Replacement
tyres for MGV8s
Replacement tyres for a classic sportscar like the MGBGTV8 and
MG RV8 has been a topic often discussed by V8 enthusiasts. This
note provides links to comments from several V8 Bulletin Board
threads on the topic. (26.6.09)
The main issues have been comparative technical performance
and price of various replacement tyre choices. Ideally enthusiasts
want a tyre with good wet and dry grip and a comfortable ride,
all with acceptable wear rates and levels of road noise, plus
competitive prices. But how do you obtain the facts on comparative
technical performance and the suitability of various tyres as
replacements on an MGV8? The difficulty with choosing replacement
tyres is each V8 enthusiast fits a new set of tyres only occasionally
at intervals of around 8, possibly 10 years, and none of us
has the benefit of trying a variety of new tyres before we buy
a replacement set so we can make an informed comparative choice.
Where can we get information on replacement tyres? We
have the views of fellow members, some MGV8 specialists, our
tyre fitters and a few consumer magazine reviews as the source
of information for our replacement tyre choice.
Fellow members' views are available from an ongoing
replacement tyre survey the V8 Register has been running for
several years based on their reports. But members' feedback
on replacement tyres will inevitably be influenced by how their
new tyres perform with the condition of their car's suspension
system. The suspension may have been improved by fitting upgraded
components like the replacement Spax shock absorbers fitted
to some RV8s. Equally some components in the suspension system
- like the lever arm shock absorbers on an MGBGTV8 - could be
in need of renewal and thereby might be contributing to reduced
levels of handling and ride. The feedback will also be based
on the feel experienced by members on driving their car on new
rubber - the before and after fitting new tyres effect. That
comparison will almost always leave the enthusiast feeling the
new tyres feel so much better simply because the ageing effect
on the rubber of the old tyres would have reduced the flexibility
of the rubber to something similar to wood with consequent effects
on handling and ride before |
the change. It is almost impossible for any enthusiast
to think back 8 years and recall the feel of the old tyres
when first fitted to the car in order to make a comparative
judgement as to how the new tyres perform. V8
tyre survey report
Tyre reviews carried out by independent bodies like consumer
groups - the Which? magazine for example - are based on comparative
tyre tests and can provide useful tyre performance information.
But there is often an uncertainty over translating their test
results and recommendations to an MGV8 as they will have carried
out the tests on a popular saloon - for example a VW Golf
or Ford Focus - and usually on a slightly different tyre size.
This uncertainly exists even if a tyre was from the same manufacturer
and was the same brand or model of tyre you might consider
fitting to your MGV8 because the net effect in terms or road
holding and ride is from a combination of the tyre with the
car's suspension.
Finally
tyre technology constantly improves in terms of tyre
structures, rubber compounds and tread patterns producing
new tyres with enhanced grip, roadholding and ride.
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