Tyre Choices

[Lone Star]

I have at present Goodyear 235/40 ZR18 fitted to my rear wheels on my T350. Whilst they are still legal, the tyres tread is getting close to the limits of what is allowed. The tread pattern is like a series of curved V's.
I'm having great difficulty in finding anywhere that supplies these tyres.
I have a few questions.
1 Are they still available and if so, who supplies them?
2 If you are not using the Goodyear tyres. What make and model would you recommend?

Cheers
John

[Jhonno]

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b0s322p105417/Goodyea...

[Lone Star]

I've had a look at that thread and the tyre tread pattern is completely different to mine. My Goodyear tyres pattern is a series of curved V's. And since I have the same pattern on the fronts too. I would like to keep them the same.

[Sevenman]

Lone Star said:

My Goodyear tyres pattern is a series of curved V's. And since I have the same pattern on the fronts too. I would like to keep them the same.

Tyre manufacturers seem to be moving away from that design, apart from 'R' rated trackday tyres, which you wouldn't want to pair-up with your existing fronts.

Goodyear Eagle F1s have changed to a conventional pattern as you can see, as have Toyo with the T1-Sport being conventional as opposed to the V-Groove with the older T1-S and T1-R.

Continental and Michelin don't use V-Groove either, nor do Pirelli, Dunlop and Bridgestone (apart from 888).

But these Goodride tyres have a V-Groove design, and are only £50 / corner. They also sound a bit like Goodyear.

They might not be as good as a premium brand...

Falken 452 would have been an option that keeps a V design.

But they seem to be out of stock, and the 453 does not have the V-design.

My advice would be to ditch the V-Groove approach, buy some decent rear tyres (the ones in Jhonno's post are suitable) checking that they do fronts in 225/35/18 (some don't), and then buy fronts to match when the time comes.

Edited by Sevenman on Thursday 13th June 18:52

[Jhonno]

Lone Star said:

I've had a look at that thread and the tyre tread pattern is completely different to mine. My Goodyear tyres pattern is a series of curved V's. And since I have the same pattern on the fronts too. I would like to keep them the same.

Yours is an old NLA design.. They are the replacements.

[Jhonno]

• GSD3's..

[Lone Star]

Thanks guys. I'm not sure how important it is ( I some how suspect it is important!). But I think might now change all 4 corners to keep the tyre tread pattern the same.

[Zippee]

very good option to keep the V design are the BF Goodrich G-Force profiler 2s, I run these f&r on my 4.3 and they are very good!

[Pursyluv]

Going slightly off topic what are the widest rear tyres anyone has fitted to the Tam/T350, currently running Toyo T1R 235/40/18.

Will probably stick with Toyo, been quite good, thinking maybe 255's, has anyone gone that wide?

[jev]

Yes.

255/35 is a relatively popular choice for the rears (and is what I have on my Tamora). But I don't think they'll fit on the TVR spiders, you need a wider wheel such as the SP12s. Having said that, I'm not entirely convinced by the wider tyre.

The main problem with sourcing Tamora tyres is the fronts as 225 / 35 are hard to come by. Not sure what to put on next, currently on the GoodYear Asymmetric but considering the T1 Sports. If anyone knows more about the Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta i'd be interested. These 3 seem available in the right sizes but not much else is.

ETA: The Vredesteins only come in 215/35 - that is a little slimmer at the front - no idea if this would work!

Edited by jev on Thursday 13th June 21:22

[optimax sniffer]

We have 245/40/18 on the rear of our tam.

Going to get the toyo T1s' probably.

Most tyre seem to be going away from the directional tyre and going assymetric

I wonder if its to do with the noise and fuel efficiency ratings on tyres?

[Sevenman]

jev said:

ETA: The Vredesteins only come in 215/35 - that is a little slimmer at the front - no idea if this would work!

The 225 already seems a bity stretched on the rim, 215 would be more so.

[jev]

I think you are probably right.

It is just that I've be warned against 225/40 on the front due to rubbing. Its just so tempting because it opens up such a wide choice of tyres. Anyone running this successfully?

[Ron98]

Has any one fitted R888 all round? I had them on the lotus??? I will be looking for anther set of wheels so I can have a wet (away from home option) and I hopefully can get them refurmed to mutted crome.

I have always thought the t350 feels a bit scitish on its bum (Nitrons fitted) and am hopeing to feel a little bit more happy with 888 fitted if they do them.

[rico23]

Ron98 said:

Has any one fitted R888 all round? I had them on the lotus??? I will be looking for anther set of wheels so I can have a wet (away from home option) and I hopefully can get them refurmed to mutted crome.

I have always thought the t350 feels a bit scitish on its bum (Nitrons fitted) and am hopeing to feel a little bit more happy with 888 fitted if they do them.

Yes I have R888s all round for a while now. 225/40/18 front and 245/40/18 rear with Nitrons too. Unbelievably grippy tyres on a whole different level to 'road' tyres. Got them after I got a 4.3 and my T1Rs just couldn't cope.

Having said that they make the ride overly harsh and make a lot of road noise (when you can hear it above the engine!) on the motorway but I wouldn't be without them, never had any problems.

Even in the wet they are fine, it's just standing water they don't like but then you drive accordingly.

[Mattt]

jev said:

Yes.

255/35 is a relatively popular choice for the rears (and is what I have on my Tamora). But I don't think they'll fit on the TVR spiders, you need a wider wheel such as the SP12s. Having said that, I'm not entirely convinced by the wider tyre.

The main problem with sourcing Tamora tyres is the fronts as 225 / 35 are hard to come by. Not sure what to put on next, currently on the GoodYear Asymmetric but considering the T1 Sports. If anyone knows more about the Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta i'd be interested. These 3 seem available in the right sizes but not much else is.

ETA: The Vredesteins only come in 215/35 - that is a little slimmer at the front - no idea if this would work!

Edited by jev on Thursday 13th June 21:22

I have 255 on my Spiders.

[Ron98]

I had them on my Loyus i loved them, i got 3000miles out of a set of A048 more out of the 888, but for going away from home i will stick the Goodyear Egals back on.

[black11s]

I can recommend Federal RSR 595's.
I popped a set on my Clio trackday car (I know, please don't comment) and am going to stick them on the T350 when they are due a fresh set.
They are somewhere inbetween a track tyre and normal road tyre.
I.e. not as sticky as 888's but can cope with more standing water, and will survive a bit longer.
They are also very good value.

[black11s]

Or maybe not...
Correct sizes not available...
Sorry for the bum info.

[paulhaveawhisky]

May want to check out the prices on Blackcircles for the Goodyear 235/40ZR18: I use these on on Tuscan, all round.
http://www.blackcircles.com/order/tyres/search

You can have then fitted at your local tyre centre, you just need to follow the details. Prices include fully fitted.

cheers
Haveawhisky