Replacement tyres for a V8 Roadster
V8 Register Replacement Tyre Survey
The surveys we have been running on replacement tyres for the MGBGTV8 and RV8 have produced some useful information as a guide for fellow members. For most members replacing tyres is a very infrequent experience and is often regarded to some extent as a "distress purchase". But it is also an expensive exercise, so having the benefit of fellow members' experiences of selecting tyres and how they perform in the replacement tyre surveys is very useful.

Geoff King is a regular contributor to the V8 Register's V8NOTES series and V8BB with useful technical information and comments. Here he provides feedback on his replacement tyres. (16.5.07)

A review of Geoff King's wonderful V8 is in V8NOTE319
Report from Geoff King on replacement tyres for his V8 Roadster
Model V8 Roadster
Year 1972
Mileage 25,000 plus
Old tyres
Brand/type Goodyear NCT3 front
Goodyear NCT5 rear
Wear Moderate wear
Age 4 years
Reason Wanted better roadholding
New tyres
Brand/type Toyo Proxes T1-R
Size 205/55 x 15
Cost £58 each
Supplier www.mytyres.co.uk
Delticom AG

Recommendation
Yes, highly recommended, a superb tyre at a very reasonable price.

Handling
The Toyo Proxes T1-R tyres are vastly superior to the previous Goodyear NCT tyres, particularly in the wet. Where it was very easy to break traction on a damp road and cornering was taken with trepidation. Now the car can be driven with much more confidence.

Other comments
There is no noticeable increase in tyre noise or deterioration in comfort - and I was prepared to accept both to improve safety.

Comment
Geoff's report is interesting because improved roadholding with an MGBV8, particularly in the wet, is an important benefit. At this stage there is of course no feedback on wear, but for many V8 enthusiasts the annual mileage is modest so consequently the aggregate mileage after 7 or 8 years, when an enthusiast might want to replace tyres because of the age effect on the tyre rubber, will be relatively low. So V8 enthusiasts can accept higher wear rates where a tyre provides significant improvements in grip and handling.
Further comments from Geoff King
I made the tyre choice (Toyo Proxes T1-R) after reading very many long term reports from users. I'm not interested in long life - tyres that is - I want to make mine as long as reasonably possible, so grip was a priority but I only travel 5k or 6k miles in a year, often in the wet but seldom in the snow, so wet grip was more important than a good performance in icy conditions. Unfortunately, as I've said before, most tests or reports are a personal impression by one individual under a limited number of conditions so I have waited a few weeks before I made any comments. And of course what one may prefer another will not.

The reports indicated that the Toyo Proxes had one of the best wet and dry grip, but life was not so good and performance in snow was poor. Subaru Impretsa and MGF/TF owners seem to like Toyo Proxes and I definitely have not been disappointed, the previous Goodyear NCT3 and NCT5 tyres were reasonably good in dry conditions but I found them particularly 		poor in the wet - at first I thought the clutch was slipping when traction was broken exiting a roundabout. The NCT3 covered almost 25k miles and were still legal when I sold them, the NCT5 were part worn. So far I have used the Proxes on a variety of roads from motorway to single track in warm (but not hot) dry conditions and some truly monsoon like rain - chalk and cheese compared to the Goodyear's in the wet and better in the dry.

The Toyo Proxes have to be one of the best value for money for grip tyres available. The cost was £46 each delivered from mytyres.co.uk (although they have gone up slightly since I bought them), fitting, balance and valves were an extra £12 per tyre. And that is a 205/55x15 size.

I'll let you know how I get on with them after a few more miles - I'll probably do 3k miles during our summer holiday in France but I'll miss Silverstone again this year unfortunately. (16.5.07)
Comments from Mike Howlett on the V8BB
I've just read Geoff King's comments on Toyo Proxes T1-R tyres. While I haven't tried them on a V8, my car still being in many pieces, the MGF fraternity have recognised the excellence of this tyre for quite some time. My own MGF had Goodyear tyres and I had lots of alarming tail-out action on wet roundabouts, the rear engine giving it a good swinging momentum. Since fitting the Toyo tyres the car has been transformed and the grip levels are amazing, wet or dry. The MGF folk have found a slighter higher wear rate, but that's a small price to pay for peace of mind and driving fun. (17.5.07)

Additional comments
Geoff King commented that "although I haven’t covered very many miles with the Toyo Proxes, I have been surprised at the huge difference in grip compared to the Goodyear NCT3 and NCT5 tyres. With the Goodyears on my car has stepped sideways under acceleration on a damp road, but it doesn’t do that with the Toyos. If they only last half as long they will still be excellent value". (17.5.07)

He added "I have increased the wheel size to 6"x15 and the tyre size to 205/55x15, so it is a tight squeeze under the rear wheel arch now. The chap building a 		V8 conversion (it's actually a GT not a roadster), is Mike Howlett, he lives in Troon and I know him well. Mike bought my old wheels and tyres from me earlier this year for his car and it was following a visit he made to me more than five years ago that prompted him into building his own V8.

Mike Howlett posed the question on the V8BB "how have you managed to fit 205 tyres under the wheel arches at the rear? I'm struggling with the 195 section tyres".

Geoff King explained: "It’s a tight squeeze! I’ve rolled the lip and dialled in 1deg negative camber and with the Hoyle IRS there is some adjustment for track width so you can pull the wheels in slightly if necessary. There shouldn’t be any problems with the 195 but my Supersports shell had the rear wings set out as far as possible on the jig when it was made so you might need a slight adjustment with a jack to push the wing out. It’s not as brutal as it sounds, on a roadster the rear bulkhead braces the inner wings but on a GT it would be worth fitting a bulk of timber between the arches before applying the jack. (18.5.07)

Further comments will be posted as they come in