R1R,T1R or Rainsport 2???
Discussion
The Chim is really due for 4 new tyres (not due to tread just age, old SO2 & 3s) so after lots of searching it looks like my best options are Toyo R1R, T1R, or Uniroyal Rainsport 2. T1R and Rainsport 2 are about £270 and R1R £335.
I understand the R1R are going to give the best grip in the dry and are supposed to be good for occasional track day, etc but in reality I won't be doing track days and its generally used for days/afternoon runs out and touring the country so obviously going to get caught out in the rain from time to time. I have the Rainsports on my Octavia and they seem OK but obviously Chim could be completely different.
So what do you guys think will be the best option for general use? My main concerns are how do the R1R cope if caught out in a down pour and as T1R seem to have been hit and miss for getting hold of recently if I get a puncture and need a new tyre am I then going to struggle to get another T1R to match.
Any thoughts or advise appreciated.
Mike
I understand the R1R are going to give the best grip in the dry and are supposed to be good for occasional track day, etc but in reality I won't be doing track days and its generally used for days/afternoon runs out and touring the country so obviously going to get caught out in the rain from time to time. I have the Rainsports on my Octavia and they seem OK but obviously Chim could be completely different.
So what do you guys think will be the best option for general use? My main concerns are how do the R1R cope if caught out in a down pour and as T1R seem to have been hit and miss for getting hold of recently if I get a puncture and need a new tyre am I then going to struggle to get another T1R to match.
Any thoughts or advise appreciated.
Mike
I love my R1Rs that are so much better then T1Rs.
You don't get something for nothing though and I'm sure they will wear quicker due to the softer compound.
For me, that doesn't matter if I get better grip. Not just for hooning around but you are going to be safer in everyday use.
How many RV8 tiv owners can practically floor the throttle out of a roundabout in second gear without facing backwards!
With R1Rs you can
As for Rain Sports, I'm having a set fitted to my old Beemer tomorrow for obvious reasons, (good in the rain and not bad in the dry).
Are they better then R1Rs, not a chance!
You don't get something for nothing though and I'm sure they will wear quicker due to the softer compound.
For me, that doesn't matter if I get better grip. Not just for hooning around but you are going to be safer in everyday use.
How many RV8 tiv owners can practically floor the throttle out of a roundabout in second gear without facing backwards!
With R1Rs you can
As for Rain Sports, I'm having a set fitted to my old Beemer tomorrow for obvious reasons, (good in the rain and not bad in the dry).
Are they better then R1Rs, not a chance!
Peter have you used the R1Rs in heavy down Poor's yet as that's my main concern with them I'm not to bothered if they cost a bit more and last a bit less if they give more grip.
I'll have to look into the dunlops too.
Mike
Oh and as for flooring it in second my baby 400 with a 72k cam means I don't have to much trouble in that aspect
I'll have to look into the dunlops too.
Mike
Oh and as for flooring it in second my baby 400 with a 72k cam means I don't have to much trouble in that aspect
Edited by BIGMIKE1 on Wednesday 29th May 22:34
Thanks for the offer Peter but we're a bit far apart unless of course I can get down to Santa pod this weekend
Well the Dunlops don't come in my sizes anyway so if the R1Rs are ok in the rain it looks like they're the ones, although I'm sure I found the rears in W rating but now I can only find V rating??? Although I suppose its only the same as the front's anyway.
Mike
Well the Dunlops don't come in my sizes anyway so if the R1Rs are ok in the rain it looks like they're the ones, although I'm sure I found the rears in W rating but now I can only find V rating??? Although I suppose its only the same as the front's anyway.
Mike
BIGMIKE1 said:
Thanks for the offer Peter but we're a bit far apart unless of course I can get down to Santa pod this weekend
Well the Dunlops don't come in my sizes anyway so if the R1Rs are ok in the rain it looks like they're the ones, although I'm sure I found the rears in W rating but now I can only find V rating??? Although I suppose its only the same as the front's anyway.
Mike
Don't go to SP specifically, my familly have decided as the weather is going to be good on Saturday, we're having a barbecue for 20 at least and I'm the cook!Well the Dunlops don't come in my sizes anyway so if the R1Rs are ok in the rain it looks like they're the ones, although I'm sure I found the rears in W rating but now I can only find V rating??? Although I suppose its only the same as the front's anyway.
Mike
You won't regret the R1Rs, they really are good.
Try; Tyredrive.co.uk
They did great prices for me.
phazed said:
Don't go to SP specifically, my familly have decided as the weather is going to be good on Saturday, we're having a barbecue for 20 at least and I'm the cook!
