Toyo T1R replacements

[taylormj4]

Hi All,
Had Toyo T1R tyres on my Chimaera for years and been happy but they are longer available. What is the consensus please on a good all round tyre.

The Chimaera is a daily driver for me so good grip in the wet is a key one. Had Bridgestone previously and they were frightening in the wet.

I have the stock wheels: 15 front and 16 rear.

Thanks.

[rgw2012]

I recently bought some Toyo T1Rs from TVR Parts who had them in stock and still do according to their website

[indigochim]

I went to Uniroyal Rainsport 3's after many recommendations on here. Fantastic performance in the dry and more importantly amazing stability in the wet. Traveling back from the Silverstone classic in dreadful rain I hit a spot of standing water in lane 3 of the M6 my previous tyres I would have aquaplaned off into the barrier or someone else but not so much as a fidget. Some reviews say they're too soft but for a light car that's fine by me and they're cheap too. Not much more than £300 for a set from Tyreleader.

[sawman]

HHC supplied a set of toyo T1R on my newly acquired chim - in the standard 15/16 sizes - the 15's have the TVR logo on. (dot code 2018) I had it in mind to get a set of rainsports, having had them on other cars and found them excellent. The new toyos seem fine, although I have little to compare them with

[taylormj4]

rgw2012 said:

I recently bought some Toyo T1Rs from TVR Parts who had them in stock and still do according to their website

I wonder if these are old stock as Toyo don't advertise them anymore. Don't want to be buying tyres that are tears old. I might call them. Thanks.

[taylormj4]

indigochim said:

I went to Uniroyal Rainsport 3's after many recommendations on here. Fantastic performance in the dry and more importantly amazing stability in the wet. Traveling back from the Silverstone classic in dreadful rain I hit a spot of standing water in lane 3 of the M6 my previous tyres I would have aquaplaned off into the barrier or someone else but not so much as a fidget. Some reviews say they're too soft but for a light car that's fine by me and they're cheap too. Not much more than £300 for a set from Tyreleader.

Interesting. Can you put a decent amount of power down on a wet road with the Rainsports?

[taylormj4]

sawman said:

HHC supplied a set of toyo T1R on my newly acquired chim - in the standard 15/16 sizes - the 15's have the TVR logo on. (dot code 2018) I had it in mind to get a set of rainsports, having had them on other cars and found them excellent. The new toyos seem fine, although I have little to compare them with

Cool with the TVR logo on. Thanks.

[ecksjay]

T1R are hideous tyres compared to anything half decent. They were crap when they came out and they are absolutely obsolete these days.

Get them slightly warm and they fall apart. Useless in the wet compared to modern tech.

Uniroyal rainsport 3 is worlds better in all conditions. Lots of other modern tyres to choose from also. Even modern 'budget' tyres are far superior to be fair.

[Classic Chim]

taylormj4 said:

Interesting. Can you put a decent amount of power down on a wet road with the Rainsports?

Yes virtually all of it other than say 1st gear.
Night and day difference to T1R which are junk imo.

I wouldn’t put them on if you gave me them.
Seems madness to use these tyres when decent ones are available.

[taylormj4]

Classic Chim said:

Yes virtually all of it other than say 1st gear.
Night and day difference to T1R which are junk imo.

I wouldn’t put them on if you gave me them.
Seems madness to use these tyres when decent ones are available.

Fair enough. The Prices T1R were massively better than the bridgestone S02s in the wet. The T1R were recommended by PHers at the time (2005ish) and I've been using them ever since. I don't do track days but it is a daily spirited drive if given the chance.

I may try the Rainsports if they're that good. Original reports (years ago) from PHers on Rainsports were mixed but may have been an earlier version.
Cheers.

[taylormj4]

ecksjay said:

T1R are hideous tyres compared to anything half decent. They were crap when they came out and they are absolutely obsolete these days.

