Griffith 500 Tyres
Discussion
Hello, This is my first post on Piston Heads and I'm hoping someone can help.I have taken delivery today of a low mileage '96 Griffith 500 and need some advice on tyres. It is currently running Bridgestone S01 205/55 ZR 15 on the front and Bridgestone S01 235/50 ZR 16 on the rear. The front tyres are original (unbelievable I know!)and the rears are first replacements. The rears still have plenty of tread depth but I'm assuming they're well past their sell by date and I urgently need to replace the set.
The 235/50 ZR 16's size doesn't seem to be available any more - what is recommended to use in its place? 245/45 ZR 16? . These seem to be widely available with makers such as Toyo but then i'm struggling to find a ZR equivalent for the front. Toyo seem to be V rated. Presumably this is a problem that you guy's have already addressed but i'm struggling to find info.
I am returning to Griffith ownership after an absence of 14 years having previously owned a much loved 4.3 pre-cat in the mid nineties.
The 235/50 ZR 16's size doesn't seem to be available any more - what is recommended to use in its place? 245/45 ZR 16? . These seem to be widely available with makers such as Toyo but then i'm struggling to find a ZR equivalent for the front. Toyo seem to be V rated. Presumably this is a problem that you guy's have already addressed but i'm struggling to find info.
I am returning to Griffith ownership after an absence of 14 years having previously owned a much loved 4.3 pre-cat in the mid nineties.
Welcome back. Probably best going 245/45/16 on the rear as the later cars were. If you want the same front and rear i think toyos are your only option in that size. If your not bothered about matching front and rear there are a few other alternatives. I have just renewed mine but being a pre cat a have stuck with 225 on the rear. I have managed to match front and rear in this size with continental contact 2. Have a look at camskill. Good choice and price.
Hi and welcome back to Griff land! 
I've recently been in your situation. Car was on the old Bridgestone SO2's. After reading a few threads on here I decided to go for Toyo T1r's from Camskill (Front: 205/55/R15 V, Rear: 245/45/R16 W) ~£350 for all four tyres. So, the rear tyres are fine as I think W speed rating is for well over 150mph. I think V rating is for up to 150mph. (IIRC the old Z rating was 150+). However, this should be OK. You just need to confirm with your insurance company that they happy. I explained to mine that it was near impossible to find the Z rated tyres for the fronts, and they said they didn't mind as long as the tyres were in good road worthy condition and the car wasn't going to be tracked.
If you do go for Toyos it seems that most people recommend that the tyre pressures are 24psi front, 26psi rear,as the Toyos have a less rigid side wall than the old SO2's. For the 100 miles or so I've done on mine I'm pretty happy. If you go with Camskil they will deliver the tyres to you. I then had to take them to a tyre fitter who was happy to fit them for a tenner per wheel.
I've recently been in your situation. Car was on the old Bridgestone SO2's. After reading a few threads on here I decided to go for Toyo T1r's from Camskill (Front: 205/55/R15 V, Rear: 245/45/R16 W) ~£350 for all four tyres. So, the rear tyres are fine as I think W speed rating is for well over 150mph. I think V rating is for up to 150mph. (IIRC the old Z rating was 150+). However, this should be OK. You just need to confirm with your insurance company that they happy. I explained to mine that it was near impossible to find the Z rated tyres for the fronts, and they said they didn't mind as long as the tyres were in good road worthy condition and the car wasn't going to be tracked.
If you do go for Toyos it seems that most people recommend that the tyre pressures are 24psi front, 26psi rear,as the Toyos have a less rigid side wall than the old SO2's. For the 100 miles or so I've done on mine I'm pretty happy. If you go with Camskil they will deliver the tyres to you. I then had to take them to a tyre fitter who was happy to fit them for a tenner per wheel.
Thanks chaps, it feels good to be back in the fold. I wonder if my old car is still out there? 1992 4.3 reg K70 TVR in Cooper green with biscuit hide?
This is the sort of info I was hoping to receive. After my own research, I was reaching the conclusion the Toyo option you have suggested seemed to be the closest match.
However, one of the things I really enjoyed during my last Griffith ownership was having some fun on track days and you are saying that this set-up may preclude that. Does anyone else have any further suggestions as to what I could be looking at without changing wheel size? I am surprised that there does not seem to be a definitive solution. The car is so original that I don't want to start modifying things if I don't have to.
This is the sort of info I was hoping to receive. After my own research, I was reaching the conclusion the Toyo option you have suggested seemed to be the closest match.
However, one of the things I really enjoyed during my last Griffith ownership was having some fun on track days and you are saying that this set-up may preclude that. Does anyone else have any further suggestions as to what I could be looking at without changing wheel size? I am surprised that there does not seem to be a definitive solution. The car is so original that I don't want to start modifying things if I don't have to.
How about some Khumo V70A's? I'm running a medium compound (225 Front / 245 Rear) and very pleased with 'em; can't give you an idea of longevity as yet though. No matter how long they last, I'll be looking to replace them with the same. Mine came from Camskil; have a chat with the boys there.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Kumho/V70a.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Kumho/V70a.htm
Edited by 2Munkys on Thursday 21st July 17:13
The best advice I can give you is that if you fit Toyo T1-R on the rear, make sure you fit Toyos on the front as well. Many people, myself included, changed the rears to Toyo while running out the fronts to find the handling exceptionally 'character building' until the fronts were changed to a matched set of Toyos. A full set of T1-Rs perform well on road and track, both wet and dry but, as others have said, raise the psi a couple of pounds over Bridgestone.
