What size of spacers: 3mm to ...

[Filos Hippos]

I know people seem to fit 3mm spacers to their Tuscans but what would be the thickest one can fit whilst still retaining the original bolts.

(And leaving enough thread left to keep things safe!)

[glow worm]

I tried them on my convertible and made no difference.I've taken them off now. Mk1 owners report an improvement.
I much prefer my car with 225 tyres on the front rather than the 255s as it came from the factory. The suspension designer (Ben Lang) told me it was designed for 225s not fat 255s (only supplied for appearance). Certainly a lot less tramlining.

Edited by glow worm on Monday 19th November 10:10

[Filos Hippos]

I must admit that I would not only fit them to cure twitchiness but also to give a bit more "stance"!

[JimmyZZ]

Using 225 tyres in the front is one good idea PLUS try Dunlops.
It made a huge difference on mine as far as tramlining is concerned.
The spacers in my opinion are placebos

[tuscanturner]

I put the spacers on my 2s and the tram lining did improve a little but then if I put 225 tyres on (kept the spacers) and that transformed the car, little or no tramlingkng now and famtastic on the track, although I'm not convinced about the spacers now being required but having paid for th I feel I need to use them...

[dvs_dave]

Tuscan's have varying suspension geometries depending on age. No one knows exactly what and when, so try it and see what difference it makes. The 3mm ones made a very noticeable improvement on my Mk1 S, and are most definitely not a placebo.

[robsco]

Interesting that there are people here claiming to prefer 225s over 255s? I read on another thread from rather a few posters to try 255s on the front as the 225s exacerbate tramlining. Mine has the 3mm spacers, and it feels marginally better with them, but it is still twitchy to the stage that I'm nervous of the car. The geo is setup, running on GGPs, with good tyres running at the correct pressures, and I'm still struggling.

[tuscanturner]

Another benefit of the 225,s is I so far have had no aqua planing like I had with the 255,s

[tuscanturner]

Another benefit of the 225,s is I so far have had no aqua planing like I had with the 255,s

[tuscanturner]

Another benefit of the 225,s is I so far have had no aqua planing like I had with the 255,s

[Basil Brush]

robsco said:

Interesting that there are people here claiming to prefer 225s over 255s? I read on another thread from rather a few posters to try 255s on the front as the 225s exacerbate tramlining. Mine has the 3mm spacers, and it feels marginally better with them, but it is still twitchy to the stage that I'm nervous of the car. The geo is setup, running on GGPs, with good tyres running at the correct pressures, and I'm still struggling.

I recommend getting the rack height set properly to get rid of the bump steer.

[robsco]

Cheers BB, this is one of the options I've discussed with Track V Road.

[glow worm]

Funny how what goes around comes around ...Try Heath & Paul @ Xworks

[robsco]

glow worm said:

Funny how what goes around comes around ...

Sorry, you've lost me?

[glow worm]

Sorry... Just I got a lot of stick from people 2 years ago when I raised my steering rack .

[robsco]

Aah, I see, makes sense now.

I'd considered the prospect of a Tuscan 2 rack if it fit, but I've since thought it would be sacrilege to replace that super quick Mk1 rack.

[Basil Brush]

glow worm said:

Sorry... Just I got a lot of stick from people 2 years ago when I raised my steering rack .

I messed about with my early set up for a while but ended up swapping it to the later setup with 8mm rack spacers.

[dvs_dave]

robsco said:

Interesting that there are people here claiming to prefer 225s over 255s? I read on another thread from rather a few posters to try 255s on the front as the 225s exacerbate tramlining. Mine has the 3mm spacers, and it feels marginally better with them, but it is still twitchy to the stage that I'm nervous of the car. The geo is setup, running on GGPs, with good tyres running at the correct pressures, and I'm still struggling.

It's not the width that matters so much rather the profile height that makes the difference, and is a key often overlooked component of the suspension geometry.

A lot of folk run 225/35's on the front which are just too low profile and exaggerate the twitchiness by throwing off the geometry. Change to 255/35's which have a bit more sidewall height so bringing the geometry back in line, and they feel a lot better, hence the recommendations for 255's.

However the optimum size for the front is 235/40, with 255/35 and 225/40's a close second as they have very similar profile heights.

[glow worm]

I should have said 225/40s , also keeps the rolling radius the same... I also think different makes/specs have a great effect on tyre wall stiffness... Mine are Goodyear Eagle F1s (Chinese variety, not German).
Who established this "optimum" dave ?

[dvs_dave]

glow worm said:

I should have said 225/40s , also keeps the rolling radius the same... I also think different makes/specs have a great effect on tyre wall stiffness... Mine are Goodyear Eagle F1s (Chinese variety, not German).
Who established this "optimum" dave ?

Most TVR specialists I've spoken to over the years have recommended these sizes, and the bloke who put the 3mm spacers on the market I also seem to remember saying that 235/40's were the best size for the front axle, with the other sizes mentioned a good fit also.