MG3 to roll on Goodyear

The MG marque returned last year as a brand owned by China’s SAIC, and now the second new MG model has arrived in the UK. Following its launch at Auto Shanghai 2013 in April the new MG3 is now available here – and Goodyear has been chosen to provide original equipment tyres for all versions.

Goodyear will supply its EfficientGrip Performance in size 195/55R16 87V; as such, the tyre maker says the MG3 Supermini receives rubber that offers “low rolling resistance and excellent wet grip”, qualities that work well with the car’s stated attributes – the new MG3 is pitched as “an economical and environmentally friendly car for motorists looking for a fashionable and fun drive.”

Reporting its selection as OEM supplier, Goodyear says it was tested against a number of other leading brands before winning the deal. “Several rounds of testing took place and MG found the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance to align with their new Supermini thanks to its outstanding performance in rolling resistance,” writes the tyre maker.

Both Goodyear and MG are keen to emphasise the local input the companies bring to the MG3 Supermini. “It’s great that MG3s roll off the final assembly line here at MG Birmingham on Goodyear tyres,” comments Guy Jones, MG’s sales and marketing director. “Goodyear’s plant at Wolverhampton is close to our factory in Birmingham where the MG3 was designed and developed by our team of 300 designers and engineers.”

“It is wonderful to continue working closely with MG and for two manufacturers with a big presence in the Midlands to work closely together,” adds Michael Wynn, account executive OE consumer tyres at Goodyear. “We are pleased and proud to be shod on the new vehicle coming out of MG Birmingham at Longbridge. We produce the compound for the EfficientGrip Performance in Wolverhampton and this compound is then exported to other factories in Europe for the tyres to be fully built. We like to say that there’s a little bit of Wolverhampton in every Goodyear tyre.”