Tyre Size - Poss expensive week ahead!

[mk1fan]

Another simple q from me. What sizes are people running at the back?

One of the items on Str8six's list of 'faults' was a worn front tyre. No problem.

One of the other 'faults was one of the rear tyres rubbing, compounded by the damper set to full soft.

Now checking my sizes today I noticed that the fronts were 225/35 and the rears 235/40. Should the tyres not be the same size & profile alround?

My choice of tyre (I'm happy with it so no need for advice on model thanks) is currently 34% off so it's a good time to buy 3 (the other front is fine and 90% tread).

Cheers.

[slimtater]

That is the "stock" size on 18s for a T350. Trouble is getting a matching set in the original size, so a lot deviate - some go wider on the back and others up to 40 profile on the front to open up more options.

[shep1001]

235/40/18 on the rear & 225/35/18 on the front. The load index for the rears was 95 and the fronts I think was 92. I got Goodyear Eagles last year from Camskill. IIRC it was about £500 for the set + fitting & balancing

[mk1fan]

Thanks guys,

I think I'll bite the bullet and get 4 matching in 225/40 with load rating of 91 as I can get them at £330ish.

Coupled with the new rear wishbones I'll get a geo set up done.

[shep1001]

mk1fan said:

Thanks guys,

I think I'll bite the bullet and get 4 matching in 225/40 with load rating of 91 as I can get them at £330ish.

Coupled with the new rear wishbones I'll get a geo set up done.

£330 sounds cheap for 4 tyres, what brand are you going for? Two things in life (that can save your life) are worth paying for.... Tyres on high performance sports cars and condoms.

[mk1fan]

Proxes T1R.

[shep1001]

mk1fan said:

Proxes T1R.

Good price. I didn't think Toyo still did T1R's I had a set before the Goodyears- the sport version replaced them so they may be old stock, I would ask what the DOT codes are so you can see how old they are.

[mk1fan]

The T1S is around £360 for 4.

[RicSpeedSix]

mk1fan said:

Thanks guys,

I think I'll bite the bullet and get 4 matching in 225/40 with load rating of 91 as I can get them at £330ish.

Coupled with the new rear wishbones I'll get a geo set up done.

I've not heard of anyone running 225/40 on the back. Can't imagine you'd want to go narrower on the rear.

Personally I just stick with the stock tyre sizes. 225/35 for front are a bit harder to find but you can get Goodyears in that size no problem.

Others may have different experiences but TVRs seem very sensitive to tyre size and pressure changes. Either way I'm sure Jason @ STR8SIX can advise and set your suspension and geo accordingly.

[mk1fan]

My Owner's Book only has the 16-inch wheels noted in it, but they are the same size tyre front and rear.

[m4tti]

mk1fan said:

The T1S is around £360 for 4.

Whos that with?

[SergSC]

mk1fan said:

My Owner's Book only has the 16-inch wheels noted in it, but they are the same size tyre front and rear.

Seems v wrong to me to have same size all round, I wouldn't do anything to make it easier to swap ends... I'd get standard size at the rear and fix the problem causing the rubbing. I don't think its "compounded" by bad damper setup, I think its directly caused by it and only it, unless you car has a `special` body.

I recommend vredestein sessantas, standard for rear (I have 245/40 R, 225/40 F), especially if you complain of poor ride quality (seems like you do with damper set to min) or twitchy handling or tramlining. Super value for money.
IMHO.

[RicSpeedSix]

SergSC said:

Seems v wrong to me to have same size all round, I wouldn't do anything to make it easier to swap ends... I'd get standard size at the rear and fix the problem causing the rubbing. I don't think its "compounded" by bad damper setup, I think its directly caused by it and only it, unless you car has a `special` body.

Agree with that. I'm on Nitrons + Ebach springs with 225x35 F and 235x40 R. Never experienced any rubbing on road or track on rear outside wheel on paddock bend at Brands where you have a high speed corner with heavy compression. Even then that was only when I had a passenger as well.

[Pursyluv]

Last year fitted Toyo T1S 245/40/18, about £140 each fitted, no rubbing

[jonesy]

Falken 453's are one of the few that make them in the original size these days:

http://falken-europe.com/tyre/details/69

Seem to come in at about 140 a corner... I'm running them and the seem to be pretty grippy.

J.

[mk1fan]

Right, decision made.

I'm going for a set of four Uniroyal Rainsport 3 225/40/18 91Y.

I appreciate the comments re larger rear tyres don't see the necessity given Tamy is a 'basic' 3.6 and I'm not at the stage where I need more power nor do I drive [Tamy] that 'hard' that rear grip is an issue. If matching tyres were goos enough for the factory Sagaris then they're good enough for Tamy.

Given the other jobs that need doing - rear lower wishbones replaced and upper bushes replace; top ball joints and steering rack ball joints - this gives me the opportunity to get the car set to a good baseline.

Currently got a T1R and T1S on the rear and a T1S and Falken 454 (I think) on the front.

Tyres are £360 from mytyres.co.uk (terrible site btw).

They do have the Toyo T1S in the same size etc... for a few quid more but the wet weather rating swayed me to the Uniroyal's

There are T1R on eBay for around £330 for 4
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371076960620?_trksid=p20...

[jev]

That sounds to me like the worst of both worlds.

It is the wrong size (profile) for the front. Many do run this size successfully but you may get rubbing.

It is the wrong size (width) for the back. 235 was specified. I can't think why one would want to run a narrower tyre.

I don't believe that the Sagaris had "matching" tyres (but may be wrong on this). The 225/35, 235 /40 on the Tamora is tried and tested although does severely limit tyre choice on the front (which is why many use the higher profile).

Edited by jev on Wednesday 16th July 12:34

[ChrisPap]

Don't forget that the front and rear rims are different, so you can't rotate the wheels front to back anyway.
And the rears are wider, as on many high powered RWD sports cars, to give more grip under traction and prevent bad handling that wants to throw you at the hedge. Look at any Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren, whatever, and any RWD racing car right up to F1.

[monty quick]

I appreciate the comments re larger rear tyres don't see the necessity given Tamy is a 'basic' 3.6 and I'm not at the stage where I need more power nor do I drive [Tamy] that 'hard' that rear grip is an issue.

Based on this comment why not purchase Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tyres which are available in the correct sizes front and back, get a fantastic rating in all tyre comparison reports and are generally well respected on this forum as a good road tyre.

[Geoff Ashcroft]

Mine is a basic 3.6 Tamora too. I've fitted Toyo R1R this year in the following sizes: 225/40x18 up front, and 255/35x18 at the rear, for less than £500. Raised the ride height a couple of turns - no issues, and I can click the Nitrons up if I need firmer damping. The softer compound tyres have given a nicer ride than the T1's I took off, plus greater grip and they look right too, particularly the fronts as they're no longer stretched. And I certainly wouldn't want skinny rears, even with a bog-standard 3.6.....
Good luck with sorting your tyre dilemma