Tyre Help Please?

[ratazzi]

I am getting my TVR back on the road having used it rarely over the last couple of years. I know I need to replace my rear tyres in advance of the MOT next week.

Currently the tyres I have are:

Front - Dunlop SP Sport 9000 205/55 ZR 15 (replaced a year ago)

Rear - Avon ZZ3, Size 225/55ZR 16 95W (I note the tyre size on a TVR website states they should be 225/50ZR 16).

The questions I have are?

1) Should I get matching rears to the front
2) Should I be getting 225/55 or 225/50?
3) If I mix the front and rears which rears are recommended?

Any help would be appreciated.

p.s. If anyone has a Leven Roof cover for sale I am interested!!!

[MADMAX2]

Go for Toyo Proxes T1-R ... Mustard !

Edited by MADMAX2 on Wednesday 22 August 23:00

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I believe 225/50/16 is the "normal" size for the rears.

Toyo Proxes T1/R are good, competent tyres and not horrifically expensive. But you can't get them in a "Z" speed rating at the 15" size for the fronts. Not that it matters that much - "V" will do perfectly well.

In fact, I think the Dunlops you've got on the front are the only tyre that can be bought in that size in a "Z" rating. What do you think of them - any good?

[sgrimshaw]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Toyo Proxes T1/R are good, competent tyres and not horrifically expensive. But you can't get them in a "Z" speed rating at the 15" size for the fronts. Not that it matters that much - "V" will do perfectly well.

+1 for the Toyos but remember to tell your insurers that you are running V rated rather than the Z - which are no longer available.

When I spoke to Mannings they were fully aware that the original Bridgstone Z rated fronts were no longer available and confirmed that running a V rated was acceptable - they said they would make a note on my file that I had informed them.

[pjac67]

I'm having to replace my rears - Toyo T1 Sports after < 3000 miles

I have T1R's on the front but can't get them for the rear in 245/40/ZR17 (ie Sport only) unless I change to Falken/Yokohama??

Not sure why I am getting through so much rubber with mostly 'normal'(ish) driving?

Apologies for the thread highjack...

[ratazzi]

Has anyone else had a problem with the longevity of their T1R's?

Thanks for the help to-date.

[gavgavgav]

The T1R's I have last for ages, the T1's (which the T1R's replaced) wore out a lot quicker.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

My diesel SEAT gets through a pair of Toyos on the front in about 10,000 miles. I've had my TVR for about 12,000 miles now, with Toyos all round, and they're nowhere near needing replacement. I guess it's because the TVR is light, and shares the workload better between front and rear tyres.

[HiAsAKite]

I managed 20K out of th T1R's on the rear of my chim. The only reason I didn't put more T1R's are is that they are no longer avalable in my size

The T1R's on the front are still going well, and I suspect they will see the long side of 25K..

[Rib]

I thought the t1r's were goin out of manufacture so any you buy may be getting older and older?

[ratazzi]

Everywhere seems to currently stock them as i have shopped around. Found the rears for £93 per tyre including fitting and VAT.

Thanks for your help.

[cureton]

Why don't you try the new Bridgestone adrenalin RE002? It comes in 205/55/15 and 225/50/16 and W rating. Load index is 88 resp. 92 which sounds soft enough for our light cars. As I see it this is currently the only tyre enabling us to wear the original rubber size at the correct speed rating. I had the Dunlop 9000 before but wasn't convinced at all, changed to Hankook recently (far better)but only available in 205/50/15. They are still new so haven't tried the Adrenalins. So become a guinea pig (I know you're neither a pig nor italian)and share your views.

[beeka]

Have you found a difference changing to a 50 section front as I am thinking of changing to Yokohama AD08 for sprinting and they are only available in that size? I guess they lower the front down 10mm or so and look a little smaller in the arch. I know TVR specced that tyre size for a while, so they should be fine.
Generally, Toyo T1R's are a very good all round tyre. I use them at the moment to compete in the TVR Speed Champ and they are very competitive, and good on the road too.

[cureton]

Found no difference in changing from 205/55/15 to 205/50/15 on front in terms of handling.Did not change geometry either. I find the Hankook Ventus RS2 alot better than the SP 9000 in terms of grip and stability. Its just the 205/50 may look a bit lost in the wheel arch compared to before but not dramatically. But seems the RS2 will go out of production soon.

[Andy JB]

50 profile tyres don't look lost at the front - they look more suited than 55 or 60 profiles which can appear a tad lofty these days and were original fit on most later Chims especially 500 variants.

Most cars now have adjustable suspension, so if there is a large gap they can lower the ride height buy a few mm which benefits handling too.

[SILICONEKID340HP]

Andy JB said:

50 profile tyres don't look lost at the front - they look more suited than 55 or 60 profiles which can appear a tad lofty these days and were original fit on most later Chims especially 500 variants.

Most cars now have adjustable suspension, so if there is a large gap they can lower the ride height buy a few mm which benefits handling too.

When running 15 and 16" rear or any other combination where front and rears are different ,the objective is get both wall heights exactly the same !(to create the 1" difference the car was designed for)

I found this a problem when running 17`s on all four corners ,the wall heights looked wrong . Front to low profile and rear club footed.