Tyres (and wheels) - that old chestnut

Tyres (and wheels) - that old chestnut

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Discussion

macca

Original Poster:

508 posts

278 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Just wondering what your thoughts might be...

Need to replace my tyres and was disappointed by the lack of choice. I really want Michelin Pilot Super Sports but they're not made to fit OEM wheels. So, thinking of changing the wheels to accommodate the tyres.

I quite like Wolfrace Track Ready Pro-Lite eco 2.0. However, to fit the tyres I would need to go 18 and 17 inch rims (if I want to keep the 1 inch difference, which I like). So as not to go too far from the original tyre circumference it looks like the tyre size would be;

205x45x17 and 225x40x18, which is bigger by 0.39" on the front 0.23" on the back (if my math is right).

Mine is a 500 without PAS.

Its a big decision, so really appreciate any thoughts you may have. Thanks

pwd95

8,382 posts

237 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Got Compomotives with 215/45/16 on the front & 245/40/17 on the back. Bridgestone Potenza 040 & 050 W rated. Awesome on road & track....


macca

Original Poster:

508 posts

278 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
pwd95 said:
Got Compomotives with 215/45/16 on the front & 245/40/17 on the back. Bridgestone Potenza 040 & 050 W rated. Awesome on road & track....
Nice. Looks balanced.

I am a little worried that 18 and 17 rims might look too big but MPSS not made for 16 inch rims. Dilemma's!

MischaV8

161 posts

207 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Michelin Pilot Sport 3 on my Griffith 500 non pas with Nitrons;

205 - 45 - 17 2,5mm bigger in dia but good fit enough space no issue's
235 - 40 - 18 this size is almost spot on!

No problems with this fitment...not cheap but very good tyre!

Edited by MischaV8 on Monday 18th August 16:31

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Here's my car on SP12 wheels, 17 inch fronts and 18 inch rears.
The tyres are Toyo 888s (they are my track tyres) and the sizes are 215/45 17 front and 235/40 18 rear. IMHO 205 fronts are too narrow - they tend to look skinny.
888s are slightly over size, by the way. Apologies that i have the ride height slightly too high, and the front wheels turned.


QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Another thing you can do is go 17 inch all round, and then adjust the rear tyre size.
For example 215/45 fronts and 235/45 or 245/45 rears.

Try to avoid going lower profile than 40 - makes for a rough ride.

These are 17 inch wheels all round. I actually have 215/40 on the front and 215/45 on the rear

I'm not asking you to like the wheels, just get an idea of wheel/tyre sizes.






QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Macca - thank God for people who complete their profiles.
We have met, when you first bought your car and we had both decatted. Remember? Newark bypass and the A46? Brisk, IIRC!!!

May I suggest you pop over to mine, ideally on a dry day or evening, we can get the jack and impact gun out (makes wheel changing so much quicker), and you can try the wheels and tyres in the photos, for fit and appearance, and for handling if you want to. Then you will know what works for you size wise.

For reference, my 18 inch rears, wearing 235/40 18 tyres, are 14mm diameter more than standard 225/50 16s. That's the difference between new tread and nearly worn out tread on the same tyres. As mine are 888s, they start at only 5mm tread depth, so the difference is only 8mm, 1/3rd of an inch on the diameter.

Let me know

SILICONEKID345HP

14,997 posts

230 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
QBee said:
Another thing you can do is go 17 inch all round, and then adjust the rear tyre size.
For example 215/45 fronts and 235/45 or 245/45 rears.

Try to avoid going lower profile than 40 - makes for a rough ride.

These are 17 inch wheels all round. I actually have 215/40 on the front and 215/45 on the rear

I'm not asking you to like the wheels, just get an idea of wheel/tyre sizes.





215/45/17 catch on my car so went for 215/40/17 which are very close to standard and 245/40.17 on road tyres and 235/45/17 for track tyres .


Edited by SILICONEKID345HP on Monday 18th August 20:46

shake n bake

2,221 posts

206 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Out of interest why are you only considering the michelins?

swanny71

2,849 posts

208 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
I have Continental Sport Contact 3's on mine - 215/40/17 front and 245/35/18 rear. Great tyre (had them on my old M3 and currently on my 130i). Fit is perfect, handling/grip in the wet or dry inspires loads of confidence. Recommended!

macca

Original Poster:

508 posts

278 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
shake n bake said:
Out of interest why are you only considering the michelins?
Well, went out in a Nissan GTR shod with them and, yes it's four wheel drive, but bloody hell did they stick. I used to drive a v8 M3 with cups and they were nothing short of superb.

Alas, I think 18" and 17" look too big for the Chimaera; it's a small car after all. QBee, no disrespect for your choice and yes, A46 blaht... biggrin

Now I've been having a good look around and have come up with Yokohama Advan Neova - track day/ road legal tyre and available on 16" rims. I'm thinking 205 is too skinny even though no PAS, so 225x45x16 on the front. Rears can go a little wider, 235x45x17. Respectively, that's 2.5mm bigger on the front and 12mm bigger on the rear. Better go and check on wheels...