Another dropout? 
I was hoping to see you there Peter. Racing you for that 12.4 NA record. Whatever happens have a great day
I have R1R's on my Chim, and they have been excellent in the wet (and dry).
Granted, I don't go mad in the wet, but have never felt like they were about to let go etc.
They are also wearing quite well, although we'll see what they are like once I put around 1500 - 2000 miles on them at the end of June.
Granted, I don't go mad in the wet, but have never felt like they were about to let go etc.
They are also wearing quite well, although we'll see what they are like once I put around 1500 - 2000 miles on them at the end of June.
BIGMIKE1 said:
The Chim is really due for 4 new tyres (not due to tread just age, old SO2 & 3s) so after lots of searching it looks like my best options are Toyo R1R, T1R, or Uniroyal Rainsport 2. T1R and Rainsport 2 are about £270 and R1R £335.
Mike
I'm seriously considering the R1R too but £335 for 4 sounds like a steal. What sizes are these?Mike
I've seen the fronts (15") a shade under a ton and the rears (16") about £130-140 so about £450 for 4.
FFG
FlipFlopGriff said:
I'm seriously considering the R1R too but £335 for 4 sounds like a steal. What sizes are these?
I've seen the fronts (15") a shade under a ton and the rears (16") about £130-140 so about £450 for 4.
FFG
Mine are 205 50 15 and 225 50 16, fronts are £65.30 and rears £110.65 for some reason the price has gone up by about £20 in last few days unless its because they're now showing V rating and I'm sure was W before. These are from Tyre Trader and there's a discount code "casper" which gets another few quid off!I've seen the fronts (15") a shade under a ton and the rears (16") about £130-140 so about £450 for 4.
FFG
I went with Rainsport 2's as a replacement to my Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3's.
My thinking was I needed a decent road tyre, because I drive on the road.
At this point there are a couple of things people should be reminded of:
1) The combination of a very light car with wide tyres is the perfect recipe for aquaplaning
2) You can't predict the British weather
These two things were brought home to me in dramatic style when following a mate of mine driving his Tuscan up the M1 during one of those unpredicted sudden & torrential summer downpours.
We were both being extremely cautious.
What happened next will stay with me forever and has driven my tyre choice ever since.
Without warning the Tuscan went up on a section of unavoidable standing water, then into the barrier (twice), then slewed pirouetting across all three lanes miraculously ending up in the hard shoulder pointing in the right direction.
Fortunately my Tuscan owning mate was fine, sadly his Tuscan didn't fare so well & was a total loss.
And all this at 50mph tops!
From that day on I swore I would never skimp on tyres & my key focus would be to choose a tyre that would cope well with standing water.
The Rainsport 2's won't compete with Toyo R1R on a dry track, but that doesn't mean they're not a sport tyre.
In my opinion tyre choice should be governed by what you genuinely use the car for, not driven by fashion or peer pressure.
This requires you to be honest with yourself about what you really need, not what you think you want.
Tyres are your only contact with the road, if you aquaplane you completely lose that contact.
So for me who drives exclusively on the road, my Chimaera gets the best rain tyres with a sporting slant I can find.
And that means Rainsport 2's.
My thinking was I needed a decent road tyre, because I drive on the road.
At this point there are a couple of things people should be reminded of:
1) The combination of a very light car with wide tyres is the perfect recipe for aquaplaning
2) You can't predict the British weather
These two things were brought home to me in dramatic style when following a mate of mine driving his Tuscan up the M1 during one of those unpredicted sudden & torrential summer downpours.
We were both being extremely cautious.
What happened next will stay with me forever and has driven my tyre choice ever since.
Without warning the Tuscan went up on a section of unavoidable standing water, then into the barrier (twice), then slewed pirouetting across all three lanes miraculously ending up in the hard shoulder pointing in the right direction.
Fortunately my Tuscan owning mate was fine, sadly his Tuscan didn't fare so well & was a total loss.
And all this at 50mph tops!
From that day on I swore I would never skimp on tyres & my key focus would be to choose a tyre that would cope well with standing water.
The Rainsport 2's won't compete with Toyo R1R on a dry track, but that doesn't mean they're not a sport tyre.
In my opinion tyre choice should be governed by what you genuinely use the car for, not driven by fashion or peer pressure.
This requires you to be honest with yourself about what you really need, not what you think you want.
Tyres are your only contact with the road, if you aquaplane you completely lose that contact.
So for me who drives exclusively on the road, my Chimaera gets the best rain tyres with a sporting slant I can find.
