Tyres again; should be such a simple question....

[kailear]

My recently purchased late 1999 Chim 450 is still running SO2 Potenzas, 245/45/16 on the rear, 225/50/15 on the front as recommended for PAS. Clearly these are a tad past their sell-by date although an excellent tyre. I have been struggling to decide on replacements at each corner and previous threads have left me more confused with regards my choices!

I do not want to replace the rims so 15" will be required for the fronts. I have generally heard praise of the Dunlop SP9000 although they don't appear to do a 245 on a 16" rim. Could somebody please tell me what my options are; I would prefer to have the same make all round and would prefer Z rated so I think that rules out Toyos at the front. I would also prefer to keep the 225s at the front unless I am persuaded otherwise. Looking for a road use tyre offering good performance in the wet as I drive the car in all weather. Would going from a 245 to a 225 on the back make a great deal of difference? Thank you in advance.

[ray_von]

I'm in exactly the same boat and it's a real struggle. It looks like Dunlops fronts and toyo rears is the best bet.
A word of warning though before ordering on the net (if that's what you are going to do) phone up and ask if the firm has actual stock

[thenick]

I wouldn't totally rule out Toyos, I just changed my S02-pp's for T-1Rs on the front and following a couple of hundred miles run in, they really are very good tyres. I bought them based on the amount of good things i've heard about them and on friends experiences and so far i'm very happy indeed. I shall also be using them on the rear as well as soon as they need changing which shouldn't be too long now. When I was looking, I also heard good things about Sp9000's but I found them to be quite a bit more expensive for seemingly no real advantage.

[ray_von]

thenick said:

but I found them to be quite a bit more expensive for seemingly no real advantage.

Apart from being ZR as opposed to V rated, but lets not get into that one
yes I know it was me who brought it up

[dingg]

I've found my insurer was OK to go with v rated for when the fronts need changing
hegarty btw

[Nuggs]

ray_von said:

thenick said:

but I found them to be quite a bit more expensive for seemingly no real advantage.

Apart from being ZR as opposed to V rated, but lets not get into that one
yes I know it was me who brought it up

Just keep below 160mph and you'll be fine.

I love my Toyos, although when it next comes to replacement time I think it may be time to change the wheels - I'm fed up with the difficulties in finding the right size tyres...

[WazzaL]

I have Toyo's on all 4 corners and find they work very well.
Have to admit that the fronts had been used for a couple hundred miles as I took them off my previous car. But they seem to hold the road fantastically well in the dry and have driven the car throughout the winter as well and amazingly I'm still alive..

IMHO they work well with the car and I will definately be using them again when the need arises.