T350 Front tyre size debate
T350 Front tyre size debate
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Discussion

Waitey

Original Poster:

1,143 posts

251 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
I was in the process of ordering my winter tyres for the T350 and i ended up getting into a debate with two TVR specialists on what tyre size is best for the front of the T350.

One says OEM size of 225/35/18 is OEM for a reason and that all the GEO was designed around that size.
The other says a size of 225/40/18 improves ride no end as well as reducing tramlining without too adverse effect on the GEO set up.

Well i use my TVR on the road all the time as a daily drive when its not snow. A bit of an improvement of ride from the front would be quite nice really.

EFA 30 Sidewall to 35 sidewall. Mistake in typing.

Edited by Waitey on Thursday 14th January 15:51

Laser Sag

2,860 posts

272 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
Dont know what difference the higher profile tyre would make to the handling but it would take the side wall height from 78.75 mm to 90 mm on the sizes you have quoted, with the best part of half an inch extra sidewall there would be much more shock absorbtion within the tyre itself.
Best to bear in mind that it would raise the front of the car by 11.25 mm aswell and would give 11.25 mm less suspension travel before you were rubbing the tyre on the wheel arch.
Above is only my best guess but am sure someone will be along before long to either confirm or ridicule

Edited by Laser Sag on Thursday 14th January 19:48

Targarama

14,784 posts

312 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
Standard size is 225/35 x18, not 30. I've always wondered what difference 40 series tyres would make, but I replaced mine with standard sized tyres since I have never had any problems with grip or fouling of the bodywork except the odd NS rub at max compression on the track. Higher walls would make it rub more.

JR

14,332 posts

287 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
Waitey said:
I was in the process of ordering my winter tyres for the T350 and i ended up getting into a debate with two TVR specialists on what tyre size is best for the front of the T350.

One says OEM size of 225/30/18 is OEM for a reason and that all the GEO was designed around that size.
Aside from Targa's point that the 18" 225 has a 35 profile the car was designed with 16" wheels. I'd buy a spare set of rims, 16", and fit winter tyres to them.

gilbo

460 posts

229 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
From my experience 40's do rub on the front. They also 'numb' the steering a little and make it feel less direct. Not by alot though. That said, pot holes are less scary! I changed back to the 35's straight away.

s6boy

1,852 posts

254 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
JR said:
... the car was designed with 16" wheels. I'd buy a spare set of rims, 16", and fit winter tyres to them.
I know the first Tuscans started off with 16" wheels before going to the 18" spiders with appropriate geometry setting changes, but the T350 has always been on 18" spiders hasn't it?

JR

14,332 posts

287 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
s6boy said:
JR said:
... the car was designed with 16" wheels. I'd buy a spare set of rims, 16", and fit winter tyres to them.
I know the first Tuscans started off with 16" wheels before going to the 18" spiders with appropriate geometry setting changes, but the T350 has always been on 18" spiders hasn't it?
Depends exactly what you mean. The T350c/t was designed and launched with 16" dia wheels, the 18" were an optional extra; TVR_o informed me that no 350s were actually delivered with 16" wheels and there you go.

s6boy

1,852 posts

254 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
JR said:
The T350c/t was designed and launched with 16" dia wheels, the 18" were an optional extra.
TVR eh confused
I knew that was the situation with the Tuscan but thought along the lines that all Tuscans were coming out on 18's when the T350 was launched and therefore they came with that set up as standard. Live and learn.

JR

14,332 posts

287 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
s6boy said:
JR said:
The T350c/t was designed and launched with 16" dia wheels, the 18" were an optional extra.
TVR eh confused
I knew that was the situation with the Tuscan but thought along the lines that all Tuscans were coming out on 18's when the T350 was launched and therefore they came with that set up as standard. Live and learn.
I remember pondering the Motorshow offer of 18" wheels at no extra charge when the T350c/t was launched. Remember that the only real difference between the Tus and 350 is the body so we're only talking about items of historical interest.

T450t

414 posts

220 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
If your running on R888 you dont get a choice 40 is the only profile on 225x18. Never had a rubbing problem with that profile.

willtvr

1,099 posts

226 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
T450t said:
If your running on R888 you dont get a choice 40 is the only profile on 225x18. Never had a rubbing problem with that profile.
Do you set it up with a tad negative camber to achieve that?

T450t

414 posts

220 months

Thursday 14th January 2010
quotequote all
willtvr said:
T450t said:
If your running on R888 you dont get a choice 40 is the only profile on 225x18. Never had a rubbing problem with that profile.
Do you set it up with a tad negative camber to achieve that?
Yes, 2 degrees negative plus 650 spring rates and Nitron dampers.

RedSpike66

2,343 posts

241 months

Sunday 17th January 2010
quotequote all
I changed to 225/40/18 fronts and have found it a much better ride generally for these absolutely scensorede British roads. That extra 5% profile just gives a bit more suspension in the tyre, less tramlining, and a bit more safeguard against pot holes and kerbing, which for a daily driver, never tracked TVR is worth it.

Full lock parking rubs a bit till you've worn a few mm of the tyre but no downsides imho.