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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - tyres (what to buy) again

I've got some spare cash (not a lot) so I'm changing the Toyo 350 tyres that I've never got along with

so what are the latest recommendations of tyres (after the change of models of tyres because of the tyre labelling)

I want please recommendations for (145/80/13 or 155/80/13) tyres suitable for road use only, throughout the year, that are fun for spirited driving but won't have me worrying about the wet

thanks
Nigel Atkins

From the list on camskill I'd go for the continental eco contact 3. Had them in 175 flavour and they're very good.
Rob Armstrong

what does it say in the handbook?
David Smith

I have Michelin energy 155/80/13 on my frog and have been very happy with them. 20/24psi front/back
SA Wood

Rob,
cheers, they were on my short list last time IIRC


David,
according to those that don't read the Driver's Handbook it refers to cross-ply, for tyre pressures too :)


SA,
cheers, again IIRC they were also on my short list last time, Energy E3B1

Nigel Atkins

I've just bought a set of Avon ZT5 (155/70/R13) but I'm pretty sure you could get an 80 profile. Only done 50 miles or so on them so far but they seem quite good in the dry and damp
Ian Beningfield

thanks for that Ian, Avon don't list them in 80 profile but I did have 155/70/13 before so I'll put these on the reserve list, thanks
Nigel Atkins

Hi Nigel

I bought 145/80 T 13 Uniroyal Rainexpert after advice from many earlier this year. I haven't done many miles on them but happy so fair

Regards

Tony
Tony Brough

thanks Tony, I've seen quite a lot mention them especially on Bs
Nigel Atkins

Also had E3B Michelin s in 155 80 size, they were good as well. Probably slightly better than the contis but look quite narrow. Have got rain experts on now, but not enough miles on them to get rid of new tyre stuff.
Rob Armstrong

I had Michelin E3A 155x80x13 an drive Vredestein snow trac 1 now, I drive them 2 years = 14000 km summer and winter:
The Michelins are better in a straight line (highway), the Vredestein do much much better in curves and in the wet (rallies). They start drifting at higher speed and are more predictable when over the edge. The Vredesteins need 2-3 psi more than the Michelins. Vredesteins wear more. The are cheaper.
Flip
Flip Brühl

thanks Flip I was also looking at Vredestein (Quatra 2)
as I remember Vredestein tyres from when I had my pushbike

well seeing how Rob drives I thought I'd go for the Conti Ecos but was told they'd not be back until April so went with the Michelin (Energy?) EB3(1?) in 145/80/13 (75T)

I'd order them before I saw Flip's comments but was restored a bit by Rob saying the E3B where slightly better than the Contis as the EB3 are expensive and that the E3B look narrow as I like that, I used to have the steel wheels with chrome hub caps on my previous Spridgets and liked the narrow look

decades ago I used to spectate at our local Santa Pod drag strip so I've been used to seeing very wide tyres on all sorts of street going cars plus I used to go to national custom car shows

I'll report back once I've had a chance to properly test them
Nigel Atkins

Good stuff Nigel, I would have got more Michelins but didn't like the narrow look. Nice tyre though, let us know how you get on... And watch out for slippery new tyre syndrome.
Rob Armstrong

you forgot also to check my nuts after!

I loathe running things in and usually try to find a single journey for the lower mileage stuff (or even 1,000 mile first oil change) but I've got nothing planned perhaps I should combine it with an mpg test run, two boring bits combined

a tyre fitter wanted me to get my car off the lift as he said the new tyres were so greasy he sooner I did it and as I gave a quick scrub run start up the commercial road on leaving I found he was right as I feared tank slapping the cars parked on either side of the road, that was the last time I tried that trick
Nigel Atkins

Alright Nigel.....Stop grabbing your bollucks for a moment....Do I sound like the wife...? Pretend I used her stern must be obeyed tone when I spoke...you know the one that makes your eyes bug out after she speaks!

Get some rope, remove the rims from the tires....fashion them in to a raft and send those TOYOS to me via the atlantic ocean!

Dont forget to put an address to me on the raft!

Ill pick them up at the beach house get them mounted and let you know what I think of them!

You sir are the best! LOL! :-)

Ill have to get out on my snow covered driveway and get my brakes working!
Steven Devine

too late the Toyos are spoken for

my wife and I are not in a marriage where either tells the other what they can or can't do, as it happens my wife bought me my midget as a birthday present knowing whatever condition it was in I'd be spending additional thousands on it later as I have with all my previous 'classics' (overpriced old cars)
Nigel Atkins

Bit late into this as you have bought your tyres already Nigel, but I saw a repeat of a recent Top Gear over the weekend, the one where James May tested the Caterham 7 160. A google reveals that this Caterham apparently runs on the Avons that Ian said he has (albeit 155/65/R14 size).

When I get tyres I will strongly consider them on the basis that the Midget is a car with fairly similar power, weight and purpose as the wee Caterham and (I hope) they would have at least done a fag packet calculation or something to decide on which tyres were best to run their car on.

They do however only come in a maximum of 155/70/R13 size.

