Toyo tyres.....again
Discussion
Hi guys
Trying to source a Toyo tyre for the front of my Chimaera. Had a tracking problem with the steering and have managed to wear the left front on the outer shoulder only.
The tyres were fitted a couple of years back, but have seen very little mileage.
I have Toyo tyres on the rear so if i need to fit 2 new tyres to the front i would like to keep all 4 wheels on the same tyres.
My question is the original size i have on the front now is 205/55/15.
You cannot get this size Toyo tyre anywhere now but you can get 205/50/15 in a TR1.
Am i right to think this will be approx 10mm smaller in the overall diameter ?
Would it be ok to use this size on the front ?
Trying to source a Toyo tyre for the front of my Chimaera. Had a tracking problem with the steering and have managed to wear the left front on the outer shoulder only.
The tyres were fitted a couple of years back, but have seen very little mileage.
I have Toyo tyres on the rear so if i need to fit 2 new tyres to the front i would like to keep all 4 wheels on the same tyres.
My question is the original size i have on the front now is 205/55/15.
You cannot get this size Toyo tyre anywhere now but you can get 205/50/15 in a TR1.
Am i right to think this will be approx 10mm smaller in the overall diameter ?
Would it be ok to use this size on the front ?
Yes you're correct ~10mm reduction in radius. This site will allow you to compare options.
ks years ago, are they that bad these days?I'm currently running Toyo TR1's on both my Griff and SEAC.
When I first changed the Griff ones (to T1R's then) back in 2010, I didn't like them at all, 'jelly baby' is actually a great description of how they felt compared to the original Bridgestone's! However, trying out various pressures and eventually deciding a 2psi increase all round over the handbook figures gave the best results, I am very happy with the handling and compliance of these tyres for the road.
When I first changed the Griff ones (to T1R's then) back in 2010, I didn't like them at all, 'jelly baby' is actually a great description of how they felt compared to the original Bridgestone's! However, trying out various pressures and eventually deciding a 2psi increase all round over the handbook figures gave the best results, I am very happy with the handling and compliance of these tyres for the road.
TA14 said:
TarquinMX5 said:
205/50/15 were std fit on some cars from '96, so shouldn't be a problem.
205/60/15 were standard fit.All I'm saying is that 205/50/15 was one of the sizes fitted (front) by the factory; the wheel sizes were the same, so it won't cause a problem for the OP.
TarquinMX5 said:
Well, all sorts of sizes were 'standard fit', even just on the front, over the years, depending on whether PAS fitted or not and availability, which was variable even back in the day. (eg. my 'std-fit' fronts were 205/55/15s)
All I'm saying is that 205/50/15 was one of the sizes fitted (front) by the factory; the wheel sizes were the same, so it won't cause a problem for the OP.
The chassis started off with 215/50/15. Then, when the Chim was launched it had 205/60/15s because it was supposed to be a more comfortable, cruising alternative to the Griff. Then 205/55/15s were fitted to both cars because the 215s were becoming difficult to locate. Then 225/50/15s were fitted to some cars; some correlation with PAS but mainly just whether the owner wanted the wider tyres. 205/50/15 was not fitted as new.All I'm saying is that 205/50/15 was one of the sizes fitted (front) by the factory; the wheel sizes were the same, so it won't cause a problem for the OP.
As posted above, you can still get things like the Yokohama Advan in V rating or the Vredstein in a W rating in 205/55/15. Vredstein even do the original 215/50/15 - bit pricey though.
Having said all of that though, the OP wants to keep Toyos all round so the obvious answer would be to fit 225/50/15 TR-1s as fitted originally to many cars (well, it was TS1s then.)
I don't wish, and have no intention, of getting into a slanging match; I didn't work for TVR fitting tyres so can't say "well, I fitted some", however, 205/50/15 are listed in the bible as having been fitted, although I wouldn't want to rely on that as evidence in court 
Everybody has their own opinion on tyre brands, much like oil, but if it helps the OP my car was fitted with 205/50/15s about 20-years ago and I don't recall any issues.
The diameter difference according to that link, and also the bible, is 20.6mm, rather than the 10mm diameter difference mentioned by OP; the only thing I can think of that might be an issue is the slightly reduced height if the car still has the spoiler, depends where/how you drive
Everybody has their own opinion on tyre brands, much like oil, but if it helps the OP my car was fitted with 205/50/15s about 20-years ago and I don't recall any issues.
The diameter difference according to that link, and also the bible, is 20.6mm, rather than the 10mm diameter difference mentioned by OP; the only thing I can think of that might be an issue is the slightly reduced height if the car still has the spoiler, depends where/how you drive
TarquinMX5 said:
I don't wish, and have no intention, of getting into a slanging match; I didn't work for TVR fitting tyres so can't say "well, I fitted some", however, 205/50/15 are listed in the bible as having been fitted, although I wouldn't want to rely on that as evidence in court
If you search back far enough on PH you'll find that Steve stated that he made an error there. It will be about 2003.Have a similar problem with my Lotus Excel, original fitment was 215/50/15 but they are virtually unobtainable, one manufacturer and expensive.
Car has Goodyears of this size on the rear but they are so old there's no date on them. Fronts have been replaced with Toyo TR1 205/50/15. (225 won't fit a as they rub apparently.
When replacing the rears, I would like to keep to Toyo as I've been happy with them in the past and they'd match the fronts but tempted to try Rainsprout 5s as there's a lot of good reviews of them. I'll probably procrastinate for far longer than I should. The reason I haven't replaced the tyres on my 350i. (Two sets of wheels, can't decide which to use).
Car has Goodyears of this size on the rear but they are so old there's no date on them. Fronts have been replaced with Toyo TR1 205/50/15. (225 won't fit a as they rub apparently.
When replacing the rears, I would like to keep to Toyo as I've been happy with them in the past and they'd match the fronts but tempted to try Rainsprout 5s as there's a lot of good reviews of them. I'll probably procrastinate for far longer than I should. The reason I haven't replaced the tyres on my 350i. (Two sets of wheels, can't decide which to use).
Skyedriver said:
Have a similar problem with my Lotus Excel, original fitment was 215/50/15 but they are virtually unobtainable, one manufacturer and expensive.
Takes me back to when I had an Excel - I seem to recall that virtually no other cars shared their tyre size.So on our 8th (rubber) Wedding Anniversary, when all my mates are making ooh err jokes about what I was going to give my wife, I took great pleasure in telling them I was driving 100 miles to pick up a tyre for the Lotus :-)
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff