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MG MGF Technical - Got my VVC today - next batch of questions!

Woah what a car! I can see what people mean when they say they get a big grin on their faces driving an MGF.

So down to business:

1) What air pressure should the rear tyres be at?

2) Can anybody recommend a good cheap brand of tyre to put on the F?

3) Anybody know where i can get hold of an owners manual for the MGF VVC??
Neil

Neil, tyre pressure depends on the tyre & size
I personally wouls go for a good tyre at the cheapest price, as you will rely on them a lot more in the future. Goodyear F1's for me (Trophy 160 SE)
As for the Owners Manual Unsure
Sorry to be less than helpful
Mike
Mike

I agree with Mike, you will need a good set of tyres on an F. I have Goodyear F1's all round and they stick to the road.

Take a look at www.mytyres.net they are much, much cheaper than you will find at kwik-fit, ATS etc, they get delivered in less than a week, and your local tyre fitter, or kwik-fit, will fit them for a small price.
S Green

Neil

standard pressures are 26 front 28 rear. with original tyres.
I have Yokohama 539's and have added a couple of psi to the recomended pressures.
I would add my recommendation to those above. You really want to go for good tyres ( at a good price )
The MGF can be a bit skittish with cheap slippy tyres.

What have you done to the weather ? weeks of sunshine then you get your new car..... rain !

glad you're enjoying it

Grahame
Grahame

Tyre pressures, these can be a matter of personal preference, however, 26 front and 28 rear seem to be decent starting point.

The MgF does not take too well to cheap tyres, however, Micheldever tyres in Hampshire will do a set of F1's for something around £220, which happily enough is about the same price as you would pay for a set of cheapies, if micheldever is too far away (A303 off the M3) they will ship them to you for 10 quid.

The owners manual can be bought from your local MGR dealer or try one of the secialist list in the banner at the head of these pages.

And welcome to the BBS. Leave room in your diary for 19th -22nd June for the big Silverstone MG Car Club Weekend.

Rob (AKA Tim!!)
Rob Bell


hi Neil

Take it easy in the wet until you get used to the car, its very easy to loose the back on roundabouts etc as many have found to their peril!!

ENJOY

stu
stu

2) Can anybody recommend a good cheap brand of tyre to put on the F?

There's only one Avon ZV1, how good is it... 20,000 miles of wear and still loads left!


Ian
Ian

If you really want to find out what your baby will do in the twisty bits remove the power steering fuse.

The steering gets a tad heavy at parking speeds but I could not believe the extent to which the car's EPAS masked its extraordinary levels of grip.


Ian Hartnell

Neil,

As above Don't get cheap tyres for the F....it ain't worth it! All you will end up doing is replacing that smile with a frown by worrying about slipping and sliding under breaking, cornering etc.....it's definately worth paying the extra £50 or so. I swopped from Goodyear NCT's (not a really cheap tyre but cheaper) to Yokohama A539's and the improvement was staggering! As for tyre pressures....it's a lot to do with personal choice and a little bit of trial and error (hopefully not too much of the latter). I have 16" rims and currently run 30psi all round. I have tried 26 front and 28 rear and had not complaints....but just fancied a change....I prefer the 30 all round to be honest but like I say it's all a matter of opinion, certainly something you will find a lot of on this BBS ;-)

Happy and safe motoring!
Rob

As tyres are the only thing holding your several thousand pounds of car on the road, it may be more a case of getting tyres that last a little longer rather than cheap ones. Unfortunately, many tyres that grip well wear quicker.

I've only ever used the Goodyear Eagle F1's which are nice and grippy and cost ?£75-ish each. Fronts last ?25K and rears ?13K.
David Bainbridge

Goodyear Eagle F1's have done me proud. Just changed the rears at an amazing 28300 miles and the fronts are still going strong. Is this a record by the way?

I also stick to the 26 psi front and 28 psi rear and my car handles perfectly.

Today tyre questions tomorrow it will be air filter queries. You will end up modifying your F, don't fight it! Good luck.