Get them slightly warm and they fall apart. Useless in the wet compared to modern tech.

Uniroyal rainsport 3 is worlds better in all conditions. Lots of other modern tyres to choose from also. Even modern 'budget' tyres are far superior to be fair.

Sounds like I'm lucky to still be alive I've been happy with them cos they were so much better than the Bridgestone S02s that I first had. Sounds like Rainsports will be awesome.

Edited by taylormj4 on Thursday 17th October 15:30

[ChimpOnGas]

I ran the now discontinued Rainsport 2s for many years and found them excellent, they lasted really well but eventually needed replacing as all tyres do, given my excellent experience with Uniroyal tyres I replaced them with Rainsport 3s which proved even better than the 2s.

As others have said I wouldn't bother with Toyo T1Rs when you can have a far far superior set of Rainsport 3s for more or less the same money.

I use Camskill who are a Uniroyal dealer, they're generally unbeatable on price and their service is excellent too.

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b2829s134p0/Car_Tyre...

TVRs are light cars with wide tyres, this is the perfect recipe for aquaplaning, add in no traction control or ABS in a world where every other car have these huge safety advantages and you want the best tyres you can get, especially in the wet.

Don't skimp on tyres, they're your only contact with the road!

[rgw2012]

taylormj4 said:

rgw2012 said:

I recently bought some Toyo T1Rs from TVR Parts who had them in stock and still do according to their website

I wonder if these are old stock as Toyo don't advertise them anymore. Don't want to be buying tyres that are tears old. I might call them. Thanks.

Nope, they are new stock, with the TVR logo on them (I think they buy batches of them periodically). I know the Uniroyals are a well regarded option but I chose to go with the Toyos as they have performed perfectly in all conditions for me, no hairy traction moments or aquaplaning and I do have a heavy right foot - just my opinion.

[Monsterlime]

I used to run Toyo R1R's on my old Chimaera which had 16 and 17 inch (front/rear) TD alloys and couldn't fault them. Struggled to find them this time, so am fitting Rainsport 3's on Monday to my current car which has 16 inch Imola's all round.

[DVR V8]

Hi. Was recently on Toyo's website and it looks like they have replaced the T1R's with the new TR1. Just had another look and the tread pattern is similar to the rainsport 3's. Plus not sure they do the uniroyals in 15's and 16's.

Edited by DVR V8 on Thursday 17th October 21:15

[indigochim]

taylormj4 said:

Interesting. Can you put a decent amount of power down on a wet road with the Rainsports?

Yep although I tend to take it easy in the damp. No point in pushing it and my luck.

[taylormj4]

rgw2012 said:

Nope, they are new stock, with the TVR logo on them (I think they buy batches of them periodically). I know the Uniroyals are a well regarded option but I chose to go with the Toyos as they have performed perfectly in all conditions for me, no hairy traction moments or aquaplaning and I do have a heavy right foot - just my opinion.

Not just me then on the Toyos. Can't comment on the Rainsports as not tried them but T1Rs have looked after me well in all conditions even light snow, daily driver.

[taylormj4]

Monsterlime said:

I used to run Toyo R1R's on my old Chimaera which had 16 and 17 inch (front/rear) TD alloys and couldn't fault them. Struggled to find them this time, so am fitting Rainsport 3's on Monday to my current car which has 16 inch Imola's all round.

Hi Monsterlime, have you fitted the Rainsports? Would be very interested to hear what you think of them against the T1Rs.

[Classic Chim]

You use your car daily you say. Rainsport 3 will blow T1R out the water.
10 or even 15 years ago Toyo might have been considered a good tyre but even then they were st quite frankly.
Rainsport will be far more suited and far far safer.

[Monsterlime]

taylormj4 said:

Hi Monsterlime, have you fitted the Rainsports? Would be very interested to hear what you think of them against the T1Rs.

I never used T1Rs, but R1Rs. I have recently fitted Rainsports and am very happy with them though.