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MG MGF Technical - Any know where to find GS D2s?

Hello all MGF'ers,

First of all here's a personal thought: I've just changed job and the move is a good career one. I thought that may be I'd change car to celebrate, but then realised I preferred the looks of my ancient F to all realistic alternatives and so long as I can keep it running, I will!

I need two new rear tyres in the next few months. I'm running GS D2s all round on standard 15 inch wheels at standard sizes and am very happy with the handling. I've read the recent posts on tyre availability and started ringing around. The main comment I get is (a) GS D2s are no longer made; (b) all stock is used up; and (c) getting the an equivalent tyre in 15 inch rims is impossible (incl GS D3, SO-3 etc etc).

So, does anyone know who would still have stock of GS D2s in 205/50 R15?

If no one comes up trumps, I'll post again with questions about replacing these with another tyre and all the difficult questions about having different tyres on the front axle and newer tyres on the rear.

Thanks

Chaz
C Golvala

Hi Chaz,

Have you tried Micheldever Tyres at Mucheldever Station near Winchester? 01962 774 437.

I haven't bought any from them for a year or two but they've got a large stock so you might get lucky.

If you do go there, top tip is to go early as it gets busy.

Simon
Simon Martin

Well, the bad news is that Micheldever Tyres came up blank yesterday. So did mytres; SE tyres and Watling Tyres. Waiting to hear from Black Circles and Kwik-Fit (desperation).

I've also got a call into Goodyear's technical help line to ask about the GS-D2 and GS-D3 issues as well as seeing if they know who has old stock.

The only other options I could think of were to see if the mg specialists had stock left, so I'll call B&G, Mike Satur and MGF Centre.

Any other bright ideas?

Chaz
C Golvala

Chaz I have a pair of original 15" rims with some part worn GS D2s 195/50 R15 82V (fronts) - but I don't support these are a great deal of help?
Steve Ratledge

The news gets worse. Kwik Fit has no GS D2s anywhere in the country; Black Circles hasn't got back to me so that's probable no. Goodyear technical guys went on and on about the Rover technical bulletin that says don't use anything other than NCT3 or Continental Premium Contact on 15 inch rims. He went as far as to say that my car must be in the small minority (5-10% would you believe) that feel OK when shod with GS D2s!!

A bit more calling round to do on Monday otherwise it's back to the drawing board.

Thanks for the offer Steve, but I need rears not fronts.

Chaz
C Golvala

www.etyres.co.uk

They claim to have them. And if you do get them then this will be the first time I have given help rather than just asked for it!!!

They are 83.90 each, fitted.
Paddy

>> He went as far as to say that my car must be in the small minority (5-10% would you believe) that feel OK when shod with GS D2s!! <<

Well folks - what's it like to be part of the small minority? ;o) Bet he'd have kittens if he knew I was using GS0D3s all round with no problem whatsoever for years now :o)
Rob Bell

Irun gsd3 all round on my trophy 160 no problems good tyres
sr foster 81

Rob im the same. The GSD3s have been great, and have even inproved the breaking performance over my previous Conti's.

I love them
Paddy

Thew news is getting worse, my friends. Etyres don't have them, though they were most helpful and talked to Goodyear themselves. Brown & Gammons don't have them. MGF Centre and Mike Satur are on holiday. I think that I have to conclude no more GS D2s or at least not in 205/50/15.

Re Goodyear's comments to me and Rob's response, you'll be tickled to know that the man I spoke to referred to the MGF as the most tricky chassis ever made to fit tyres to!

Having recovered from my laughter at that, I have to recognise that the GS D2 is long gone and as far as I know the GS D3 is not made in R15 size.

Back to the drawing board.

Chaz
Chaz

<<If no one comes up trumps, I'll post again with questions about replacing these with another tyre and all the difficult questions about having different tyres on the front axle and newer tyres on the rear.>>

Chaz, as no trumps, my twopennyworth for you: have run a set of Toyo Proxes T1-S on the rears and Michelin Pilot Exaltos on the front (both standard 15" sizes) for over 12k miles with no adverse handling issues (the Toyos replaced worn rear Pilot Exaltos and if anything, grip in the wet is superb).

