Mixing tread design

[DoctorBonzo]

Hi,
Does anyone have any experience of mixing tread design between front/rear tyres? Does it have much effect on a Chimaera's handling?
Uniroyal have just re-released their rainsports but in an asymmetrical tread: http://lovetyres.com/tyre/Uniroyal-Rainsport-3/205...
I have their symmetrical tread design on the rear: http://lovetyres.com/tyre/Uniroyal-Rainsport-2

Its probably the best match of compounds but will the car handle better with symmetrical treads all round?
Any advice will be gratefully considered.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I don't think I'd worry about mixing different treads front and back; indeed, it's hard enough to get decent tyres for the front of a Chimaera in standard size anyway!

The Uniroyal Rainsport 3 seems to have been out of stock in that size in virtually all the major suppliers for some time now, and the link you've given only says "1 in stock".


Edited to add: I've got the same mixture of Rainsport 2 & 3 on the front and back of my other car, and it doesn't create a problem.

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Tuesday 16th September 12:29

[Barreti]

On the other side of the coin, which I apologise to the OP for because it won't help him at all.

I had Goodyear Eagle F1's on the rear and Dunlop SP9000 on the front and it tramlined hideously.
I accidentally put the directional SP9000s on the wrong way around before a trip to Le Mans and couldn't understand what had improved the handling. When I had the tyre direction pointed out to me I decided to swap all 4 tyres to the same make.

I now have Toyo Proxes all round and the difference is night and day.

[DoctorBonzo]

Thanks for the advice. Tramlining is what I am worried about. I guess I can put uniroyal 3s on the front and see how it goes. worst case senario I can replace the rear with uniroyal 3s. I think they are excellent in the wet.
It seems a better option than replacing the entire set with Toyos for which I have heard horror stories in the wet.
Fingers crossed...

[bobs4c]

DoctorBonzo said:

...
It seems a better option than replacing the entire set with Toyos for which I have heard horror stories in the wet.
Fingers crossed...

I've found Toyos excellent in the wet and dry as have most owners using T1-R's. Problems may arise when using triple 8's in the wet though

Bob

[davelittlewood]

Another one for Toyos.
Had Marshalls ok the front and it handled like a pig.
New proxes on the front and it's a different car

[OleVix]

Another thumbs up for toyos, both T1r and T1sport are good for chim!

[keith2.2]

I've got different tyres front and rear - to be honest I can't see how it would create an issue (not by design, I bought it like that)

Having differing ones certainly wouldn't be the cause of tramlining - it's the front tyres that do that.

Obviously having different ones on one side vs the other WOULD be a no no.

Having the same front and rear is nice for OCD, though.

[ianwayne]

keith2.2 said:

I've got different tyres front and rear - to be honest I can't see how it would create an issue (not by design, I bought it like that)

Having differing ones certainly wouldn't be the cause of tramlining - it's the front tyres that do that.

Obviously having different ones on one side vs the other WOULD be a no no.

Having the same front and rear is nice for OCD, though.

In some European countries (I've experienced this in Spain and Portugal), & others I expect, it's a safety check failure (IVA etc, their MoT equivalent) if the tyres on the same axle aren't the same manufacturer. Can't remember if the tread patterns had to be the same. A bit over the top really, but it shows you how our MoT test isn't as strict as many people think.

[caduceus]

I have 4 part worn tyres of god knows what make that I paid £100 for, and the car drives arrow straight with my hands off the steering wheel.

[900T-R]

The Toyos were great 10-15 years ago but they sort of stopped making progress after the heydays of the T1S. I've got Bridgestone RE002 Potenza Adrenalins all round (the fronts have been out of stock for a couple of months last year, it's worth checking availability as it could be an on- and-off situation where new batches are only being made with large intervals due to lack of demand for W-rated 15-inch tyres) which are probably the best allround bet right now. Not expensive, either.

[A900ss]

I've got Rainsport 3's on the Front of my Chim and Toyo T1R's on the rear. They work fine together.

When the Toyo's wear out at the back, it will be Rainsport 3’s that replace them.

[QBee]

I have had ordinary looking Bridgestones on the front and Continentals on the rear. Just keep the tyre the same on the same axle. It drove fine. They are typical high mileage, easy rolling tyres, not some weird pattern.

What matters is having your car's suspension checked and the 4 wheel geo done on a Hunter machine. Transformed my car. I can drive at high speed on a bumpy road with my hands lightly on the wheel, like in any modern saloon car. My TVR simply absorbs the bumps.

What I believe you do need is the correct mix of suspension damper settings and tyre wall softness. Very low profile, stiff side walled tyres are not ideal for relaxing road driving in a TVR.

[DoctorBonzo]

A900ss said:

I've got Rainsport 3's on the Front of my Chim and Toyo T1R's on the rear. They work fine together.

When the Toyo's wear out at the back, it will be Rainsport 3’s that replace them.

Thanks everyone. These are really encouraging posts.
A900ss - why are you moving from Toyos to Rainsports?

[900T-R]

QBee said:

What I believe you do need is the correct mix of suspension damper settings and tyre wall softness. Very low profile, stiff side walled tyres are not ideal for relaxing road driving in a TVR.

[fatboychim]

900T-R said:

The Toyos were great 10-15 years ago but they sort of stopped making progress after the heydays of the T1S. I've got Bridgestone RE002 Potenza Adrenalins all round (the fronts have been out of stock for a couple of months last year, it's worth checking availability as it could be an on- and-off situation where new batches are only being made with large intervals due to lack of demand for W-rated 15-inch tyres) which are probably the best allround bet right now. Not expensive, either.

Blimey, they are reasonable and W rated, which getting hard to find on 15"

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin//rshop.pl?PoD=110R-219054X

are they anything like the S03's? Might get a couple anyway at that price

[900T-R]

Hard to give a direct comparison, as any S03s still around are going to be hard as nails (mine were) and a new set is always going to feel 100x better... a couple of thousand miles on them and I do feel they're very well suited to the car, however. Nice, consistent response, good balance between sharpness of response and keeping things settled.

[A900ss]

DoctorBonzo said:

A900ss said:

I've got Rainsport 3's on the Front of my Chim and Toyo T1R's on the rear. They work fine together.

When the Toyo's wear out at the back, it will be Rainsport 3’s that replace them.

Thanks everyone. These are really encouraging posts.
A900ss - why are you moving from Toyos to Rainsports?

As I only drive on the road I find the Rainsports just as grippy as the Toyo's in the dry but much gripper than the Toyo's in the wet. It's a considerably newer tyre design so I shouldn't be surprised by that, the Toyo is getting a bit long in the tooth now. I went up to the Evo triangle with 3 other TVR's (1 Chim and 2 Griff's) and it was incredibly wet that weekend. I was the fastest on the triangle and the other cars were Toyo's all round and the car behind me had a 'moment' on his tyres. I felt glued to the road.

All the above is in my humble opinion. I would say I drive quick on the road but I'm not a 'driving god'.

Good luck.

Edited by A900ss on Thursday 18th September 07:54

[DoctorBonzo]

Thats my decision made. I've just ordered a pair of rainsports. I'll report back how they feel
R

[DoctorBonzo]

Rainsports on the back and toy's on the front work like a dream.
Now I know what the chimaera is meant to drive like :-)