Front tyres: 205 or 225?

[jon h]

I need 2 new front tyres. If I go down the Toyo route, they do a 205/55 or 225/50. I currently have 215/50 fitted (SO1)

The later cars seem to be 225, but mine is early and has no PAS. Any thoughts as to which is the better choice, or does it make little difference?

Possible issues of going wider, I guess, are heavier steering, increased tramlining and possible fouling on the wheel arch.

Cheers

Jon H

[stesrg]

I have so2s 205/55/15 on the front of mine and i do tend to push it a little these are extremley good, as i also have non power steering the latter size you mention will be extremly hard to manuver on parking etc.
Steve.....

[FlipFlopGriff]

Jon,
Pretty sure ours are 205/55ZR15 front and definately 245/45ZR16 rear. They are Toyo Proxes T1-S on OZ multi spokes.
I got the rears from mytyres.co.uk and the fronts from Blackcirlcles (£82 each fitted). I beleive Toyo have a deal on at present (see Sept Sprint).
Did you get my e-mail?
Cheers
FFG

[pebbledash]

mine has PAS and was fitted as standard fromt the factory with 215 fronts and 235 rears.

I think the rule is
205 Front No Pas
225 Front with PAS

245 rears

[jon h]

Thanks All.

FFG. No, I did not get your mail! I still have the washer pipes for you, I guess that is what it was about.

Jon

[homersimpson]

You may have already noticed on page 6 of this months sprint Toyo are offering ten pounds cash back for each Toyo fitted to a TVR

[k77-widow maker]

Toyo's?????









They have to give a rebate to get rid of them it seems!!!
When was the last time Goodyear did that I wonder?

[dans500]

Tyre sizes have changed for the 500, back in 96, before which it should be 205/55, and 225/50 since. This is as you say no pas.
SO2s are there if you trawl around ebay, as I got an unused pair recently for under £100.

[19560]

FlipFlopGriff said:

Pretty sure ours are 205/55ZR15 front and definately 245/45ZR16 rear.

Another thing to bear in mind is that most cars left the factory with a 20mm tyre width difference front to rear (presumably to control the understeer/oversteer balance)ie 205 front, 225 rear or 225 front 245 rear. I haven't seen an early PAS Griff with 225 all round for example.

[19560]

pebbledash said:

mine has PAS and was fitted as standard fromt the factory with 215 fronts and 235 rears. I think the rule is 205 Front No Pas 225 Front with PAS 245 rears

An interesting quote. You know the tyres that were on your car when it left the factory and then invent a rule which your car breaks! Your rule ignors the 20mm theory, see above, but your car does not.

[pebbledash]

19560 said:

pebbledash said: mine has PAS and was fitted as standard fromt the factory with 215 fronts and 235 rears. I think the rule is 205 Front No Pas 225 Front with PAS 245 rears An interesting quote. You know the tyres that were on your car when it left the factory and then invent a rule which your car breaks! Your rule ignors the 20mm theory, see above, but your car does not.

mine is using 245/45/16 on the rear and 225/50/16 on the front.

my original tyre spec is noted in the handbook.. and were also on the car when I got it, but getting 215 and 235 tyres, was getting dificult and more expensive.

[Horse_Apple]

I've just gone back to 205 from 225s, the change is immense.

Took the wagon round the Ring during the annual Bosche trip. It pointed in so beautifully and the whole car was so much better than on the wider tyres.

Must be noted that mine is a non PAS which may make a difference.

[tvr4ever]

Hmmm, mine is a 1993, originaly from Germany. I have 205 on the front and 245 on the rear. These sizes have been on the car from new. In Germany you can't just change tyre size when you want to, they have to make an entry on your vehicle registration and it has to be approved by the German TUV (some sort of MOT).

Maybe cars delivered abbroad then had different tyre sizes from the UK versions ?? Or maybe mine is one of those WT (wider tyre) versions, LOL.

Fred

[gerjo]

245 rear on a 7,5J rim is actually too much; better to stick to 235 max.
I have 225 front's (Toyo's, PAS) and I think they're excellent.

[jon h]

Thanks for all the advice. I have gone for 205s. Ordered yesterday, getting them fitted tomorrow AM.

Cheers

Jon