How long do tyres generally last before they start to perish!
My tyres are like new with low mileage etc (weekend driving mostly)
I would say they must be around six years old if not older.
The car has covered only 26k miles from new (1996)
I have owned the car for two years (GRIFFITH 500)
I think they may need replacing,but as the old saying go's ( if it isn't broken, don't fix it)
The tyres look good on the outside,but what are they like on the inside
Thanks
Vince
My tyres are like new with low mileage etc (weekend driving mostly)
I would say they must be around six years old if not older.
The car has covered only 26k miles from new (1996)
I have owned the car for two years (GRIFFITH 500)
I think they may need replacing,but as the old saying go's ( if it isn't broken, don't fix it)
The tyres look good on the outside,but what are they like on the inside
Thanks
Vince
Thanks for all the response - i knew I could rely on fellow enthusiasts. I have decided to go with the Toyo's as they seem to be the best compromise for the road. Maybe i'll get another set of rims and go for 888's or similar for track days.
My answer to themac is change 'em - especially if you're going to drive it as a Griffith should be driven. the Bridgestone 235/50 ZR 16 rears that I shall be replacing on mine show very little wear but I don't know how old they are and I'm not prepared to risk it. They're free to a good home if anyone out there wants to take that risk!
My answer to themac is change 'em - especially if you're going to drive it as a Griffith should be driven. the Bridgestone 235/50 ZR 16 rears that I shall be replacing on mine show very little wear but I don't know how old they are and I'm not prepared to risk it. They're free to a good home if anyone out there wants to take that risk!
Can't believe my luck finding this thread, going through exactly the same problem myself.
My 94 car is still running the original SO1's (19k miles), much to the merriment of my fellow Car Club friends, anyway, just checking about fitting different sizes to the factory spec tyres.
So, 225/50 ok for fronts and 245/50 ok for rears?
My 94 car is still running the original SO1's (19k miles), much to the merriment of my fellow Car Club friends, anyway, just checking about fitting different sizes to the factory spec tyres.
So, 225/50 ok for fronts and 245/50 ok for rears?
Edited by v8griff on Friday 22 July 12:26
v8griff said:
My 94 car is still running the original SO1's (19k miles), much to the merriment of my fellow Car Club friends,
Blimey, and i thought the SO2`s on my 2001 Griff were getting old
Ordered 4 new Toyo`s from Camskill this week, and they were delivered next day to home address
I agree with most on this threat that the Toyo 245s are the tyres for the rear. If you have power steering then it seems 215s or 225s on the front are the most popular, but without power steering and they might be a bit wide and a bit heavy for the front. I'm without power steering and run Dunlop SP9000 205s on the front and find them very good wet or dry and have the correct speed rating - and they seem to last, I've done 10 000 miles on them and they look like new.
I'd prefer to have Toyos on all corners, but with the lower speed rating of the 15" I went for something that would keep the insurance guys happy. I just don't trust them not to make an issue of them should I have a 'spill' at speed.
I'd prefer to have Toyos on all corners, but with the lower speed rating of the 15" I went for something that would keep the insurance guys happy. I just don't trust them not to make an issue of them should I have a 'spill' at speed.
EGB said:
Try NEXEN 225/50/15in vr fronts from MyTyres to match 245/50/16in on the rear. £71 each !! No more tramlining go cart ride. What a difference matching front and back make.
Mark. I should have said 245/45/16 for rear, not /50/ for rear. Important to have same brand on front and rear. The Red Baron said:
I agree with most on this threat that the Toyo 245s are the tyres for the rear. If you have power steering then it seems 215s or 225s on the front are the most popular, but without power steering and they might be a bit wide and a bit heavy for the front. I'm without power steering and run Dunlop SP9000 205s on the front and find them very good wet or dry and have the correct speed rating - and they seem to last, I've done 10 000 miles on them and they look like new.
I'd prefer to have Toyos on all corners, but with the lower speed rating of the 15" I went for something that would keep the insurance guys happy. I just don't trust them not to make an issue of them should I have a 'spill' at speed.
Ian. I have Z rated NEXEN's on back to match my new V rated (150mph) NEXEN's on the front. My insurance company have noted this and have not categorically objected. They could have made an issue if I had continued with the old (11 years) Z rated (170mph) Bridgestones on the front which caused a lot of "go cart tramline" twitching. Cheers.I'd prefer to have Toyos on all corners, but with the lower speed rating of the 15" I went for something that would keep the insurance guys happy. I just don't trust them not to make an issue of them should I have a 'spill' at speed.
it was last year at the growl whilst my 500 was on the rolling road that a fellow member pointed out that the front tyres (Bridgestones I think they were) hadn't been made for 8 years !
I had changed the rears to toyos a few months before and the handling was lets just say 'interesting'. putting matching toyos on the front sorted that out 100%
Old tyres may have tread but are well past their best in the handling stakes.
I had changed the rears to toyos a few months before and the handling was lets just say 'interesting'. putting matching toyos on the front sorted that out 100%
Old tyres may have tread but are well past their best in the handling stakes.
Does anyone have the Toyo R1R`s fitted to there car.There a compromise between T1R and R888`s..Only problem is there a bit expensive and how long would they last.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFHJX_8zmC4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFHJX_8zmC4
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