Tyre Recommendation Needed

[RonMGTC@aol.com]

Gentlemen (and ladies): I need a recommendation for tyres for the TC. It comes down to either Dunlop or Firestone? I have Dunlop's on there now and I am not displeased but just exploring different options. The Firestones are $86 while the Dunlop's are about twice that amount. I drive the car rather than "show" it. Thanks Ron

[John T. Seim]

The Dunlop tread pattern is a rain tyre. The pattern now used on the Firestone tires, I assume, is a dry road tyre. When I switched from Dunlop to Firestones (old tread pattern), handling GREATLY improved. Dunlops would try to follow grooves in roadway. Car would jump, as tires followed grooves, and came upon expansion joint in the roadway. Also, Firestones last about twice as long as Dunlops. There is that possibility of tread separation and roll-over with Firestone, but that is another matter. John Seim Irvine, CA TC 6590

[brian bax]

My experience of these tyres has been exactly the opposite of John's! I originally fitted a set of Firestones to my TC. They wore quickly and on one long journey a bulge appeared in the sidewall of one of the front tyres. This was after only 4,000 miles and less than two years. I then changed the full set to Dunlops. The feel of the steering was much better and the rate of wear minimal after 4,500 miles. I'd stay with the Dunlops. Regards, Brian Bax TC3550.> -----Original Message-----

> From: RonMGTC@aol.com > Sent: Sun Jul 22 19:13:26 BST 2001 > To: MG-TABC@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [mg-tabc] Tyre Recommendation Needed > > Gentlemen (and ladies): > > I need a recommendation for tyres for the TC. > It comes down to either Dunlop or Firestone? I have Dunlop's on there now and > I am not displeased but just exploring different options. > The Firestones are $86 while the Dunlop's are about twice that amount. I > drive the car rather than "show" it. > > Thanks > > Ron > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > >

[KEN PORTER]

Ron: I have been using Dunlops, $136 from British Wire Wheel, for the past four years with excellent results. Ken TC 4147 RonMGTC@aol.com wrote:

> Gentlemen (and ladies): > > I need a recommendation for tyres for the TC. > It comes down to either Dunlop or Firestone? I have Dunlop's on there now and > I am not displeased but just exploring different options. > The Firestones are $86 while the Dunlop's are about twice that amount. I > drive the car rather than "show" it. > > Thanks > > Ron > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Chip Old]

On Sun, 22 Jul 2001, John T. Seim wrote:

> The Dunlop tread pattern is a rain tyre. The pattern now used on the > Firestone tires, I assume, is a dry road tyre. When I switched from > Dunlop to Firestones (old tread pattern), handling GREATLY improved. > Dunlops would try to follow grooves in roadway. Car would jump, as > tires followed grooves, and came upon expansion joint in the roadway. > Also, Firestones last about twice as long as Dunlops.

Back when TC6710 was still my daily driver (yes, that was WAY back) my experience was the opposite. When I bought it, it had badly worn Dunlop 4.50 X 19 tires, the standard size for the car. I replaced them shortly thereafter with Firestone 5.00 X 19. Or were they 4.75 X 19? I don't remember any more. Anyway, Firestone didn't make a 4.50 X 19 then. Do they now?. The car's handling with the Firestones was decidedly squirrely compared to handling with the Dunlops. At the time I attributed this to (1) the Firestones' harder rubber compound (less "sticky" and (2) the fact that the 5" cross section was really too wide for the TC's 2.5 inch wide wheel rims. After the Firestones wore out (about 30,000 miles if I remember correctly) I went back to Dunlops. Handling was better, but the best I could get out of the rear tires was about 20,000 miles. The fronts lasted a bit longer. In all fairness, that was back in the 1960s and early 1970s. It's entirely possible that the rubber compoinds being used for both brands are now different.

> There is that possibility of tread separation and roll-over with > Firestone, but that is another matter.

That problem is with a specific line of Firestone tires used on a specific group of modern vehicles. It has no relevance here. -- Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 XPAG7430 NEMGTR #2271 Cub Hill, Maryland 1962 Triumph TR4 CT3154LO CT3479E fold@bcpl.net

[Gates Family]

I cannot offer a comparative comment as I replaced Dunlops with Firestones soon after I bought my TC last year. Suffice to say I am delighted with Firestone (4 ply rating, 4.50x19, 69P) which offer good directional capability too. Granted, I fitted a Datsun 120Y steering box and reversed the wedges to increase the castor - well worth the minimal effrot to my mind. BTW, the Dunlops, retreaded, were embossed "Vervaardig in die Unie van Suid Afrika"/"Made in the Union of South Africa". As SA became a republic in 1961 - and much has happened since then - I guessed the Dunlops were too old to be trusted! Joe Gates TC 8675

[RonMGTC@aol.com]

Just Great..... as of 15:15 CST USA: Firestone 3 votes Dunlop 3 votes I'm still waiting for the results from Florida to come in..... Is there a Supreme Court of MG owners by the way? Thanks Ron

[mrbadger]

RonMGTC@aol.com wrote:

> "Firestone 3 votes > Dunlop 3 votes > I'm still waiting for the results from Florida to come in........"

The single vote from Florida is still being recounted. This may take a while. Badger

[Roger Furneaux]

>RonMGTC@aol.com wrote: > >> "Firestone 3 votes >> Dunlop 3 votes >> I'm still waiting for the results from Florida to come in........" > >The single vote from Florida is still being recounted. >This may take a while. >Badger

Actually, I thought we are still waiting for THE vote to be recounted (something about the local newspapers and the freedom of information laws...) Of course, if you colonials had kept up the good old English system (use a pencil to mark in a box, and count them all by EYE) the course of history would be very different. TCRoger

[mrbadger]

Roger Furneaux wrote: "....... Of course, if you colonials had kept up the good old English system................................. the course of history would be very different." TCRoger Yeah right. We'd be playing playing cricket instead of baseball, singing "Hail Britania", and driving on the wrong side of the road. I - don't - think - so. A Yankee Badger