Tyre availability in correct speed rating
Discussion
Is tyre availability a problem again?
I am referring to the 205/55/15 W rated fronts.
When I looked about 6 months ago you could get both Yokohama and Bridgestone in the correct speed rating.
Just checked online and am only coming up with one place for the Bridgestones.
Have manufacturers stopped making these sizes again?
Need to get the wheels refurbished and I can't carry on with 15 year old SO3's for much longer!
I am referring to the 205/55/15 W rated fronts.
When I looked about 6 months ago you could get both Yokohama and Bridgestone in the correct speed rating.
Just checked online and am only coming up with one place for the Bridgestones.
Have manufacturers stopped making these sizes again?
Need to get the wheels refurbished and I can't carry on with 15 year old SO3's for much longer!
I struggled recently also. I could not get the recently recommended tyres Bridgestone RE002 or Rainsports as there was no stock anywhere local. In fact it was almost impossible to get a full set of 4 tyres that matched. There ware a few choices for good fronts and rear, but not matching. I went for Toyo T1R, and sacrificed the speed rating requirement as I needed some tyres that were legal. For what it's worth, TVR Parts have Toyos in the right sizes and speed ratings listed on their site.
Found a tyre place that had one Bridgestone Re002, he phoned round all the suppliers in the South East for another but couldn't get anything W rated.
Demon Tweeks had them listed on their web page but couldn't get hold of any.
I spoke with Bridgestone first thing, who were very helpful. The lady went to their technical team, and called me back, but they didn't know whether there was anything in the pipeline.
I have found another tyre place that claims to have these within 24-48 hours, but it remains to be seen whether they can get them. Will give them a call tomorrow.
I am a little confused by TVR Parts stating the Proxes are W rated. I have always heard they were V rated, and have not seen them listed as anything but. I wonder whether their description is wrong.
The other option is a place near me which has Yokohama S Drives, but I cannot seem to get matching ones for the rear. Why are TVR's so difficult!
Demon Tweeks had them listed on their web page but couldn't get hold of any.
I spoke with Bridgestone first thing, who were very helpful. The lady went to their technical team, and called me back, but they didn't know whether there was anything in the pipeline.
I have found another tyre place that claims to have these within 24-48 hours, but it remains to be seen whether they can get them. Will give them a call tomorrow.
I am a little confused by TVR Parts stating the Proxes are W rated. I have always heard they were V rated, and have not seen them listed as anything but. I wonder whether their description is wrong.
The other option is a place near me which has Yokohama S Drives, but I cannot seem to get matching ones for the rear. Why are TVR's so difficult!
From phoning around a few tyre places, (some went through their multiple suppliers and wholesalers), and could only find one Bridgestone in the whole of the South East.
The two of them that did these searches (apart from the one tyre) could not find any W rated tyres of any brand at all. You just cannot get anything in the correct rating now, it is all V rated 149mph max.
The two of them that did these searches (apart from the one tyre) could not find any W rated tyres of any brand at all. You just cannot get anything in the correct rating now, it is all V rated 149mph max.
Managed to get the correct rated ones through a TVR specialist from TVR parts.
Has made a complete difference, it now rides much more smoothly.
Rather sickeningly though, is that I have picked up a screw through the new rear tyre in under 50 miles
I have only driven it from the specialist home, then on a quick 5-10 mile drive.
Keeping fingers crossed it has not gone right through, as it won't be repairable where it is. I have also had two punctures on my daily driver in the last couple of months. I've had more damaged tyres due to screws and nails in the last 3 months than in the last 10-15 years combined
Hearing a lot of people who have suffered the same.
Has made a complete difference, it now rides much more smoothly.
Rather sickeningly though, is that I have picked up a screw through the new rear tyre in under 50 miles
I have only driven it from the specialist home, then on a quick 5-10 mile drive.
Keeping fingers crossed it has not gone right through, as it won't be repairable where it is. I have also had two punctures on my daily driver in the last couple of months. I've had more damaged tyres due to screws and nails in the last 3 months than in the last 10-15 years combined
Hearing a lot of people who have suffered the same.
Toyo T-1R.
They are the only ones you can get in the correct W rating for the fronts (205/55/15)
These are available (as someone noted above) through TVR parts. I thought it may have been a misprint, but it isn't, they have been specially made for TVR. They even have TVR on the Tyre.
It is surprising the difference new tyres make, the 15 Year old Bridgestone SO3's that were on it had gone rather hard, and were quite crashy over bumps!
They are the only ones you can get in the correct W rating for the fronts (205/55/15)
These are available (as someone noted above) through TVR parts. I thought it may have been a misprint, but it isn't, they have been specially made for TVR. They even have TVR on the Tyre.
It is surprising the difference new tyres make, the 15 Year old Bridgestone SO3's that were on it had gone rather hard, and were quite crashy over bumps!
SILICONEKID 345HP 12.03 said:
Who ever decided the Chimaera needed w rating were idiots .
Who would be qualified to make this decision ? .
Nothing wrong with V rating .
It is more of a compliance/paperwork thing I imagine. V rated tyres are rated to 149mph, the basic Chimaera 4 litre, on paper at least, should top out at 152mph, higher than the tyre rating, (hence the need for W rated ones at a max rating of 168mph)Who would be qualified to make this decision ? .
Nothing wrong with V rating .
Whether you would ever get a Chim or Griff to reach that speed, find anyone that has the balls to do it, and whether you would end up with all the bits on the car you started out with, is a completely different matter entirely
Insurance companies are probably in the main, ok with V ratings, as it is unlikely any Chim or Griff drivers will be getting anywhere near those speeds.
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