Tyres for Best Grip
Discussion
So, I am going for new tyres on the Griff. The existing ones have plenty of tread, but at 15 years old they are probably past their best.
What would people recommend for best grip - both brand and size. It is on the original wheels, so 15 inch on the front and 16 inch at the rear.
When I say best grip, I mean best grip in all real world conditions. So grip in the wet and cold on a rough road is just as important as grip in the dry on a perfectly smooth piece of tarmac.
I am not particularly bothered about having the same brand on the back as the front.
What would people recommend for best grip - both brand and size. It is on the original wheels, so 15 inch on the front and 16 inch at the rear.
When I say best grip, I mean best grip in all real world conditions. So grip in the wet and cold on a rough road is just as important as grip in the dry on a perfectly smooth piece of tarmac.
I am not particularly bothered about having the same brand on the back as the front.
BIG DUNC said:
I have those on both my mx5 and MPS - I like them.
What about sizes?
When new the rear was 225/50-16, and that is what is on there currently.
When new the front was 215/50-15, but it is currently on 205/55-15.
Stick with these sizes?
The diameter is the same on both the fronts, just the 215 is .5" wider than the 205. If the 225/215 was the original spec I would go for that if its available, if not I wouldn't loose any sleep over the 205's.What about sizes?
When new the rear was 225/50-16, and that is what is on there currently.
When new the front was 215/50-15, but it is currently on 205/55-15.
Stick with these sizes?
As your tyres are 15 years old anything you get will be an enormous improvement and a revelation in terms of driveability. I've used Toyo T1Rs and currently Bridgestone RE002s and both have been fine. Reports I saw when I was looking for tyres a while ago suggest that Rainsports are good but can fade after some use and don't last as well as some others but I can't confirm that as I have no experience of them. My experience with tyres is that they harden and start to lose grip after maybe 5 years, so dependent on your mileage, some that wear quicker might be fine. No doubt someone with relevant experience will be along to give their thoughts.
Jim
Jim
Mileage will be tiny so I dont mind anything that wears out quickly.
Currently body off, but as it will have all new suspension I thought it would be rude to put the 15 year old tyres on it.
I have a few months until I will need tyres, but I am trying to get all the trivial stuff out the way.
Currently body off, but as it will have all new suspension I thought it would be rude to put the 15 year old tyres on it.
I have a few months until I will need tyres, but I am trying to get all the trivial stuff out the way.
BIG DUNC said:
Before the Rainsports I had Toyo R1R s on the every day car. I really rated them, but they didnt last long. That won't be an issue for the Griff as the mileage will be very small so they will last for years.
I have both R1R and R888 on my lotus. R1R are a great road tyre in most conditions. R888 are fine until you hit standing water, then its time to pray.black_potato said:
I have both R1R and R888 on my lotus. R1R are a great road tyre in most conditions. R888 are fine until you hit standing water, then its time to pray.
Thanks, that is really good feedback. I was always impressed by the R1R, but on a car doing 20k miles a year it didn't make sense. The Griff probably wont do more than 1,000 miles a year, so it wont matter how quickly they wear out.BIG DUNC said:
black_potato said:
I have both R1R and R888 on my lotus. R1R are a great road tyre in most conditions. R888 are fine until you hit standing water, then its time to pray.
Black P, That is exactly what I am afraid of...
Jes, clearly that vid was taken on a lap, and there would have been some heat in the tyres (I appreciate a sprint will only be a lap or so, so maybe not much heat). What I am afraid off is road driving at sensible speed, so little or no heat in the tyres and having to do an emergency stop. For example, ambling down a B road at 40 or 50 mph in heavy rain and then some idiot pulls out from a side road or similar. Will the 888's be good in that sort of situation, or put another way, will they be noticeably worse than any other tyre in that situation?
Jes, clearly that vid was taken on a lap, and there would have been some heat in the tyres (I appreciate a sprint will only be a lap or so, so maybe not much heat). What I am afraid off is road driving at sensible speed, so little or no heat in the tyres and having to do an emergency stop. For example, ambling down a B road at 40 or 50 mph in heavy rain and then some idiot pulls out from a side road or similar. Will the 888's be good in that sort of situation, or put another way, will they be noticeably worse than any other tyre in that situation?
Yes they will be a lot worse. I have driven fairly long distances to and from Track days and race meets with track tyres. 038R, 048R, R888 etc and they all struggle with standing water and this only gets worse with wear. The worst brown trouser moments have actually been on a motorway trying to drive over 60MPH between lorries in a rainstorm where the lorry tracks are full of water but you can feel the car lifting at anything over 55-60mph.
If you want to use the car everyday and not risk getting caught out you probably have 3 or 4 options.
When I was looking you could get acceptable tyres sizes in Toyo T1R, Rainsports and possibly Eagle F1 & Dunlop Maxx. MyTyres is a pretty good place to find out what exists in a given size. I doubt you will find R1R as they are end of life and if you get a puncture you probably wouldnt be able to replace it. That said they are great tyres and I run them as my standard on the Lotus.
The T1R however are not that great IMHO and so if you end up deciding between T1r & RS3's gor for the RS3's im my opinion.
When I was looking you could get acceptable tyres sizes in Toyo T1R, Rainsports and possibly Eagle F1 & Dunlop Maxx. MyTyres is a pretty good place to find out what exists in a given size. I doubt you will find R1R as they are end of life and if you get a puncture you probably wouldnt be able to replace it. That said they are great tyres and I run them as my standard on the Lotus.
The T1R however are not that great IMHO and so if you end up deciding between T1r & RS3's gor for the RS3's im my opinion.
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