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Malcolm,
I do know about those tyres and that Caterham model because it more or less uses the same engine as was in the Spridget of the '90s the Suzuki Cappuccino, I had a s/h one, excellent car and engine

I did look up the Avons based on Ian's suggestion but put them on the reserve list because of the size

it's good that finally relevance is once again given to the weight of the car in relation to the tyres

I get the new tyres fitted tomorrow (Tuesday 4/3/14)

along with 2 new tyres for my wife's car, I must admit last time I let the tread get just below 2.5mm on them and the new tyres (same make and model as always fitted on her car) felt so much better that I've gone back to changing at 3mm as I used to
Nigel Atkins

It had Zt5s on - the older caterhams had CR322s on (again Avon)

Had those as well - not quite as good as the Conits but better wearing. I seem to get through tyres rather fast...
Rob Armstrong

I spent daft amounts of time on the net reading reviews and eventually bought these Dunlop StreetResponse 165/70/R13 for my 5.5 inch Rostyles. All looks lovely but time will tell if they're good on the road (car will be finished by this time next year I hope)


Nick Nakorn

Rob,
Avon CR322 don't seem to be readily available now


Nick,
in my last list Dunlop Street Response were there but can't remember why they didn't make the final cut

as you say reading all the reviews just makes your head spin and lose relevance if not written about the tyres fitted to a Spridget used in the fashion I will use them, plus you have think what is the reviewer comparing them against if they don't say, I'd hope that any new tyre would be better overall than one that's down to it's legal limited before being changed

so those are 5.5 Rostyles which I couldn't see on Gary's Frog, where they originally that inner grey or same paint job as the standard 5"?

with my luck I could never risk fitting new tyres until the car was road ready as something would happen to them
Nigel Atkins

Nigel
:-(

Does that mean I dont have to fix my brakes....

Who got the Toyos?

You gave the them to Prop didnt you.....

Why? Why? Why?

I knew you liked him better than me!

Steven Devine

Hi Nigel,

I almost didn't go for the Dunlops because some reviewers said they were a tad noisy and they were outside my price range at most suppliers. But I found a very good deal from Mr.Tyre Ltd that was too good to miss at £149 for 4 while some suppliers were asking £250+ The colour scheme on my Rostyles was originally the standard silver and black but I've never liked that colour scheme.

When the wheels came back from being banded I painted them with Flag undercoat followed by a good coat of Flag smooth silver - both using a spraygun. I let that go off for few days and then rubbed the wheels down with a fine poly-pad before top coating in Halfords rattle-can wheel paint and laquer.
Nick Nakorn

Steven,
you have the cheek to mention your name with Prop's

really!!
Nigel Atkins

tyre noise isn't something Spridget drivers have to worry about ... or can hear much

I like grey inner on the wheels, note my wheels :)
Nigel Atkins

NEW TYRES FITTED TODAY - (Tuesday 4th March 2014)

(x4)
. Michelin (Energy) EB3(1)
. 145/80/13
. 75T
. 4913 (manufactured week 49 of 2013)

quite expensive but I should get a £30 fuel card back from Michelin which I didn't know about so that eases things

obviously far too early to report much but if they look slim I like it and they feel softer than the Toyos as I think most tyres would

I'll report back on them when I've had a chance to properly test them

until then ...
Nigel Atkins

Nigel, I'm hoping my Midget will be quiet...ish..
I think your Minilites look good in grey.
Nick Nakorn

yes I thought Anthracite, as they call the grey, suited the old man's red body paint more than the standard brighter wheels that I think suit lighter and brighter body paint

if I can hear my tyres over the noise of my rear axle, gearbox, tappets, induction and exhaust noises then I must be coasting ... slowly :)
Nigel Atkins

Nigel!
I also have the cheek to mention your name with Lawrences...... See!

Ha ha ha!


:-)
Steven Devine

Nick Nakorn said,
"When the wheels came back from being banded --- "

Hi Nick.
Where did you get the wheels banded? How much did you pay? And are you satisfied with the results?
Lawrence Slater

Yaaahooo!
Lawrence....you have been missed! Glad your back!:-)
Steven Devine

Hi Steven. You may be glad to see me back, but I'm afraid I'm not so glad. Rather be in the Phil's sunning it on a nice beach whilst drinking a cold San-Mig. Still mustn't grumble too much, sun's out here today. --Warmish.

So Nick. About the banding?
Lawrence Slater

Lawrence,
In my travels, the closest Ive been to the phillipines is American samoa the Island of Pago Pago, It was winter when I was sent out there.

I understand why you would rather be away! :-)

Ive just been missing your insiteful contributions and analysis to the discussions here at the bbs war room!

Ha ha ha!
Steven Devine

No more to say Steven. It's all been said, before.

Regurgitation is so passé.

I'm waiting for something new to be said. For now though, it's all just history repeating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTUIHK7gHRE

:).

Lawrence Slater

So Nick.
"When the wheels came back from being banded --- "

Hi Nick.
Where did you get the wheels banded? How much did you pay? And are you satisfied with the results?
Lawrence Slater

Time to report back on the tyres and put the thread to bed -

>>NEW TYRES FITTED TODAY - (Tuesday 4th March 2014)
(x4)
. Michelin (Energy) EB3(1)
. 145/80/13
. 75T
. 4913 (manufactured week 49 of 2013)<<



yes they are good tyres for use on Spridgets

now they've worn out their newness I find the grip level and braking very good in both dry and wet

they have a nice cushioned softer feel than other tyres I've had on the Midget which helps with the ride quality on the state of English roads

even for a 145 width they look slim which personally I like as it gives a more classic look

I'd certainly strongly consider them again

I've not bothered checking the wear as that varies with the driver I've found and I can't say if they are noisy (they don't seem it to me) as my car has no soundproofing only sound deadening pads and the thinnest, cheapest carpet set money can buy so other noises get through
Nigel Atkins

I've put Continental Eco Contact on the car. , £37 from Amazon , Autoteilestore delivered in 2 days, not NOS stock , brand new made a few weeks before.

Chris
C H Buckenham

This thread was discussed between 26/02/2014 and 14/09/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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