Wrong tyre sizes

[so called]

Hi all,
I just bought a Chimaera 400 and have a few questions after 2 weeks of ownership.
Its my second Chimaera after a 5 year gap where I've been playing with Tuscans.

Lots of memories flooding back but one thing I cant remember is what tyres I had on my first Chimaera.
This one has a make I've never heard of and they are not the correct speed rating.
More than that they are incorrect sizes as she has 205/50 on the front and 225/55 on the back.
The back ones have been described as beech buggy tyres they look so big.

Anyway, I was wondering what others are using on theirs.
I just drove to Germany and am sure the incorrect tyres are responsible for some of the strange behaviour.
Probably my imagination but there were times yesterday when it felt like the rear end was wobbling like a fat tyred drag car
Apart from that I realy enjoyed the drive and was very lucky with the weather.

Otherwise, has anyone any experience with winter tyres on a Chimaera. I plan to use her quite a bit over the winter in Germany.

Thanks,
Tony.

[JR]

so called said:

225/55 on the back. The back ones have been described as beech buggy tyres they look so big.

Maybe so but it was the original spec along with 205/60s on the front.

[SILICONEKID340HP]

Who ever sized the tyres got the 50 and 55 the wrong way round !

So the fronts and rear should have a matching wall height..

55 front 50 rear 205/55/15 225/50/16 Are your tyres like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqqZ28m8uCo

[pk500]

that advert is so funny aint seen it for yearl

SILICONEKID340HP said:

Who ever sized the tyres got the 50 and 55 the wrong way round !

So the fronts and rear should have a matching wall height..

55 front 50 rear 205/55/15 225/50/16 Are your tyres like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqqZ28m8uCo

[Mark.]

Gimmie half hour or so and I'll go and check my sizes.

1996 non-PAS model, totally standard.

[Mark.]

OK, just over half hour....

Front 205/55/15
Rear 225/50/16

HTH.

[SILICONEKID340HP]

Mark. said:

OK, just over half hour....

Front 205/55/15
Rear 225/50/16

HTH.

Spot on !

[Simon says]

SILICONEKID340HP said:

Who ever sized the tyres got the 50 and 55 the wrong way round !

So the fronts and rear should have a matching wall height..

55 front 50 rear 205/55/15 225/50/16 Are your tyres like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqqZ28m8uCo

spot on Daz,your showing your age by showing that vid though.

[Mark.]

SILICONEKID340HP said:

Mark. said:

OK, just over half hour....

Front 205/55/15
Rear 225/50/16

HTH.

Spot on !

Sorry Daz, completely missed your post mate.

I remember my Grandad telling me about that ad

[SILICONEKID340HP]

Anyone got some spare Werthers Originals and i can`t find my teeth !

[so called]

JR said:

so called said:

225/55 on the back. The back ones have been described as beech buggy tyres they look so big.

Maybe so but it was the original spec along with 205/60s on the front.

Thats interesting. My first Chimaera was a 1993 model but I dont think the tyres were that big.
My handbook is the same as has been said on here.

Thanks all.
Tony.

[JR]

so called said:

JR said:

so called said:

225/55 on the back. The back ones have been described as beech buggy tyres they look so big.

Maybe so but it was the original spec along with 205/60s on the front.

Thats interesting. My first Chimaera was a 1993 model but I dont think the tyres were that big.

They will have been. When the Chim was launched it was intended to be a softer car than the Griff, not least of all because of the drive along PRW's track to get home. It's just becoming a historical footnote now with 205/55/15 and 225/50/16 the default sizes, esp with the 60 profile very difficult to buy best quality rubber. Handy to remember the larger sizes when specifying bigger tyre diameters though, esp when fitting larger dia. wheels.

How do you intend to use the car?

[Jammy Dodger]

SILICONEKID340HP said:

Anyone got some spare Werthers Originals and i can`t find my teeth !

too many werthers originals = no teeth..

[JonathanT]

so called said:

Probably my imagination but there were times yesterday when it felt like the rear end was wobbling like a fat tyred drag car

you should check your tyre pressures, the back end goes really loose when the tyres are pumped up to "standard pressures". They should be around 22-26 psi (depending)....

[so called]

JR said:

They will have been. When the Chim was launched it was intended to be a softer car than the Griff, not least of all because of the drive along PRW's track to get home. It's just becoming a historical footnote now with 205/55/15 and 225/50/16 the default sizes, esp with the 60 profile very difficult to buy best quality rubber. Handy to remember the larger sizes when specifying bigger tyre diameters though, esp when fitting larger dia. wheels.

How do you intend to use the car?

Hi JR, I intend to use her as my daily car mainly in Germany but with driving back and too to the UK as well.
My Tuscan will be for my UK driving.
This is why I mentioned I was thinking of some winter tyres.

Thanks JonanthanT yes I'll check the pressures. (should had done that last week.

[JR]

For winter tyres you'll probably have to step down to H rating, 130mph. Maybe I'm getting old but I'd want the current test winner: Goodyear Ultragrip 8 in the 205/60/15 and 225/55/16 sizes. A close second choice for me would be the Toyo Snowprox S953 which (unlike the Ultragrip 8) is available in 205/55/15 and 225/50/16, again in H rating. Depends where (road surface) and how you're going to drive; I like a lot of feedback in damp (or worse) conditions. Horses for courses type thing.

[so called]

JR said:

For winter tyres you'll probably have to step down to H rating, 130mph. Maybe I'm getting old but I'd want the current test winner: Goodyear Ultragrip 8 in the 205/60/15 and 225/55/16 sizes. A close second choice for me would be the Toyo Snowprox S953 which (unlike the Ultragrip 8) is available in 205/55/15 and 225/50/16, again in H rating. Depends where (road surface) and how you're going to drive; I like a lot of feedback in damp (or worse) conditions. Horses for courses type thing.

Thanks for the advise.
Never bought winter tyres before so have no clue.
Being sat in an office in Germany is quite helpful in this regard though.

[so called]

Just to update, I've been following another tyre thread and decided today to buy all season tyres.
Fancy the Goodyear Vector 4 seasons or Vredestein Quatrac3.
I'm in Germany at the moment with the Chimaera so popped down to a tyre service place.
After having a good laugh at my 'Circus' Chimaera (see below), he found that there are no 15" tyres for my width available.

Got to get these tyres sorted, its embarrising.



sorry, not easy to see in this photo.

you see the difference in this one.

Edited by so called on Saturday 5th November 13:08

[Goaty Bill]

I agree with silicone and Mark.
My car has, always has had the sizes as per the manual.

Looking in my original owners manual, circa 1998, but dated January 1997;
(not to say that some pages may not have been revised and inserted by TVR, prior to original sale in 1998)

Wheels;
Front: 15" x 7J
Rear: 16" x 7.5J

Tyres;
Front: Bridgestone S02 - 205/55 ZR
Rear: Bridgestone S02 - 225/50 ZR

[fenderbender]

My Chim handbook (2000 model) states 205/55 x 15 front and 225/50 x 16 rear, so ditto the above