The Toyos are due for replacement shortly - going for the newer T1-Rs this time - the Michelin's have plenty of life left in them but will be replaced by Toyos when necessary.


Paul Bevan

I encountered the same problem in January this year. I fitted Toyo T1-Rs to the rear with GS D2s on the front and run at 28 psi all round some may prefer 30 psi. It's not perfect but it works OK. The important thing it's not dangerous, on the road at least.
Ken Waring

Thanks Paul and Ken. That was really my first question and probably cheapest option with least bad results. The Toyos get great reports on here and have a similar tread pattern to the GS D2s (does that matter?) and so would seem to be a good replacement for the rears.

Anyone else have experience of T1-s or T1-R on the rear and GS D2 on the front?

Did you guys have to notify your insurers about the Toyos? I took the view that since Goodyear were an authorised make (even if F1's were not listed for the 15 inch wheels) I wouldn't bother the insurance people.

Thanks

Chaz
C Golvala

The tyre rubber composition and sidewall construction are probably more important factors in feel and handling Chaz, but the similarity in tread pattern is interesting when it comes to comparing wet weather performance. Goodyear F1s are considered to be amongst the very best in this regard.
Rob Bell

Chaz, there's no need to inform insurers in my experience.
Paul Bevan

Thanks all.

Particularly with the wet weather coming (well, not that soon, but there are thunder clouds over London) the performance of the rears is important. I can feel a slight lessening of traction now that the rears only have 1.5 mm more than the minimum and I certianly felt an improvement when the fronts were changed to GS D2s to match the rears - sort of making the care connected front to rear (what in horsey terms would be "collected", front and rear legs working together properly).

All of that and the Goodyear's grip in the wet is what led me to look hard (and continue looking) for GS D2s. I wonder if the Toyos and GS D2 mix will be as good as GS D2s all round and if not, whether the difference is great enough to worry about or change all four tyres to resolve.

Clearly GS D3s on the rear and GS D2s on the front have caused some problems, though whether this is over and above the effect of having new, un-broken-in tyre on the rear (which would be less grippy for a while) or a reault of the different sidewall construction is none too clear. I think that the problem is academic in any event because I don't think that GS D3s were ever produced in 15 inch and I can't seem to find them new in any case.

One possibility, with dark-side overtones, is to get 16 inch wheels, new or recon'd, shod with preferred tyre all round. Probable cost £600-£800 makes this a Christmas list request. Anyone got a view on whether putting 16 inch wheels on a 1995 1.8i with Techspeed' Bilsteins and poly bushes is a silly idea?

Thanks as always for the informed comments.

Chaz
C Golvala

>> Anyone got a view on whether putting 16 inch wheels on a 1995 1.8i with Techspeed' Bilsteins and poly bushes is a silly idea? <<

Sounds just like my car - everything except the polybushes that is. And I think that with the appropriate bush, PU is possibly a very good option on a car which probably needs its rubber refreshing anyway.
Rob Bell

>> Anyone got a view on whether putting 16 inch wheels on a 1995 1.8i with Techspeed' Bilsteins and poly bushes is a silly idea? <<

Mines a VVC but that's the set up I have but also with solid subframe mounts and the VHS stiffening kit.

Works a treat but it is a hard ride [On the Dambusters run in Wales those cattle grids done strange things with my nether regions :-)] Ouch !!

Stu
Stu Dickens

Back on topic

I have GSD2's all around on 16" rims and love them, very progressive but like all tyres on an F you need to be sensible in the wet.

I tried Bridgestone RE720's on my 15" rims when I struggled to get GSD2's and hated them so don't go down this route

Stu
Stu Dickens

This thread was discussed between 20/07/2006 and 28/07/2006

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