Front tyres for a Tuscan
Discussion
I posted this message the other day in the general TVR gossip section but thought afterwards it would be good to get specific feedback from other Tuscan owners.
I need to fit 2 new front tyres on my 4l Tuscan and was planning on getting Toyo Proxes T1-s as that is what is currently fitted. However in speaking to a local supplier he strongly recommended going for a Kumho tyre and in particular their KU15, which is a near competition level tyre. He stated that Kumho actually do the development for Goodyear and he believed their tyre was far superior to the Toyo or the Goodyear F1. He stated that while this tyre may not last quite as long the grip in both the wet and dry would be much better than the other brands. The prices are similar so cost is not the driving factor.
Does anyone have any experience of these tyres, or any opinions as to whether they are better than the other options?
I know that their is a web based supplier doing great deals on Toyos but not in this size, only the wider option. Is it worth upgrading to the 255 size tyres all round, my gut feeling is probably not as I feel there is sufficient (scary!) grip levels already.
I need to fit 2 new front tyres on my 4l Tuscan and was planning on getting Toyo Proxes T1-s as that is what is currently fitted. However in speaking to a local supplier he strongly recommended going for a Kumho tyre and in particular their KU15, which is a near competition level tyre. He stated that Kumho actually do the development for Goodyear and he believed their tyre was far superior to the Toyo or the Goodyear F1. He stated that while this tyre may not last quite as long the grip in both the wet and dry would be much better than the other brands. The prices are similar so cost is not the driving factor.
Does anyone have any experience of these tyres, or any opinions as to whether they are better than the other options?
I know that their is a web based supplier doing great deals on Toyos but not in this size, only the wider option. Is it worth upgrading to the 255 size tyres all round, my gut feeling is probably not as I feel there is sufficient (scary!) grip levels already.
Buy Toyos or Goodyear F1s. They are known to work well on the car.
Nothing against other brands, but this sounds to me like the tyre fitter has a good supplier and good margin in these tyres. He may have to order Toyos or Goodyears specially. Buy somewhere else.
www.mytyres.co.uk is a good starting point (actually they also have tyre comparison links so see if the fitters' recommendation is any good).
Nothing against other brands, but this sounds to me like the tyre fitter has a good supplier and good margin in these tyres. He may have to order Toyos or Goodyears specially. Buy somewhere else.
www.mytyres.co.uk is a good starting point (actually they also have tyre comparison links so see if the fitters' recommendation is any good).
nemasis said:
stick with the toyos m8,thats what we fitted in the factory and no problems,goodyear=problems
What a sweeping statement! Cue Goodyear lawyers.
Toyos (specially tuned for TVR corner weights) work extremely well but the factory changed to GY a couple of years ago. Make no mistake, the change will have been driven by politics and/ or cost as much as technical merit but the GY GS-D3 tyre also works well, especially in the wet.
The Toyo T1-S TVR-tuned is no longer available and the standard T1-S is out of production (but still a fair few around) so you'll only get the standard T1-S which is not quite as good on, say, a Tuscan. Either way, T1-S or GY GS-D3 will be your safest bet.
As previously mentioned, be very cautious of a tyre seller making strong recommendations about little-known tyres if, as I suspect, they have limited knowledge of your car.
It does seem to me that the Goodyear is a tempting option, especially when the T1S tyre does not seem to be available any more and it would be T1Rs that would be fitted. I do not know whether the T1R is meant to be an improvement over the T1S but it does appear to have a quite different tread pattern and was therefore not the tyre that TVR tried and tested on the car??
I think I will give the Kumhos a miss and look into the Goodyear option a bit further.
I think I will give the Kumhos a miss and look into the Goodyear option a bit further.
I had Brigstones on my Chimaera a few years ago and changed to GY F1's, and found them outstanding compared to what was on, in the dry and the wet. I have now got GY F1's on my 3.0l AWD Jag and the Tuscan, the Tuscans were fitted by TVR Power after some discussion as I have known a few guys with Tuscans loose it big style in the wet!! So I was nervous. I have used it over the winter in the wet and dry and feel confident (fingers Crossed here) in all weathers.
I have also done some track days and they stood up OK but not tracked with other tyres so can't really comment.
All IMHO and experience
Cheers
Windswept
I have also done some track days and they stood up OK but not tracked with other tyres so can't really comment.
All IMHO and experience
Cheers
Windswept
I use Sportiva, which is a very similar compound to the Kuhmo. Its a lot softer than the Toyo's and the Goodyears and works really well.
I would not be afraid to move away from named brands as i find their compounds to be too hard for a lightweight Tuscan.
I had her at Snetterton last week and the tyres were superb. No understeer and loads of grip.
As for tramlining (which Tuscans are prone to) the only long term solution is Nitrons. Its the best £1200 you can spend on the car and transforms the handling.
>> Edited by Tuska on Wednesday 3rd May 14:18
I would not be afraid to move away from named brands as i find their compounds to be too hard for a lightweight Tuscan.
I had her at Snetterton last week and the tyres were superb. No understeer and loads of grip.
As for tramlining (which Tuscans are prone to) the only long term solution is Nitrons. Its the best £1200 you can spend on the car and transforms the handling.
>> Edited by Tuska on Wednesday 3rd May 14:18
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