New Kid On The Block
Discussion
Hi guys and girls,
I'm new to TVR ownership and this Forum as well...I purchased a Chimaera 450 3 weeks ago and am just getting used to it! A track day at Brands last week proved educational, especially on 10-year old T1Rs with 2.5mm tread on the back! Still...I learned a lot.
Having devoured a lot of the content on this Forum over the last couple of weeks, I have since fitted Yoko AD08Rs all round but have had to compromise a bit on the sizes simply because of what's available:
F: 205/50/R15 (86V)
R: 225/50/R16 (92V)
The shockers are Gaz Gold all round so I guess there is some adjustment of ride height possible but I'd be grateful for any replies that tell me what I can expect from fitting these sizes (handling? ride? speedo reading? etc). If I'm honest, the front looks a bit under-tyred now, both in terms of width and sidewall height, but I have so far only driven back from the tyre fitters so yet to experience it on a run.
Thanks,
Colin
I'm new to TVR ownership and this Forum as well...I purchased a Chimaera 450 3 weeks ago and am just getting used to it! A track day at Brands last week proved educational, especially on 10-year old T1Rs with 2.5mm tread on the back! Still...I learned a lot.
Having devoured a lot of the content on this Forum over the last couple of weeks, I have since fitted Yoko AD08Rs all round but have had to compromise a bit on the sizes simply because of what's available:
F: 205/50/R15 (86V)
R: 225/50/R16 (92V)
The shockers are Gaz Gold all round so I guess there is some adjustment of ride height possible but I'd be grateful for any replies that tell me what I can expect from fitting these sizes (handling? ride? speedo reading? etc). If I'm honest, the front looks a bit under-tyred now, both in terms of width and sidewall height, but I have so far only driven back from the tyre fitters so yet to experience it on a run.
Thanks,
Colin
Edited by Colin Newbold on Friday 11th October 14:37
Sardonicus said:
The sizes are fine but 55 profile would have been better at the front the MK1 4.0 cars came with 225 50 16" rear and 205 55 15" front
Back in 1993/94, they were 205/60 x 15 on the front and 225/55 x 16 on the rear! It was the lack of availability of ZR rated tyres that moved the factory to switch to 55 profile on the front and 50 on the rear.https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=13...
Colin, this is the tyre/size combination I've been on for the last couple of years, and half a dozen trackdays and really pleased with them.
They're not R888's and they do tend to overheat towards the end of a session but they give good grip and feedback with a progressive warning of letting go! They are a night and day improvement over the T1 R's which I found very unpredictable. And, importantly, they are a good all weather road tyre.
It's a 500 so the drop in sizes was significant but rear rolling diameter much the same so no speedo issues. The front did look a little under tyred but setting the ride height sorted that.
It's well worth also fitting stiffer springs, I went for 450lb fronts and 375lb rears on Gaz Mono's with little loss of road comfort on a softer setting. Ideally, a little stiffer would be better on track and still, I think, be acceptable on the road.
They're not R888's and they do tend to overheat towards the end of a session but they give good grip and feedback with a progressive warning of letting go! They are a night and day improvement over the T1 R's which I found very unpredictable. And, importantly, they are a good all weather road tyre.
It's a 500 so the drop in sizes was significant but rear rolling diameter much the same so no speedo issues. The front did look a little under tyred but setting the ride height sorted that.
It's well worth also fitting stiffer springs, I went for 450lb fronts and 375lb rears on Gaz Mono's with little loss of road comfort on a softer setting. Ideally, a little stiffer would be better on track and still, I think, be acceptable on the road.
Hi Colin
She looks lovely, did you buy her from Giles Cooper?
Giles Cooper was very very highly recommended to me and I had a long conversation with Giles about your car and he very nearly convinced me to stall with the purchase I was working on and take a close look at your car.
In the end I bought this 450 Chim for similar money ......it’s really got under my skin and having had a 17 year gap in TVR ownership I’ve again fallen madly and deeply. Good news for both of us!
I must take some better photos!
She looks lovely, did you buy her from Giles Cooper?
Giles Cooper was very very highly recommended to me and I had a long conversation with Giles about your car and he very nearly convinced me to stall with the purchase I was working on and take a close look at your car.
In the end I bought this 450 Chim for similar money ......it’s really got under my skin and having had a 17 year gap in TVR ownership I’ve again fallen madly and deeply. Good news for both of us!
I must take some better photos!
My thanks to everyone who has contributed responses to my original thread...much appreciated. Here are some responses:
Firstly to Classic Chim: Ha! We'll see about that...I'm booked in to the AC Owners Club Annual Sprint at Goodwood, Sat 2nd Nov! Any spectators are most welcome...you don't need tickets and it's completely free.
