Tyres !

[D9 TVR]

My Griffith 2002 SE is in need for its first set of new Tyres, Car only done 19,000 miles. Its fitted with 16" inch Wheels all round, rear Tyres 245/45/16...front Tyres 225/45/16...what i would like to do is fit 245/45/16 to the front as well, seems plenty of room in the wing to me as of course the 245 is just slightly taller than the 225. Sure someone has fitted all 4 Tyres the same size, also so far phoneing around Tyre Dealers seems 225 hard to come by ?. Pete.

[tivver500]

If yours is like mine you'll find that the front wheels are narrower than the rear - hence the narrower tyres!!
The models with power steering (not mine!) do have a slightly wider tyre but not as wide as the rear.
With standard rubber they handle just fine.
I replaced the original Bridgestone SO2's with Toyo Proxes which seem to do the job. Just increase pressures all round by a couple of psi.

[QBee]

If only for road use, then Toyo T1R are a good tyre used by many Griff and Chim owners, including a good friend of mine whose judgement I would trust.
They are available in both sizes you list for £90 front and £127 rear from mytyres.co.uk, for example. Research online and you might get better prices.

[D9 TVR]

OK thanks for info, my Car has 7J wheels all round, i was more worried that it appears that TVR use slightly smaller Tyres to front...than rear !. Proberly i will chance it and go for "145s" all round, Car has Power steering. Pete.

[Quinny]

D9 TVR said:

Proberly i will chance it and go for "145s" all round, Car has Power steering. Pete.

You might find 145's a bit narrow


But seriously, I personaly wouldn't be going for 245's on the front.... They will exaggerate any irregularities in the road, and you may end up with the tyres steering the car, rather than you and the steering wheel...225's are a good size for fronts, I'd stick with em

[QBee]

Surprised your rears are 7J. 245 (9.6 inches) is a very wide tyre for a 7J wheel.
I am fairly sure my original Chimaera rears were 7.5J. My SP12 wheels are 8J rears and I run them with 235 tyres.

The Steve Heath bible lists the last 2002 Griff wheels as being 7.5J x 16 inch front and rear.
It also lists the tyres as 225/45 front and 245/45 rear.
They were that size for a reason. TVR did most things for a reason.
I would advise listening to Quinny and not making the fronts too wide.

[Johno]

80k miles on 225/45 245/45 x 16's and I wouldn't think of going to 245's on the front, no need. As I wouldn't consider going any wider on the rear either, or 18's or trackday tyres either ....

But that makes me terribly old hat and boring if the forum regulars hear me say such blasphemous utterings ... 16's suit the primitive suspension, 225's suit the power steering set up and any wider will just cause issues as highlighted already. Especially if this is just a road car.

I've run Bridgestone S02's, S03's and then Toyo T1S's and then the later T1R's and they've all been very good. The S02's being the best, although any change of tyre will improve your cars handling as your tyres are well past their use by date.

If I haven't worn out a set in 18mths to 2yrs I'd change them as a matter of course anyway.

[anonymous-user]

D9 TVR said:

i was more worried that it appears that TVR use slightly smaller Tyres to front...than rear !.

All Griffs and Chims use smaller fronts. They were deliberately designed that way. If you want to change the size you should reset ride height & geometry to match.

[QBee]

dod said:

D9 TVR said:

i was more worried that it appears that TVR use slightly smaller Tyres to front...than rear !.

All Griffs and Chims use smaller fronts. They were deliberately designed that way. If you want to change the size you should reset ride height & geometry to match.

....which will add at least £100 to your bill.....

[Quinny]

dod said:

ll Griffs and Chims use smaller fronts. They were deliberately designed that way. If you want to change the size you should reset ride height & geometry to match.

This isn't quite correct...... I believe the last 100 SE Griff's came with 16's front and rear

[TA14]

Quinny said:

dod said:

All Griffs and Chims use smaller fronts. They were deliberately designed that way. If you want to change the size you should reset ride height & geometry to match.

This isn't quite correct...... I believe the last 100 SE Griff's came with 16's front and rear

It is correct, even for the last 100 or so Griffs. Dod was talking about the front tyres which are a smaller rolling radius than the rear tyres.

[davep]

Wow! It's just like the old days in here: What tyres?, Quinny, Johno and the master of correctitude, TA14. Where's the popcorn eating LordGrover these days?

Incidently, this online tyre dealer is offering Bridgestone SO2s in the 245/45/16 size:

http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre/bridgestone-s-02 *

• note: no mention of N3 in the tyre description.

[TA14]

davep said:

Wow! It's just like the old days in here: What tyres?, Quinny, Johno and the master of correctitude, TA14. Where's the popcorn eating LordGrover these days?

Incidently, this online tyre dealer is offering Bridgestone SO2s in the 245/45/16 size:

http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre/bridgestone-s-02 *

• note: no mention of N3 in the tyre description.

Whilst we're at it no mention of PP in that link either

[QBee]

I also suspect that 245s on the front might catch on the wheel arches. I just wouldn't risk it myself.

However, you could try swapping your present wheels/tyres front to rear to find out :

a) if 245s catch on the front on full lock and
b) how it drives with the wider fronts.

[davep]

TA14 said:

Whilst we're at it no mention of PP in that link either

QED

[leerdam23]

Throwing a spanner in the works here, anyone tried the Uniroyal Rainsport 3 yet. They are available in 205 55 15 so fit on the original front wheels.....

[anonymous-user]

TA14 said:

Quinny said:

dod said:

All Griffs and Chims use smaller fronts. They were deliberately designed that way. If you want to change the size you should reset ride height & geometry to match.

This isn't quite correct...... I believe the last 100 SE Griff's came with 16's front and rear

It is correct, even for the last 100 or so Griffs. Dod was talking about the front tyres which are a smaller rolling radius than the rear tyres.

[D9 TVR]

OK Guys put the 245s on the front just to see how it looks, does not look right...far to tall in the wing.so will be keeping it "HOW IT WAS BUILT" 245 to the rear...225 to the fronts. All SE models came this way as far as i can tell. Pete.

[Dr Wolff]

D9 TVR said:

OK Guys put the 245s on the front just to see how it looks, does not look right...far to tall in the wing.so will be keeping it "HOW IT WAS BUILT" 245 to the rear...225 to the fronts. All SE models came this way as far as i can tell. Pete.

I can confirm that (SE No 57)

[Dougal]

I don't know if they do the size or not, but I have tried a little experiment with tyres recently on the XFS, very different car I know, but I think these tyres have really good characteristics for a Griff (feel similar to T1R's, but better latteral stability, may be due to stiffer sidewall), with really progressive breakaway and a good amount of grip. Breaking doesn't feel compromised by any lack of grip and wheelspin is significantly reduced over the J marked Dunlop sportmaxx OEM tyres which, once wheelspin had started power had to be cut completely to re-establish grip. Seriously considering putting them on the Griff when the time comes. They are Federal EVO 595's and they are budget, but I prefer them to the J marked Dunlops on the Jag.