And that means Rainsport 2's.
ChimpOnGas said:
I went with Rainsport 2's as a replacement to my Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3's.
My thinking was I needed a decent road tyre, because I drive on the road.
At this point there are a couple of things people should be reminded of:
1) The combination of a very light car with wide tyres is the perfect recipe for aquaplaning
2) You can't predict the British weather
These two things were brought home to me in dramatic style when following a mate of mine driving his Tuscan up the M1 during one of those unpredicted sudden & torrential summer downpours.
We were both being extremely cautious.
What happened next will stay with me forever and has driven my tyre choice ever since.
Without warning the Tuscan went up on a section of unavoidable standing water, then into the barrier (twice), then slewed pirouetting across all three lanes miraculously ending up in the hard shoulder pointing in the right direction.
Fortunately my Tuscan owning mate was fine, sadly his Tuscan didn't fare so well & was a total loss.
And all this at 50mph tops!
From that day on I swore I would never skimp on tyres & my key focus would be to choose a tyre that would cope well with standing water.
The Rainsport 2's won't compete with Toyo R1R on a dry track, but that doesn't mean they're not a sport tyre.
In my opinion tyre choice should be governed by what you genuinely use the car for, not driven by fashion or peer pressure.
This requires you to be honest with yourself about what you really need, not what you think you want.
Tyres are your only contact with the road, if you aquaplane you completely lose that contact.
So for me who drives exclusively on the road, my Chimaera gets the best rain tyres with a sporting slant I can find.
And that means Rainsport 2's.
What size did you go for in the end ? you mentioned a much larger diameter for slightly lower rpm .My thinking was I needed a decent road tyre, because I drive on the road.
At this point there are a couple of things people should be reminded of:
1) The combination of a very light car with wide tyres is the perfect recipe for aquaplaning
2) You can't predict the British weather
These two things were brought home to me in dramatic style when following a mate of mine driving his Tuscan up the M1 during one of those unpredicted sudden & torrential summer downpours.
We were both being extremely cautious.
What happened next will stay with me forever and has driven my tyre choice ever since.
Without warning the Tuscan went up on a section of unavoidable standing water, then into the barrier (twice), then slewed pirouetting across all three lanes miraculously ending up in the hard shoulder pointing in the right direction.
Fortunately my Tuscan owning mate was fine, sadly his Tuscan didn't fare so well & was a total loss.
And all this at 50mph tops!
From that day on I swore I would never skimp on tyres & my key focus would be to choose a tyre that would cope well with standing water.
The Rainsport 2's won't compete with Toyo R1R on a dry track, but that doesn't mean they're not a sport tyre.
In my opinion tyre choice should be governed by what you genuinely use the car for, not driven by fashion or peer pressure.
This requires you to be honest with yourself about what you really need, not what you think you want.
Tyres are your only contact with the road, if you aquaplane you completely lose that contact.
So for me who drives exclusively on the road, my Chimaera gets the best rain tyres with a sporting slant I can find.
And that means Rainsport 2's.
SILICONEKID350HP said:
What size did you go for in the end ? you mentioned a much larger diameter for slightly lower rpm .
The fronts stayed the same size, I just went up one profile on the rears.TBH it's more about touring comfort than any negligible gearing change.
I now have a full set of new Rainsport 2's in the following sizes fitted to my power steering equipped 4.0 litre Chim.
Front: 205/50 R16 87V
Rear: 225/55 R16 87V
Rather than the 168 MPH "W" I went with the 149 MPH "V" rated, because in my opinion the softer sidewall is better suited to such a light car.
My insurance company were happy with this, anyway to get the speed rating a tyre must be tested at a speed 10% higher than it's rating for 15 minutes.
That means a "V" rated tyre are proven safe to well over 160 MPH sustained, more than enough for my 261hp Ol Gasbag me thinks.
So my tyre choice is nothing revolutionary, unfashionably I went for safety & comfort.
However, to my delight not only do the Rainsports offer an excellent ride & wet weather performance, their dry grip has turned out to be excellent too.
I'm very happy with them so far, they are well priced and you should see the tread depth on them.
Deep treads aren't suited to the track but as I don't track the car that's irrelevant, however it should mean they'll wear very well.
Horses for courses & all that, they may not be the ultimate choice for the track day heroes amongst you, but perfect for my real world needs.
And a far better dry sport tyre than you might think, with the added confidence the car is far less likely to aquaplane in a sudden downpour.
Edited by ChimpOnGas on Thursday 30th May 18:32
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