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MG MGF Technical - New tyres and mild juddering at speed

Had NCTs replaced with Toyo Proxes, which have covered about 500 miles. My partner commented that she felt the car was not as smooth as before, and I have to agree that a=on motorways there seems a slight juddery feel to the ride. Is this to do with wheel balancing? I get no steering wheel wobble to indicate as much. Help, what am I to do to keep my partner happy (besides marrying her!) and my MGF as smooth as her silk stockings?! Swoon....
Dimo

mate,

I think that I'm going throught the same thing with my F. Feels though you are driving in high winds almost?, bit wobbly.

I could be my rear tyres as they are looking a bit worn lately.

I have always used Eagles on mine..

Regards,
Mike Gibson
Mike Gibson

Could be the tyres! Maybe they have a stiffer side wall than old tyres, perhaps the pressures are too high, are they a differtent profile etc. - I noticed that the ride quality deteriated slightly when I changed from NCT3s to S02s.

Ted
Ted Newman

I agree - it could be a number of things.

1. Could be tyre pressures - this, depending on the tyre used can have a disproportionate effect on handling and ride 'feel.' Have you checked this since the tyres were fitted? Tyre fitters do not always get this right!

2. Could be a balance problem - return to the tyre fitter and get this rechecked (a weight - they're self adhesive these days - could have fallen off).

3. Has a tyre been 'flat-spotted' - caused by wheel locking under a severe braking manoevre.

4. Tracking. Incorrect tracking can cause a 'wheel imbalance' like judder through the steering/suspension. Check the patterns of tyre wear, or see if the inside of the tyres are warmer or cooler than the outer edges. A 4 wheel alignment check should be cheap (40 quid) and will give you peace of mind.

5. Could be a tyre manufacturing fault. A visual inspection of the inside and outside walls should exclude the possibility of blistering - but this does not exclude other faults. A 'diagnosis of exclusion' if you know what I mean (which is to say - exclude all of the above before jumping to this conclusion!)

Hope that's of some help! At the end of the day, this is probably down to simple changes of characteristics of the new tyres versus old, as Ted suggests.
Rob Bell

Hello Rob,

what is 'flat-spotted' exactally and how do you over come it?

Regards,
Mike G
Mike Gibson

Basically as the name suggests: when a wheel locks up, it has stopped rotating despite the continued forward motion of the car. Result, a part of the tyre that used to be approximately circular in circumference will have an area that has been shaved off - or flat spotted. Result: you have a tyre that has a profile of a 50 pence piece!!!

This is usually felt as an annoying vibration through the suspension or steering, and can be speed related.
Rob Bell

If you lock the wheels under braking, one patch of the tyre is scraped along the road, wearing it down a little. Once this has happened, you have less rubber on that side of the tyre than on the other, so that side becomes lighter. So the tyre is now unbalanced.

I suppose this'd be less likely with ABS?
David Bainbridge

>>I suppose this'd be less likely with ABS? <<

Absolutely, unless there was a fault with it.
Rob Bell

Guys,

If the ride height was wrong what would that feel like, on the handling?

Regards,
Mike Gibson
Mike Gibson

Generally gets harder with being lowered - but not a lot.

Ted
Ted Newman

Had similar problem with my tyres had them checke and the dealer told me they are not round.He said its quite common with low profile tyres. Bridgstone are subposed to be the best
M L Dippenaar

This thread was discussed between 21/11/2002 and 26/11/2002

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