Tyres for the Chimaera...
Discussion
Chimjunkie said:
A little bit of a summary from my reasonable experience:
Toyo T1-R
This is an ok allround tyre. Very good in the wet and superb in standing water. However, it has considerable sidewall flex causing dullness in handling and instability under heavy braking. A spirited dry trackday will melt the tread blocks as it overheats too easily.
Toyo R1-R
Much softer compound than the T1-R with much more stable tread blocks and stiffer side walls. Good in the wet, very good in the dry. A superb all round tyre. Wears more quickly than some.
Toyo 888's
A medium compound road legal track tyre. Outstanding dry grip, good wet grip when pressing on. Not good at all with standing water. Very capable tyre on track and fast road driving. Much more grip than the above tyres.
Yokohamma AD08
Stiff sidewalls giving good handling feel and good control under braking. Good wet, good dry. Lasts longer than the R1-R's but has slightly less grip in the dry. A very good allround tyre.
This experience is on an 830kg elise and 1000kg lotus Europa.
At the end of the day it really depends on your driving style and the demands you put on the tyres.
That's a great summary Chimjunkie, just what I was after thanks.Toyo T1-R
This is an ok allround tyre. Very good in the wet and superb in standing water. However, it has considerable sidewall flex causing dullness in handling and instability under heavy braking. A spirited dry trackday will melt the tread blocks as it overheats too easily.
Toyo R1-R
Much softer compound than the T1-R with much more stable tread blocks and stiffer side walls. Good in the wet, very good in the dry. A superb all round tyre. Wears more quickly than some.
Toyo 888's
A medium compound road legal track tyre. Outstanding dry grip, good wet grip when pressing on. Not good at all with standing water. Very capable tyre on track and fast road driving. Much more grip than the above tyres.
Yokohamma AD08
Stiff sidewalls giving good handling feel and good control under braking. Good wet, good dry. Lasts longer than the R1-R's but has slightly less grip in the dry. A very good allround tyre.
This experience is on an 830kg elise and 1000kg lotus Europa.
At the end of the day it really depends on your driving style and the demands you put on the tyres.
I have a 450, which is used daily. Don't get time to go out for Sunday drives so just enjoy my car on the commute when I can, so that means wanting to press on when no traffic on country roads, badly surfaced roads in all weathers, although of course being more careful in the wet. I had Bridgestone S02s and SO3s and they were amazing in the dry but made the car scary to drive in heavy rain. The Toyo T1Rs have been much better for me as I want to be able to enjoy driving the car in the wet too. I'm unlikely to do a track day unfortunately. I did notice the softer sidewalls of the T1R, which actually made badly surfaced roads not as annoying. My car use is more GT than trackday. As you say, different needs from different people.
I could stomach some loss of wet grip for better dry grip so it's a decision over the R1Rs or the AD08s.
phazed said:
Thanks phazed but I'd never buy used tyres from anyone. You just don't know what's happened to them, how they've been stored etc. Only needs the steels to be damaged slightly for you to be on the way to a blow out. Just doesn't seem a sensible economy to me. You hope that the delivery drivers and tyre companies appreciate this but still a risk even then I guess.taylormj4 said:
phazed said:
Thanks phazed but I'd never buy used tyres from anyone. You just don't know what's happened to them, how they've been stored etc. Only needs the steels to be damaged slightly for you to be on the way to a blow out. Just doesn't seem a sensible economy to me. You hope that the delivery drivers and tyre companies appreciate this but still a risk even then I guess.They belong to SSPPGG or SPGSteve or is it SteveSPG?
I've just fitted Uniroyal Rain Sport 3's to the front and I'm very impressed. They have replaced Toyo T1R's which I never really got on with 'feel' wise.
I accept that if I was doing track days I might want more of a track tyre but these are great for road driving (and I don't hang about on the roads).
Good luck.
I accept that if I was doing track days I might want more of a track tyre but these are great for road driving (and I don't hang about on the roads).
Good luck.
Edited by A900ss on Tuesday 4th March 16:30
Holy thread resurrection. I've been advised at MOT that my tread is a little low. I did point out the bigger issue was the age of the tyres. They must be ten years old.
Is the position on tyres still the same? I travel very few miles each year, I try to avoid rain, no track days, and not too spirited a driver (what have I become). So Toyo R1-R would be my tyre of choice?
Is the position on tyres still the same? I travel very few miles each year, I try to avoid rain, no track days, and not too spirited a driver (what have I become). So Toyo R1-R would be my tyre of choice?
MuffDaddy said:
Holy thread resurrection. I've been advised at MOT that my tread is a little low. I did point out the bigger issue was the age of the tyres. They must be ten years old.
Is the position on tyres still the same? I travel very few miles each year, I try to avoid rain, no track days, and not too spirited a driver (what have I become). So Toyo R1-R would be my tyre of choice?
Its what most people use.Is the position on tyres still the same? I travel very few miles each year, I try to avoid rain, no track days, and not too spirited a driver (what have I become). So Toyo R1-R would be my tyre of choice?
QBee said:
MuffDaddy said:
Holy thread resurrection. I've been advised at MOT that my tread is a little low. I did point out the bigger issue was the age of the tyres. They must be ten years old.
Is the position on tyres still the same? I travel very few miles each year, I try to avoid rain, no track days, and not too spirited a driver (what have I become). So Toyo R1-R would be my tyre of choice?
Its what most people use.Is the position on tyres still the same? I travel very few miles each year, I try to avoid rain, no track days, and not too spirited a driver (what have I become). So Toyo R1-R would be my tyre of choice?
Whenever I see other Chims, 80% seem to be running T1R's rather than R1R's.
Mine came with Toyo T1-Rs on the car when I bought it. I've been very pleased with them. Over 3 years old and with 8k miles on them there is still plenty of tread too.
Even when you lose traction on a wet surface or under hard braking it is progressive and not sudden. No Hollywood squealing either.
Even when you lose traction on a wet surface or under hard braking it is progressive and not sudden. No Hollywood squealing either.
Just putting R1R's on the Griff. Mrs FFG has had Toyos (T1S, T1R) for 11 years and they have been excellent but she used the car daily so doing a fair few miles. Mine does a few thousand in 5 years so dont get chance to wear a few mm off so going softer compound for better grip and I may even get to wear them out!
Currently 8 year old Dunlops and ythe handling is scary at best with well over 300 torque form about 1,500 revs.
Hopefully get the wheels back mid next week so can update in a few weeks.
FFG
Currently 8 year old Dunlops and ythe handling is scary at best with well over 300 torque form about 1,500 revs.
Hopefully get the wheels back mid next week so can update in a few weeks.
FFG
FlipFlopGriff said:
QBee said:
Sorry Muff Daddy. I misread your post.
T1-Rs are standard fit.
R1-Rs are twice the price, but good for both road and track, wet and dry.
Got my R1R's for £365 (not fitted) for 4 - if you can get 4 x T1R's for £180 I'll have them all.T1-Rs are standard fit.
R1-Rs are twice the price, but good for both road and track, wet and dry.
FFG
QBee said:
Do tell where from. When I looked they were close to R888 price.
Tyretraders near Walsall but dont seem to show any now. Bought them 7 or 8 months ago so they can be fitted without too much running in.http://www.tyretraders.com/
FFG
FlipFlopGriff said:
QBee said:
Do tell where from. When I looked they were close to R888 price.
Tyretraders near Walsall but dont seem to show any now. Bought them 7 or 8 months ago so they can be fitted without too much running in.http://www.tyretraders.com/
FFG
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