Sorry tyres again
Discussion
never_thought_id_buy said:
There seemed to be a bit of wander at motorway speeds but other than that I've no complaints.
Do you still have spoiler on the front of your car? I was astounded at what a difference it made after fitting one. Mine was missing when I bought the car and many have them missing.To Geordiepingu:
Try softening the Nitrons off a few clicks re the ride - they are adjustables, so adjust them. Anti clockwise to soften, but you probably knew that.
Re the cornering, I have never had the understeer issue with RS3s, so I suggest you get it 4 wheel alignment done by a TVR person as suggested above. My car has slightly more front camber than standard, about -1 degree, as a compromise setting for road and track. It doesn't wear the tyre edges at all, and gives much more confidence with the handling.
Finally, I personally would never use R888Rs as a wet weather tyre. They are a road legal track tyre. Yes, they can handle a little water, but not a lot. I had to drive 45 miles back from a track day on them once in a downpour - real brown trouser journey, especially with "Handbrake" in the passenger seat. I was driving at 35 mph concentrating like mad on the lakes on the dual carriageway A46, even at 35 mph, praying nobody was going to hit me up the rear number plate.
Try softening the Nitrons off a few clicks re the ride - they are adjustables, so adjust them. Anti clockwise to soften, but you probably knew that.
Re the cornering, I have never had the understeer issue with RS3s, so I suggest you get it 4 wheel alignment done by a TVR person as suggested above. My car has slightly more front camber than standard, about -1 degree, as a compromise setting for road and track. It doesn't wear the tyre edges at all, and gives much more confidence with the handling.
Finally, I personally would never use R888Rs as a wet weather tyre. They are a road legal track tyre. Yes, they can handle a little water, but not a lot. I had to drive 45 miles back from a track day on them once in a downpour - real brown trouser journey, especially with "Handbrake" in the passenger seat. I was driving at 35 mph concentrating like mad on the lakes on the dual carriageway A46, even at 35 mph, praying nobody was going to hit me up the rear number plate.
Classic Chim said:
PhilF329 said:
What pressure do you have in the tyres? If they’ve just been fitted they might have 36psi in them, which seems to be the default pressure tyre shops use
Agreed. It’s to make sure the tyre glue works. Why they don’t re adjust them down is another question.
QBee said:
To Geordiepingu:
Try softening the Nitrons off a few clicks re the ride - they are adjustables, so adjust them. Anti clockwise to soften, but you probably knew that.
Re the cornering, I have never had the understeer issue with RS3s, so I suggest you get it 4 wheel alignment done by a TVR person as suggested above. My car has slightly more front camber than standard, about -1 degree, as a compromise setting for road and track. It doesn't wear the tyre edges at all, and gives much more confidence with the handling.
Finally, I personally would never use R888Rs as a wet weather tyre. They are a road legal track tyre. Yes, they can handle a little water, but not a lot. I had to drive 45 miles back from a track day on them once in a downpour - real brown trouser journey, especially with "Handbrake" in the passenger seat. I was driving at 35 mph concentrating like mad on the lakes on the dual carriageway A46, even at 35 mph, praying nobody was going to hit me up the rear number plate.
Thanks, that was my thought RE front camber. I have no real concern with the tyre wear, it will be nowhere as aggressive as my MX-5 was. I have 22 psi on the front right now down from 24, yet to try it as I need to weld a new anti roll bar mount onto the rear wishbone (thanks Newcastle). Adjusting the damping is last on my list as I'm a firm believer (pun not intended) the tyres have a bit more responsibility before I change the damping settings I've been happy with for best part of a year! I figure the stiffer sidewalls will lead me to do that though, I just like complaining for complaining's sake.Try softening the Nitrons off a few clicks re the ride - they are adjustables, so adjust them. Anti clockwise to soften, but you probably knew that.
