Chim 500 tyres

[Cheshirecat]

Knowing that you are all so knowledgeable, I hope you can help me here at the start of yet another tyre thread!

Made it to Le Mans and back so well that we now needs new tyres. I believe the 500 cars have slightly different tyre sizes/specs ans so have posted this separately.

I am now looking to change these out, the fronts are worn to nearly slicks but rears are ok. I seem only to be able to find either fronts or rears but not both by the same manufacturer, though ideally, I would like to fit the same brand all round.

Dunlops or Toyos have been mentioned in the past (lowered speed rating though?). Or failing this, does anyone know of sets of S02’s in these sizes for sale somewhere as I am drawing blanks.

225/50 ZR15 91W (pair)

245/45 ZR16 94Y (pair)

[Chimjunkie]

I gave up and upgraded the wheels to 17" front, 18 rear!

Would not suggest you use Toyo's. The sidewall is far too soft for such a large profile and low inflation pressure imho. Also, as you say, the speed rating is wrong.

Good luck...

Jon.

[Seasider]

Chimjunkie said:

Would not suggest you use Toyo's. The sidewall is far too soft for such a large profile and low inflation pressure imho.

I'm so glad you said imho...

[Chimjunkie]

Indeed IMHO Seasider! I still use Toyo's on my 17"/18" rims at the moment. But i feel that the sidewall is too soft even with the low profile. I dont pretend to be an expert, but my experience is that the toyo's on 15" rims give considerable sideways deflection when you wobble the car laterally compared to the SO2's i had before. The steering just didn't feel as sharp to me. With my current low profile rims i get a bang when i corner hard whilst accelerating out and then hitting a slight undulation in the road (if that makes any sense?) I read this as the tyre distorting so much that the rim hits the tarmac. Definately not good. Is this just a low profile thing or the tyres??

Always interested in explanations...

Jon.

Edited by Chimjunkie on Sunday 24th June 11:35

[Cheshirecat]

Thanks for your advice Chimjunkie.

I have since trawled various sites again and still cannot match the front and rear.

I live in hope . . . !

[Seasider]

Cheshirecat said:

Thanks for your advice Chimjunkie.

I have since trawled various sites again and still cannot match the front and rear.

I live in hope . . . !

I've found Toyo's to be fine (after a bedding in period) as long as your insurance company are happy with a slightly lower speed rating on the 15". Mine were ok about it but i now dont need to worry as i have 16" fronts

[Griffit]

Chimjunkie said:

I gave up and upgraded the wheels to 17" front, 18 rear!

Would not suggest you use Toyo's. The sidewall is far too soft for such a large profile and low inflation pressure imho. Also, as you say, the speed rating is wrong.

Good luck...

Jon.

Just put new Toyo T1R's on the back of my Griff (after much agonising about performance) and can't stand the feeling of the sidewalls flexing during cornering, it's very disconcerting and even passengers can feel it! As they've a 500 mile satisfaction guarantee I was going to replace them with something with a stiffer sidewall.

Does anybody know the sidewall stiffness/order of the following brands? For reference I was running Conti Sportcontacts (N1 Porsche fitment) previously which were fantastic though less comfortable than the Toyos.

Dunlop SP9000
Bridgestone S03
Goodyear Eagle F1
Falken FK452
Toyo T1R