant remember seeing the reports.

SO3s were probably out by 01 anyway - not seen any reports for those but, are based on SO2 so should be ok...

~PHIL

Im sooo SAD for knowing that <sob>
Phil

This thread was discussed between 22/07/2002 and 02/08/2002

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