Re the cornering, I have never had the understeer issue with RS3s, so I suggest you get it 4 wheel alignment done by a TVR person as suggested above. My car has slightly more front camber than standard, about -1 degree, as a compromise setting for road and track. It doesn't wear the tyre edges at all, and gives much more confidence with the handling.
Finally, I personally would never use R888Rs as a wet weather tyre. They are a road legal track tyre. Yes, they can handle a little water, but not a lot. I had to drive 45 miles back from a track day on them once in a downpour - real brown trouser journey, especially with "Handbrake" in the passenger seat. I was driving at 35 mph concentrating like mad on the lakes on the dual carriageway A46, even at 35 mph, praying nobody was going to hit me up the rear number plate.
Should probably also mention I bought the RS5s as they were the only tyre I could find off the shelf that fit the Imolas at short notice - didn't quite realise how shot the Toyos were until the weekend before a 1000 mile round trip in January when I was cleaning the car!
Edited by geordiepingu on Monday 22 February 12:08
geordiepingu said:
I did a recent swap from 8 year old Toyo T1Rs that started splitting to RS5s, and can definitely agree with you with regards to the wet grip. It's phenomenal. I've never had the confidence to make as much progress in the TVR in the wet until I put RS5s on. I do however notice a significant more bit understeer from the front now, and the dry grip is definitely not as good.
I have got Rainsport 5S (XL) on the rear, still got the outgoing Eagle Assymetric 3s on the front. They are pumped to 24psi, and the amount of lateral movement is phenomenal - scary even...
Every time you corner, the rear steps out a considerable amount with a very "elastic" feeling - meaning the car over-rotates unless you lessen the steering input to compensate - and although it has never lost grip and slid, it's a very disconcerting feeling that does not inspire confidence... (obviously never did this with the previous Eagle AS3's)
While this may change if all 4 tyres were the same, the lateral movement I have experienced makes me wonder if it might be worse with all 4 - and unless I can find a way of stopping this lateral movement, I am considering going back to Eagle AS5s as their wet weather performance seems extremely good too...
Any RS3/5 users come across this before, and know how to minimise it..?
Dominic TVRetto said:
I have got Rainsport 5S (XL) on the rear, still got the outgoing Eagle Assymetric 3s on the front.
They are pumped to 24psi, and the amount of lateral movement is phenomenal - scary even...
Every time you corner, the rear steps out a considerable amount with a very "elastic" feeling - meaning the car over-rotates unless you lessen the steering input to compensate - and although it has never lost grip and slid, it's a very disconcerting feeling that does not inspire confidence... (obviously never did this with the previous Eagle AS3's)
While this may change if all 4 tyres were the same, the lateral movement I have experienced makes me wonder if it might be worse with all 4 - and unless I can find a way of stopping this lateral movement, I am considering going back to Eagle AS5s as their wet weather performance seems extremely good too...
Any RS3/5 users come across this before, and know how to minimise it..?
Go with the tyre with the performance you prefer. I would not run completely different tyres on front to rear. They are pumped to 24psi, and the amount of lateral movement is phenomenal - scary even...
Every time you corner, the rear steps out a considerable amount with a very "elastic" feeling - meaning the car over-rotates unless you lessen the steering input to compensate - and although it has never lost grip and slid, it's a very disconcerting feeling that does not inspire confidence... (obviously never did this with the previous Eagle AS3's)
While this may change if all 4 tyres were the same, the lateral movement I have experienced makes me wonder if it might be worse with all 4 - and unless I can find a way of stopping this lateral movement, I am considering going back to Eagle AS5s as their wet weather performance seems extremely good too...
Any RS3/5 users come across this before, and know how to minimise it..?
RS3 have a softer side wall I would expect so similar in effect to having softer shocks on the rear!
I’d check my geo settings especially toe in on the rears if it’s not been done recently.
Is there a big difference in price from RS5 to your AS5s
When I went from a stiff sidewall tyre to RS3 the car felt a big vague at first and almost wobbly on the tyres.