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
AD 08, or A048? Both review well.

18s - personal taste, that's fine smile

Those tyre sizes are fine, 34 mm difference in diameter is within range. 235s ought not to catch, but I have that exact size in Bridgestones on another set of 17 inch wheels if you want to make sure first. Every TVR is different.

If you are buying wheels, make sure you get 4x108 PCD, 63.2mm or bigger centre hole, offset ET 25 front and 33 rear or as close as you can, and ideally 7.5 or 8J rears, though 7J are just ok. Fronts need to be 7 or 7.5 J.

macca

Original Poster:

508 posts

278 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
QBee, are you saying 235's will go on a 7j wheel? If so, ought to be a lighter wheel, which would be desirable.

Considering AD08

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
I will check for you shortly. I have a chart on my computer. I have them on 7J myself. And on 8J. Never had a problem with either.
But I will make sure the 7J really are in the morning.

TA14

12,722 posts

257 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
macca said:
QBee, are you saying 235's will go on a 7j wheel? If so, ought to be a lighter wheel, which would be desirable.

Considering AD08
Well they will go on but it's not advised, e.g.: http://www.toyo.co.uk/tire/pattern/proxes-t1-r you'd be better off with an 8" rim. You don't really want to go wider than a 215 on a 7" rim.

macca said:
Now I've been having a good look around and have come up with Yokohama Advan Neova - track day/ road legal tyre and available on 16" rims. I'm thinking 205 is too skinny even though no PAS, so 225x45x16 on the front. Rears can go a little wider, 235x45x17. Respectively, that's 2.5mm bigger on the front and 12mm bigger on the rear. Better go and check on wheels...
Have you thought about a 215 on the front? (The tyre width for which the chassis was designed.) A 215/45/16 and 235/40/17 should give you a balanced set up, both of which are available in your chosen tyre: http://www.yokohama.co.uk/Tyres/Car-Tyres/Summer-T... 7" front rim, 8" rear.

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
If I may say so, TA14 is spot on. I have never run more than a 215 front tyre, and have avoided the classic catching on full lock "DOH, why did i buy these" moment when someone has gone too large.

This was last seen by me and a few other keen drivers at 0900 at a Bedford track day, Grief owner turned up with brand new 888s on 225 fronts and 245 rears, all four tyres catching on the chassis or the arches. Must have cost him the best part of £800, to find they caught all round.

There were several TVR owners there, with tools, so we spent the best part of the next hour raising his ride height and adjusting what we could to reduce the catching.

IMHO TVRs are like small children - not on their best behaviour when over-tyred. hehe

I also am a firm believer that you need a certain amount of bite from the tyres to aid cornering, rather than sliding, in a light car. I have been very happy on 215s all round recently, and liked my 215/235 previous set up too, but I do feel I lost the rear end more often on track on the 235 rears than on the 215s, which is surprising as my 235s were Toyo 888s, whereas my 215s are only Federal 595s.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
17" RL7s all round, 235/40/17s & 255/40/17s.



Edited by phazed on Tuesday 19th August 15:28

macca

Original Poster:

508 posts

278 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
TA14 said:
Have you thought about a 215 on the front? (The tyre width for which the chassis was designed.) A 215/45/16 and 235/40/17 should give you a balanced set up, both of which are available in your chosen tyre
Think you're on the right track here TA14. The only issue for me is that 235x40x17 lowers the rear 5.8mm (front drops 3.3mm); it's marginal but might affect the stance a little. Compromise would be 245x40x17, which lowers the rear 1.8mm

Nearly there, I think.... what would be the correct offset for 7J front and 8J rear, and 8.5J rear should the 245's be too big for 8J.

Really appreciate you bearing with me on this guys!

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
245s on 8" rims are fine.

I run 255s on the same.

SILICONEKID345HP

14,997 posts

230 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
TA14 said:
macca said:
QBee, are you saying 235's will go on a 7j wheel? If so, ought to be a lighter wheel, which would be desirable.

Considering AD08
Well they will go on but it's not advised, e.g.: http://www.toyo.co.uk/tire/pattern/proxes-t1-r you'd be better off with an 8" rim. You don't really want to go wider than a 215 on a 7" rim.

macca said:
Now I've been having a good look around and have come up with Yokohama Advan Neova - track day/ road legal tyre and available on 16" rims. I'm thinking 205 is too skinny even though no PAS, so 225x45x16 on the front. Rears can go a little wider, 235x45x17. Respectively, that's 2.5mm bigger on the front and 12mm bigger on the rear. Better go and check on wheels...
Have you thought about a 215 on the front? (The tyre width for which the chassis was designed.) A 215/45/16 and 235/40/17 should give you a balanced set up, both of which are available in your chosen tyre: http://www.yokohama.co.uk/Tyres/Car-Tyres/Summer-T... 7" front rim, 8" rear.
235/45/17 rears look perfect . The fronts are 215/45/17 but sold them on and fitted 215/40/17 because they touched the inner arches but did look better.