Tyres question for a Tusacn

[S6 ROR]

I currently have Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres on the tuscan as fitted by the factory.
Looking to replace shortly. What do people on here recommend.
Have always felt that the front end has struggled for grip on these tyres, had Geo checked etc and all OK. The front seems to struggle for grip on anything less than a perfect road surface and in a straight line.
Are Good year a hard compound? would moving to a softer compound cure this problem.
Also had a Tamora and a T350 prior to the Tuscan, and never had any issues, but they were both shod with Toyos.
Appreciate any comments.

[Mustang Baz]

Toyo T1-R's - have just fitted 2 to replace my previous Toyos (T1-S') and now that they are bedded in, appear to be gaining more and more grip. Try Blackcircles who had the most competitive price and always a good service level.

[Tussie]

If grip is what you want, look at Toyo 888 or Pirelli Zero Corsas. They will though wear out more quickly, be trickier in the wet and also make more noise

[Tuska]

I think its all about compound, not brand. Particularly at the front end of a Tuscan.
Many 'top brands' are designed for much heavier cars than a Tuscan, so their compound is too hard.

So, despite some derision on this forum i use 'Sportiva'. They are nice and soft, which means they are very grippy. They do wear more quickly, but are cheap enough by comparisson to the upmarket stuff to still make them very good value.

I have used Sportiva on both road and track, they are steady, versatile and reliable. (BTW they were originally recommended to me by Warren at TopCats who knows a thing or two about racing TVR's)

Its a bit like buying jeans from Asda 'by George'. Not everyone can get passed the name.......

[S6 ROR]

Thanks for the replies guys.
With the goodyears on, even at low speeds the front end wants to jump about when accelerating out of a corner on anything less than a perfect surface. It does improve when lowering the tyre pressures down a bit.
I currently run on 24psi, which seems to be in line from other threads on here, and does seem to be about the best pressure overall. Anything higher than this the car really becomes very skittish at the front.

[Paul V]

Think my handbook recommends 25 psi, putting in too much is a common problem as people seems to think because their little hatchback runs 30 the tvr's should run even more, even tyre fitters have put 35 in mine after telling them the correct pressure. Having too much pressure ballons the tyre causing only the centre of the tyre to make contact.

One thing worth doing is getting a decent pressure gauage too, I've seen garage ones as much as 10 psi out.

I love my Eagle F1's the car felt instantly more predictable once they were changed from the Toyo.

[custardkid]

Mustang Baz said:

Toyo T1-R's - have just fitted 2 to replace my previous Toyos (T1-S') and now that they are bedded in, appear to be gaining more and more grip. Try Blackcircles who had the most competitive price and always a good service level.

its also worth phoneing around, on a couple of occations the local garage has been cheaper than black circles on a like for like basis.

given that my last set of rears lasted 6k miles i put falkens on due to them being 1/3 cheaper than Toyos, no probs so far.



custard

[Bonedoc]

Eagle F1's on my Mk 1 Tuscan seem much better than the Toyo's they replaced

[cube]

Eagle F1's on mine, running 24 at the front and is pretty stable, not feeling too light. Only have trouble at speed over very bad road surfaces, as suspension and a quick steering rack don't absorb/cope with too much bouncing - cured by a slightly lighter right foot.

[Kerberos]

Try www.camskill.co.uk for Toyo's. I found them a lot more competitive than anyone.

[Bonedoc]

I have just had the top ball joints replaced by leven and the tracking done, this has made a huge difference, like you I had a nervousness about the front end on poor surfaces until this recent work, now it feels completely different and I am much more confident on poor roads.

[Bob the Planner]

I ran 22/24 on the SO2 PP which I found to be the best tyres so far for the car (but very soft and hence grippy ). 24/25 worked best for SO3 and am currently running 23/25 on the Eagle F1. I find the eagles too hard and do not grip enough and they tend to understeer as well as aquaplane. I use a marker across the tyre after fitment - if it wears on the edges a little more pressure is needed and if it wears in the middle a little less. A 2 mile blatt is usually enough to get a result but it does need not to include any sharp turns before taking a reading (else take the marker with you until you reach your favorite twisty :Mmmmmm:. Find the top and bottom limits and then halve the difference. If the mark wears on one side only then get the tracking sorted - a tyre with all the tread on the road will give the most grip.

It would be interesting to know how race teams set their tyres up. Could the same technique be used for the road ?

[jilapau]

How much did it cost to get the ball joints replaced?