You need to run the RS TYRE A GOOD 50 miles and get them hot then they grip up it seemed to me.
After a few days the wobbling effect seems to go as you get used to it. The grip is great in the dry. You need to be extremely violent on public roads to create slip.
This wobbling is replaced by a feeling you have slightly softer suspension over bumps and especially laterally over those bumps.
If your two different tyres heat up at different rates you have issues etc.
How many miles have you managed on the RS5
They need bedding in for sure.
Drive the car upto speed and tyres hot and quickly get out and check tyre heat by hand then check your pressures ASAP.
Could you come back here with the results.
Do this test from stone cold and
5 mins driving 15 and maybe 30 mins of motorway driving recording the results will give you valuable information.
The weather right now where I live would be perfect. We would want to see how the tyres perform on cool dry roads so about tyre performance only.
Normal driving.
You don’t have to of course but if you want real data.
Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 25th February 11:24
Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 25th February 11:29
Dominic TVRetto said:
geordiepingu said:
I did a recent swap from 8 year old Toyo T1Rs that started splitting to RS5s, and can definitely agree with you with regards to the wet grip. It's phenomenal. I've never had the confidence to make as much progress in the TVR in the wet until I put RS5s on. I do however notice a significant more bit understeer from the front now, and the dry grip is definitely not as good.
I have got Rainsport 5S (XL) on the rear, still got the outgoing Eagle Assymetric 3s on the front. They are pumped to 24psi, and the amount of lateral movement is phenomenal - scary even...
Every time you corner, the rear steps out a considerable amount with a very "elastic" feeling - meaning the car over-rotates unless you lessen the steering input to compensate - and although it has never lost grip and slid, it's a very disconcerting feeling that does not inspire confidence... (obviously never did this with the previous Eagle AS3's)
While this may change if all 4 tyres were the same, the lateral movement I have experienced makes me wonder if it might be worse with all 4 - and unless I can find a way of stopping this lateral movement, I am considering going back to Eagle AS5s as their wet weather performance seems extremely good too...
Any RS3/5 users come across this before, and know how to minimise it..?
Thanks for all your responses:
PhilF329 said:
What pressure do you have in the tyres? If they’ve just been fitted they might have 36psi in them, which seems to be the default pressure tyre shops use
24 Rear, 22 Front - after letting them down from the 36 PSI that they were fitted with...indigochim said:
Do you still have spoiler on the front of your car? I was astounded at what a difference it made after fitting one. Mine was missing when I bought the car and many have them missing.
It's not fitted at present after knocking it off on a cattle grid. Adds to jobs list. But it hasn't been fitted for a couple of years and the wander only appeared with the RS5s. It's not a big problem, but it's definitely there. I'll see what happens once I've run them for a little longer to bed in.Dominic TVRetto said:
I have got Rainsport 5S (XL) on the rear, still got the outgoing Eagle Assymetric 3s on the front.
They are pumped to 24psi, and the amount of lateral movement is phenomenal - scary even...
Every time you corner, the rear steps out a considerable amount with a very "elastic" feeling - meaning the car over-rotates unless you lessen the steering input to compensate - and although it has never lost grip and slid, it's a very disconcerting feeling that does not inspire confidence... (obviously never did this with the previous Eagle AS3's)
While this may change if all 4 tyres were the same, the lateral movement I have experienced makes me wonder if it might be worse with all 4 - and unless I can find a way of stopping this lateral movement, I am considering going back to Eagle AS5s as their wet weather performance seems extremely good too...
Any RS3/5 users come across this before, and know how to minimise it..?
I used to get this with the Toyos, most noticeably on motorway size roundabouts where, with the infamous shunting below about 2,500 RPM, it's very difficult to be smooth on and off the gas. Not driven enough on the RS5s to say whether it's better - it's definitely not worse. Also having had a 306 XSi I'm quite used to the back end of the car moving around but the Chimaera is scary rather than rewarding. It's due for a service so I think that a geometry check might be in order. And I need to just drive it more!They are pumped to 24psi, and the amount of lateral movement is phenomenal - scary even...