Jodi
Jodi

Jodi

How did you get 28300 miles out of the rears?

I was down to the legal limit across the whole of the tyre by 13k!

They were a fun 13k miles though.

Neil
Neil Stothert

Haven't got a Scooby Neil! Maybe I just drive on straight roads. I can't be driving the car anywhere near the limits around the bends. Doesn't feel like it though. I even drove it to the South of Italy last year and I didn't hang about on those roads.

Guess I've got very good wheel alignment. I'll see how long these ones last. I'll try harder this time though ;-)

Jodi
Jodi

<<<If you really want to find out what your baby will do in the twisty bits remove the power steering fuse.
The steering gets a tad heavy at parking speeds but I could not believe the extent to which the car's EPAS masked its extraordinary levels of grip.>>>

hey, that looks interesting!

tone
tony

Or you could try installing Will's clever EPAS bypass circuit to achieve the same result from the comfort of your driver's seat...

http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/epas_bypass.htm
Rob Bell

I am perhaps being a little thick BUT I do not see how the removal of the EPAS fuse is going to effect the grip of the *F* - the feed back perhaps but not the grip.

Ted
Ted Newman

I think that is what Ian means Ted - removing the EPAS fuse cannot make any impact upon grip of the tyres to the road surface. What it does do is markedly improve steering feedback.
Rob Bell

Makes you realise how hard the tyres are gripping.
Doesn't improve grip. Doesn't hide it though.
P.
Paul Nothard

>>>>>>>I do not see how the removal of the EPAS fuse is going to effect the grip of the *F*

Weeeeeeell....

I reckon that overzealous PAS in a car with the weight distribution of the F allows you to give it the excessive steering inputs that cause the rear tyres to let go. IMO, removing the EPAS means that you **have** to give gentler, more measured steering inputs.

Discuss?!
David Bainbridge

:o)

I know what you are saying David, but what you are describing is driver 'sensitivity' rather than anything regarding mechanical grip between rubber and road surface.
Rob Bell

The other thing to remember is that the EPAS is speed related and at the sort of speeds that a rear end breakaway is likely to occur you probably have no assistance from the EPAS. I think the EPAS ceases to assist at approx 15 mph.

There is a torque sensor in the steering column that will bring the EPAS into play if the steering is wrenched to one side or the other and yes this could upset the balance of the car BUT wrenching the wheel even without EPAS could do the same thing. I am not sure what level of 'torque' is required before the EPAS switches back in but from my 'experiments' it needs to be quite a strong pull/shove.

In fact thinking back om my driving experiences on the two occasions that I have 'lost it' completely - resulting in 180 degree spins - both vehicles were NON-PAS but rear wheel drive.

I did conduct a few amateur experiments a few years back - which prompted Dr Rob to produce one of his famous cartoons:-)

Ted
Ted Newman

<<The other thing to remember is that the EPAS is speed related and at the sort of speeds that a rear end breakaway is likely to occur you probably have no assistance from the EPAS. I think the EPAS ceases to assist at approx 15 mph.>>

Ted, this is the theory, but I guarantee you its not the case in practise. (well not in my car)

Due to speedo problems I now have no EPAS, and am having to fight with the car, compared to the almost completely effortless steering I had before.

Even at 70 mph there is an obvious difference, with the steering wheel feeling solid without EPAS.

I actually quite like the feel without the EPAS, but would worry about just pulling the fuse, due to the potential of damaging the EPAS due to incorrect use.

Is there a risk of damaging the EPAS, excessive strain on components etc?

Wouldn't want to get rid of the EPAS altogether though, it takes a lot of effort to drive without it, and is sometimes nice to cruise around relaxing with the effortless steering.

paul weatherill

My MGF has developed a slight 'list' on the off side. Has anyone else experienced this problem and is it expensive to rectify. Have not had the car long but certainly is good fun!

Cheers
Andy yates

This thread was discussed between 19/04/2003 and 28/04/2003

MG MGF Technical index

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