Tyres - Sorry if this has been done before

[pistol]

I'm getting some new tyres for my 4.0l. As this is the first set I'm having fitted I don't want to pay over the odds. I'm assuming (after looking at past threads) that SO3's are best unless I can get SO2's but some people have put 245 / 45 on the rear instead of 225/50, is this reccommended? and if so without PAS is it best to keep to 205 / 55 on the front.

I must apologise if I am repeating past posts but I just want the most up to date opinions. Thanks once again for the help.

[Ribol]

I went from 225/50ZR16 SO2s to 245/45ZR16 SO2s on the rear of my 400 because they came with the late Griff wheels I put on. I prefered the way the car drove before, with the smaller rears tyres on, better ride etc. If it were a 500 I suspect the extra rubber would be put to better use. Have PAS fitted anyway but have gone to the 225/45ZR16 front as used on latest Chims (16" F&R) with rack stops fitted.

Ivan

[RobM]

205's on the front are the recomended size for non pas. 225's at £160-200 is the going rate around my neck of the woods

[apache]

RobM said: £160-200 is the going rate around my neck of the woods

I'll stick to Toyo's, £500 for the set

[tvrbob]

Not sure why you believe SO3's are right. There is significant difference between 2's & 3's. Most notable is the rigidity of the 3's side wall. Rather depends what you drive like. If you enjoy the level of cornering grip from 2's then don't expect the same from 3's. 3's are a similar compound to 2's so their grip is similar. It's more about how they move on the rim and how much 'tyre suspension' you get. It is possible to get SO2's. HHC stock front's and there is a Porsche specific SO2 that'll fit your rears. Warning though the Porsche tyre is a harder compound. Toyo's are the tyre with construction most similar to the SO2pp trouble is there's no 'Z' rated version for your front's. Before you choose I suggest you look through some more threads. When I've looked in the past these threads haven't indicated to me that SO3's are right. Toyo, Goodyear, Pirelli, there's lots out there.

[pistol]

Thanks for all the help guys. I've just been offered Toyo's for £75 rear and £59 front only problem is, as TVRbob says, these are only v rated, will this be a problem, as I won't be going over 149 anyway. I was more concerned about the MOT (although not for another 11 months)The garage said this wouldn't be a problem, but there bound to say that.

[Steve_T]

It's been said before, but if you don't fit tyres with the right speed rating, you're not insured! Don't forget in this case the speed rating is as much an indication of the forces the tyres can cope with as the speed you'll drive at. The national speed limit 70, but you don't see all cars in the UK with tyres rated for upto 70mph do you? In summary then, don't do it.

Steve.

[shpub]

Toyo sidewalls are in fact even softer than S0-2 which is why they have not got that good a reputation amongst the racers and sprinters. Also why I think they don't have a ZR rated 15 inch tyre. They tend to roll more off the rim unless the pressure is increased and this distorts the tyre patch and reduces grip.

S03 with a reduced tyre pressure are fine. Many of the s03 shod sprinters are breaking lap records compared with the S02s so the argument about them not being as good is not very convincing.

Currently using s03 on the Griff and they are just as good as the S02. Running with 2 psi lower pressures though.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[pistol]

Thanks once again, I'll take the advice on the Toyo's.

I've just managed to get hold of SO3 for £89 and £95 front and rear, which I having fitted this afternoon. Tryed to get SO2 again but struggled.

One dealer even told me that SO3's aren't reccomended for Chimaera's, I just assumed he didn't know what he was talking about as he was trying to sell me Dunlop sport 9000 which are probably a good tyre but not at £150+ quoted.

Anyhow thanks for all the help.

[JonRB]

I had Dunlop Sport 2000's on the Corrado when I got it. Very hard compound, poor grip in the dry and caused terrible understeer in the wet. Replaced them with Goodyear Eagle Venturas and both the wet & dry handling.

Of course the SP9000s could be entirely different but it put me right off Dunlop.

[Neil Hyde]

OK , I'll start the scramble , got a full set of SO2's fitted last week at Jeffreys Performance Tyres Warrington . £450 the set fitted and balanced . I know they had two front and two rears left but funds wouldn't let me buy !!

www.jeffreyshpt.co.uk

I'd forgotten how good new rubber was !

[sagalout]

Yes Neil, must get round to replacing that old one piece suit with the strategically placed zips and vents as soon as poss.