Tyres for the Chimaera...

[Quietlybonkers]

Don't know what's on my C400 on its 15/16 wheels . And I am not going out with a torch and a notepad in the pouring rain to find out. Don't worry, Niggles has his waterproof cover on........

[JPW231]

JonathanT said:

except on my 450 Chim with PAS I have 205/55/15 and 225/50/16 from new.

Have exactly the same on my 400 :-)

[Podie]

Quietlybonkers said:

Don't know what's on my C400 on its 15/16 wheels . And I am not going out with a torch and a notepad in the pouring rain to find out. Don't worry, Niggles has his waterproof cover on........

Niggles?

[slideways]

Podie said:

Quietlybonkers said:

Don't know what's on my C400 on its 15/16 wheels . And I am not going out with a torch and a notepad in the pouring rain to find out. Don't worry, Niggles has his waterproof cover on........

Niggles?

[Quietlybonkers]

Podie said:

Quietlybonkers said:

Don't know what's on my C400 on its 15/16 wheels . And I am not going out with a torch and a notepad in the pouring rain to find out. Don't worry, Niggles has his waterproof cover on........

Niggles?

So named after the first few weeks of ownership........list ran to about 15 items, mostly thanks to a supplying dealer who did nothing other than wash him, and the previous owner, who had him for three years and did less than 1000 miles. These cars need to be used regularly.....doesn't every car? . All now sorted, so perhaps I had better start a re-naming contest?

[Podie]

Quietlybonkers said:

Podie said:

Quietlybonkers said:

Don't know what's on my C400 on its 15/16 wheels . And I am not going out with a torch and a notepad in the pouring rain to find out. Don't worry, Niggles has his waterproof cover on........

Niggles?

So named after the first few weeks of ownership........list ran to about 15 items, mostly thanks to a supplying dealer who did nothing other than wash him, and the previous owner, who had him for three years and did less than 1000 miles. These cars need to be used regularly.....doesn't every car? . All now sorted, so perhaps I had better start a re-naming contest?

No, no, no, no, NOOOOO!

You can't go renaming things.... Niggles it is.

You also have the perfect username.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I thought I'd dig up this old thread rather than start a new one on this age-old subject.

I need to choose new tyres, and alas it looks like Toyo T1R are no longer available in the correct size for the front.

My car is "standard": Fronts are 205/55/15, rears are 225/50/16. I'm not interested in changing wheel sizes because I want to keep my car original.

Looking at Camskill, I have the following choice for the fronts (which tend to be the limiting factor when it comes to tyre choice):

• Vredestein Sportrac 3 - £90.90
• Continental ContiPremiumContact 2 - £88.40
• Dunlop FastResponse SP - £86.80
• Goodyear NCT5 Eagle - £84.00
• Avon ZV5 Avon ZV 5 - £67.30
• Semperit SpeedLife - £65.70
• Hankook K115 Ventus Prime - £63.70
• Uniroyal RainExpert - £63.30
• Fulda Carat Progresso - £58.20
• Falken ZE914 Ziex Ecorun - £58.10
• Kumho KU31 Ecsta Sport - £56.40
• Falken ZE912 Ziex - £58.10
• Primewell PZ900 - £54.40
• Nexen N2000 - £47.90
• Kormoran Gamma B2 - £41.10
• Nankang NS2 Ultra Sport - £41.20

The Vredesteins do get good reviews, but they are expensive. I don't mind paying a lot for tyres if I know I'm getting something good, but I also know that expensive doesn't necessarily mean good and I'd rather not be a sucker and just buy the most expensive on the list. Also, cheap doesn't necessarily mean bad, but some of the ones lower down on the list do have a lot of terrible reviews, so I'm inclined to avoid brands I've never heard of (Primewell? Kormoran? Fulda?).

I would go for Uniroyal Rainsports, on the basis of at least one recommendation from here, but they're not available in the right size. Would the "Rain Experts" suit a performance car like the Chimaera?

So, from the above list, where would you say is the "sweet spot" between price and performance, and suitability for the car? It's such a shame that the Toyos have gone, because they used to occupy that sweet spot, IMHO. Or should I swallow the cost and go for the Vredesteins?

Remember, I'm only really interested in tyres that can be bought in 205/55/15 and 225/50/16.

I'd value your collective opinions!

[P400PLS]

Not checked availability but have a look at these sites.

http://www.allnewtyres.co.uk/tyre-details.asp?id=2...

http://www.tyredrive.co.uk/tyre.php?tyre=205%2F55+...

[Robert Lees]

Doesn't really apply but I have had vredsteins on my remapped golf gti for years, they are very good. I swapped from sport maxx ( Dunlop) which on the FWD car were pants!. So you won't feel cheated paying more vreds . I have a set of continental sport 3's on now and no quarm going back to Vreds. In fact on camskill they are £20/ tyre cheaper than the continentals.

My experience of Rwd tyres was on my 320d swapped from Bridgestone potenza to nankang thinking I had done well saving £50 ,what a mistake! Car tramlined like nobody's business, especially on motorway where lorries had made a groove, bloody scary.
Don't buy cheap!

[chris1972]

I've used: http://www.mytyres.co.uk quite a few times. hey have always come out the cheapest, If you called the recommended fitter via MyTyres direct, they will quite often beat the web price as well

[Russell Mc]

I bought some new Toyo fronts in the correct size two weeks ago. Give me a min I'll see where I got them from

edit: Here you are http://www.ears.co.uk/m3/Toyo-Tyres/p1020/205/55-1...

Edited by Russell Mc on Monday 28th January 18:58

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Marvellous! Several links for current sellers of Toyos - ta!

[tonyperry57]

I have the Uniroyal Rain Experts on my Chimaera and find them excellent.

[Chimjunkie]

Being frustrated with the lack of decent tyre choice was the reason i went to 17/18" rims years ago. There are not many performance cars with 15" wheels anymore. It is quite popular to get rid of the front 15" rims and fit another pair of 16" rears which then opens up the availability for more choice.
Seriously worth considering Toyo R1-R's or Yokohamma AD08's if you are after more grip than the T1-R's offer. And if you can get them in the right size.

[KSV]

+1 For the uniroyal Rainsports, a good all round tyre.

Colin

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

KSV said:

+1 For the uniroyal Rainsports, a good all round tyre.

Alas, the RainSports are not available in 205/55/15, but the RainExperts are.

[cureton]

David, maybe this: http://www.bridgestone.eu/tyres/car-4x4-and-van/su...

[SILICONEKID350HP]

I still think your would be better off spending the extra and going for the R1R`s ..All the tyres above are a joke !

[Quietlybonkers]

SILICONEKID350HP said:

I still think your would be better off spending the extra and going for the R1R`s ..All the tyres above are a joke !

Where from and how much.....or have you already covered that above? Typed in haste.....tax return deadline looms, still about 15 to file.....

[SILICONEKID350HP]

Quietlybonkers said:

SILICONEKID350HP said:

I still think your would be better off spending the extra and going for the R1R`s ..All the tyres above are a joke !

Where from and how much.....or have you already covered that above? Typed in haste.....tax return deadline looms, still about 15 to file.....

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/parts-and-plates/parts-and-accessories/tvr/toyo-r1r-225-45-16-and-205-50-15/1034258