Every time you corner, the rear steps out a considerable amount with a very "elastic" feeling - meaning the car over-rotates unless you lessen the steering input to compensate - and although it has never lost grip and slid, it's a very disconcerting feeling that does not inspire confidence... (obviously never did this with the previous Eagle AS3's)
While this may change if all 4 tyres were the same, the lateral movement I have experienced makes me wonder if it might be worse with all 4 - and unless I can find a way of stopping this lateral movement, I am considering going back to Eagle AS5s as their wet weather performance seems extremely good too...
Any RS3/5 users come across this before, and know how to minimise it..?
Must admit I'm finding I don't have huge confidence in the RS5s yet, but then again with lockdowns and winter I've not exactly done too many miles.
Really could do with a long motorway run.
Went out for an essential shop at the weekend, and ran 24F/26R and it seems a little better. Wondering if I need to soften off the rear as it feels a bit skittish on some roundabouts where the camber changes.
That said, they don't feel any worse than the Toyos that came off it. Perhaps I've just got too used to modern cars with super sticky tyres?
Really could do with a long motorway run.
Went out for an essential shop at the weekend, and ran 24F/26R and it seems a little better. Wondering if I need to soften off the rear as it feels a bit skittish on some roundabouts where the camber changes.
That said, they don't feel any worse than the Toyos that came off it. Perhaps I've just got too used to modern cars with super sticky tyres?
I'm likely going for the Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 in 205/50/15W and 225/50/16W, which seems to offer the best balance of all current offerings between the relatively unsporting Rainsports and the myriad of track-biased alternatives (I could get P Zero Trophy Rs in the same sizes but I fear I could hardly get any temperature in them to make them work properly on the road in the dry, let alone wet! 
).
).never_thought_id_buy said:
I used to get this with the Toyos, most noticeably on motorway size roundabouts where, with the infamous shunting below about 2,500 RPM, it's very difficult to be smooth on and off the gas. Not driven enough on the RS5s to say whether it's better - it's definitely not worse. Also having had a 306 XSi I'm quite used to the back end of the car moving around but the Chimaera is scary rather than rewarding. It's due for a service so I think that a geometry check might be in order. And I need to just drive it more!
When I first had my Chimaera I was horrified. I took it down my favourite road, where the week before i had happily driven my similar aged Saab estate at warp factor 8, and was scared stiff when i got up to half that speed and thought I would end up in the river.I took the car to my newly acquired TVR specialist, who in turn made me the first customer on his newly acquired Hunter 4 wheel aligner.
One hour later and the car was transformed. The geometry had been miles out, especially at the front. The drive home was a total joy, and it has really handled ever since, especially on Rainsport 3s.
Our cars are really sensitive to suspension set-up, and the best £100 you can spend on them is to have a proper 4 wheel alignment to the correct settings. I have to say mine feels even better with a tad more camber at the front. This my road and track compromise setting of 1 degree of negative camber, and it really suits both.
^^ I think Zener made a good point about avoiding extra load tyres on TVR's. They are so common now that if you omit them, the choice of tyre drops massively off the shelf. If you are running XL tyres then in theory you need to drop the pressure to compensate for the stiffer side wall
PhilF329 said:
^^ I think Zener made a good point about avoiding extra load tyres on TVR's. They are so common now that if you omit them, the choice of tyre drops massively off the shelf. If you are running XL tyres then in theory you need to drop the pressure to compensate for the stiffer side wall
I don't think that is correct.They are not fitted to performance cars because the car is heavy. They are fitted because they provide better grip, especially during hard braking and fast cornering, because they are stiffer. This is especially important now, given the use of 40 and 35 section tyres, where the side wall is about as thick as a rubber band.
You do not run them at a lower pressure either, because that just wears the shoulders out more quickly.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff