MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG 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 MGA - suitable tyres

The last job to sort on my '57 A is the lack of grip when braking with the front tyres. They are near new 165-80 -15 Continental Radials. In the wet with quick firm braking the fronts lock way too easily.
Otherwise the brakes are 100% . Is there a more suitable tyre for the front with more grip available ? I'm sure someone from sunny Manchester or Ireland has an answer ?..Thanks Sean
S Sherry

Sean, you are not running with too much pressure in your front tyres are you? I run my Firestone 165-80-15s at 25 front and 27 rear and get plenty of grip. If you have a servo unit fitted, that will make the brakes lock too easily, I removed mine for that reason, also old rubber is inclined to lose its grip, 10 years is about the limit.
Lindsay Sampford

Lindsay, it so happens that my A also runs on Firestone tyres. But I have never inflated them to the figures you quoted. Since the workshop manual/handbook state 17 front & 20 rear I tend to keep as close to these figures as possible. Lately, I have been inflating them to 20 psi all round. Is it safe to inflate them much more than this? One thing I did notice though, steering is a little heavy for my liking. Your comments please.

Frank
F Camilleri

Flippin heck if I used those pressure Frank not only would I not be able to steer my car but I would scrub the front tyres of the rims when cornering hard!

I am the same as Lindsay
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Frank, I think you have to add a little bit for radial tyres. The pressures given in the handbook are for cross-plys, which were a much stiffer tyre. I have seen postings on here where people were inflating their radials to 30+! Personally, I think that's a bit hard, but it all depends on how you drive the car and how you want it to feel, but 17 and 20 is a bit too low for a radial.
Lindsay Sampford

Bob & Lindsay, thanks for your sensible advice. I always thought that pressures on my tyres were a bit low. Even my new whitewalls don't look right when the car is standing. I must tell you though that we have some very bad roads in Malta, although I try to avoid them as much as I can That's the reason I kept the pressures low. Well, at the moment the car is immobilised because I am about to R&R the gearbox, but will increase the tyre pressure to your figures Linsay.

Frank
F Camilleri

Thanks Lindsay, I'm going to drop the pressures to 27 F and 25 R and try it. My reasoning for higher F than R is that I understand the turn in when cornering will be better. I have a front sway bar fitted. That was a big improvement with Radials fitted. ..... Sean
S Sherry

For Frank. gratuitous advice ! ! I have recently had my A G/box out twice , once as a unit with the engine , a mistake. Then engine out first, easier, but still a pain. If you have not O/H an A box before
ask me about all the mistakes not to make !
Ask me how I know. ..... Sean
S Sherry

Frank

I suspect you misread the manual. Are you sure you did not miss out the decimal point and were reading Bar instead of lbs? 1.7 bar would be about 25psi and 2.0 bar would be 29psi.

Steve
Steve Gyles

It's lbs Steve.
Lindsay Sampford

On the question of tyres mine are at least 10 years old with excellent tread but obviously need replacing. Following early threads I was interested in getting a set of Firestone f560 165R15s but sources for these seem to have dried up. Previous suppliers are quoting no stock - does anybody know of a current source in the UK?

Kevin...
K Garner

I recently fitted Vredenstein Classic Tyres to my A they seem to wear well and look good
Paul
P D Camp

There's some here Kevin http://www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brands/firestone/f560 try searching just Firestone 560 and see what that delivers. I think they manufacture them in batches, so they come and go. And here http://www.citytyre.co.uk/tyre-278-165_R15_86T_FIRESTONE_F560__*.htm
Lindsay Sampford

Sean,

From what you say, pulling the gearbox out twice, you must know all the ins & outs on how to fiddle with a g/box. I shall be grateful if you would tell me all the mistakes you made, and about the things to do and those not to do. If it's more convenient, an email with all the info will be very welcome. Stripping a gearbox has never been my favourite past time, but I did take an MGA's gearbox apart not so long ago. My email address: fcamill@hotmail.com

Frank
F Camilleri

Steve, the manual gives the tyre pressures as 17 psi front & 20psi rear, for normal driving. I reckon what Lindsay is saying, that these figures were for crossply tyres is correct. I will increase the pressures to 25 front & 27 rear. Thanks for your input.

Frank
F Camilleri

Firestone F560 is on the "discontinued" list and a last batch may be produced before they are finally dropped from our line-up. I have kept them in for a number of years but we can not really justify keeping them longer for the increasingly small number of tyres that we must produced.
Get them while you can as then they will be gone. I put new ones on this year so I should be okay until 2020 unless I up my mileage.

Sorry.

Pressure - 25 front, 23 rear works best for me.

Tyre age - 10 years is a reasonable age for a tyre to be replaced. It depends on storage as well as usage conditions. If you store in a cool, dry and above all dark area (most garages?) then they may last longer. If kept outside in one place for some period they may need replacing sooner. If in doubt ask a tyre dealer. If you see cracking on the sidewall or tread grooves then do it soon? www.tyresafety.eu

Neil - Bridgestone (owners of Firestone Brand)
Neil Purves

Neil

I got mine late last year, so I am ok for a few years.

Are there plans for your company to bring out a replacement, bearing in mind what you say about a lessening demand? Or do you already have a suitable alternative in production?

Steve
Steve Gyles

A quick search under 165/80 R15 shows up a variety of manufacturers, including the F560s

For summer :
Nankang CX668
Maxxis MA 701
Toyo 330
Continental CT 22

For year round use
Federal SS-657

For Steve Gyles
Vredestein SNOW+

And all for less than 70 Euros each
dominic clancy

Thanks for the links Lindsay and the heads up for the F560's being discontinued Neil. Seems like I need to make a purchase soon.

Kevin
K Garner

Sadly, there are few original profile, and no performance tire options available.

If you want snappy handling, you'd need to add an inch or more to the rim width.
Bill Spohn

This thread was discussed between 25/11/2010 and 29/11/2010

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.