To Dougal9887: Really appreciate the feedback and reassurance. I've no idea what springs I'm running (probably whatever was supplied in the standard Gaz Gold kit). Think I'll do the Sprint as is and see how I go. TBH I've got my eye on the Bilstein set-up that Ben Lang sells specifically for the Chimaera.
To indigochim: Mine was supplied new by Redhill Ltd (tvr-redhill.co.uk) on 10.10.98...is that local to Christopher Neal? I guess so.
To Macbags: Yes, I bought this from Giles Cooper. For a bit of background...when I was 20 (1971) I worked as a salesman for John Britten Garages in Arkley (Barnet), Herts. I was there for two years. I used to buy and sell new TVRs, among other things (I have many a tale I can tell about those days!!!). My boss was Chris Alford who at one time campaigned a TVR M on racetracks. He and I are still friends today. I would even earn extra dosh by helping to build Vixen kit cars in a nearby lock-up so the customers could avoid Car Tax! I sometimes went up to the factory and collected new cars on the customers' behalf, which is how I met Martin Lilley. As you may know, Giles went on to set up the TVR Centre on the same site in Arkley. Despite the fact that he and I even went to some of the same clubs and pubs in those days, we never actually met until now (I think he's got a couple of years on me!). Spooky! Maybe it was meant to be! I have to say the car is pretty spot on in every respect with possibly the fullest service history I have seen on ANY car and Giles' behaviour has been that of a gentleman throughout. I would highly recommend him. Looks like you got what you wanted in the end though, very smart!
And to Andav469: They'll definitley see you coming in that!! Given that the factory chose the 15 F/ 16 R combination, do you think there was a huge amount of strategic planning in that combo (or did they just get offered a job lot of wheels, do you think!)? If so, doesn't a choice of 16s all round give it's own problems?
Once again, grateful for your welcoming me to the tribe with such a plethora of information. I feel I'm among friends already
.
Firstly to Classic Chim: Ha! We'll see about that...I'm booked in to the AC Owners Club Annual Sprint at Goodwood, Sat 2nd Nov! Any spectators are most welcome...you don't need tickets and it's completely free.
To Dougal9887: Really appreciate the feedback and reassurance. I've no idea what springs I'm running (probably whatever was supplied in the standard Gaz Gold kit). Think I'll do the Sprint as is and see how I go. TBH I've got my eye on the Bilstein set-up that Ben Lang sells specifically for the Chimaera.
To indigochim: Mine was supplied new by Redhill Ltd (tvr-redhill.co.uk) on 10.10.98...is that local to Christopher Neal? I guess so.
To Macbags: Yes, I bought this from Giles Cooper. For a bit of background...when I was 20 (1971) I worked as a salesman for John Britten Garages in Arkley (Barnet), Herts. I was there for two years. I used to buy and sell new TVRs, among other things (I have many a tale I can tell about those days!!!). My boss was Chris Alford who at one time campaigned a TVR M on racetracks. He and I are still friends today. I would even earn extra dosh by helping to build Vixen kit cars in a nearby lock-up so the customers could avoid Car Tax! I sometimes went up to the factory and collected new cars on the customers' behalf, which is how I met Martin Lilley. As you may know, Giles went on to set up the TVR Centre on the same site in Arkley. Despite the fact that he and I even went to some of the same clubs and pubs in those days, we never actually met until now (I think he's got a couple of years on me!). Spooky! Maybe it was meant to be! I have to say the car is pretty spot on in every respect with possibly the fullest service history I have seen on ANY car and Giles' behaviour has been that of a gentleman throughout. I would highly recommend him. Looks like you got what you wanted in the end though, very smart!
And to Andav469: They'll definitley see you coming in that!! Given that the factory chose the 15 F/ 16 R combination, do you think there was a huge amount of strategic planning in that combo (or did they just get offered a job lot of wheels, do you think!)? If so, doesn't a choice of 16s all round give it's own problems?
Once again, grateful for your welcoming me to the tribe with such a plethora of information. I feel I'm among friends already
.Edited by Colin Newbold on Monday 14th October 14:50
What a fascinating set of stories you must have.
It was probably still fashionable to have smaller front wheels when Peter Wheeler conceived the Griff/ Chim “and a job lot came along....” who knows
Tyre choice for 16’s and even 17’s is now far better as is tyre technology as I’m sure you know.
Set up properly on good tyres the larger wheel sizes are known to perform very well.
I have 17” allround on Rainsport 3 tyres and the ride / grip is excellent and markedly better than old tyres on original sized wheels.
It was probably still fashionable to have smaller front wheels when Peter Wheeler conceived the Griff/ Chim “and a job lot came along....” who knows
Tyre choice for 16’s and even 17’s is now far better as is tyre technology as I’m sure you know.
Set up properly on good tyres the larger wheel sizes are known to perform very well.
I have 17” allround on Rainsport 3 tyres and the ride / grip is excellent and markedly better than old tyres on original sized wheels.
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