HELP! Toyo T1Rs have ruined my car! Serious handling issues!

[Mad Dave]

Evening chaps,

When I got my MCS JCW just over a week ago it had Dunlop SP9000 Runflats on the rear and budget Autogrips on the front. Today I replaced all four with Toyo T1Rs (non run flats) as there seems to be a huge amount of advice on the net suggesting that run flats should be ditched as it improves the handling. I've just driven the car and I'm shocked at how BAD it feels, it feels like it's swaying through the bends, if you twitch the wheel side to side in a straight line at speed then the car seems to take a second or two to catch up. All immediacy, accuracy and poise seems to have completely gone, it just wanders all over the place at speed. Through the bends it almost feels like the wheels are trying to fold in on themselves, it's quite scarey!

Any ideas if the tyres would cause this? I've just checked the pressures (having done 25 miles) and they're all 2.5bar - 2.6bar. The tyre fitter put 2.4 bar in when he fitted them, cold.

My concern is that regardless if the car is designed for run flats or not, the tyres shouldn't be causing such a serious issue, maybe there's another issue with the car (anti roll bars / sway bars?) and the old tyres were simply masking it?

I'm aware that the car has a knackered top engine mount and this is being sorted tomorrow, buy surely this wouldn't cause something so extreme either?

Any suggestions chaps? I'm currently rather disheartened, having spent a shedload of cash on new tyres, only for the car to handle like a dangerous bag or cr*p!

Cheers in advance

Dave

[hoppinmad]

possibly front wishbones rear bush. always go, i had poly bushes fitted and they transformed the front end

[Justin S]

I found that the T1'rs have quite a soft sidewall and when i changed them to cheaper Falkens with stiffer sidewalls, made a big transformation. Not quite so wandering, more positive. I have the rears to swop out soon to Falkens from Toyos next.
Maybe run them a bit longer, as shouldnt be dangerous. might just need the tread clearing of impurites and silica etc from the mould?

[Robb F]

T1r's have a very soft sidewall. You just need to get used to the handling with them on. They are a very good tyre.

[softtop]

I fitted T-1Rs all round to a two year old cooper s and it made a world of difference, for the better that is. No more harsh ride, no more skittish behaviour, the car was much better. Before you do anything else I would get the car looked at. Different tyres are also going to drive differently, once you know the car is right then get used to them and then if in a month you are still not happy then try something else. Not sure where you are but I am sure someone close would do a 'wheel swap' for you to see how other tyres would work.

[Mad Dave]

Thanks guys. A lot of people recommend the T1Rs for the MCS but I didn't realise they had such a soft sidewall. Im aware that it will feel different but IMHO it's dangerous at the moment, it's like one half of the car isn't connected to the other! Its like running on balloon tyres that are half flat!

It's going into the garage today for the engine mount, I'll ask him to check out the bushes etc too.

Re wheel swap - I'm in west Wiltshire

[Robb F]

Honestly, I felt the same thing when I had my first set fitted. Wait until you're accelerating around a NSL roundabout before you judge, it only takes a while to get used to them. They do wear quickly though

[Mad Dave]

Oh they grip just fine, I'm impressed with the grip levels, it's just when you're going round a bend at any mind of speed, it just doesn't inspire confidence, it feels like it's wandering all over the road! Our other car is a mk4 Golf GTI 1.8T running on Pirelli P6000s and that feels planted and surefooted through the bends - the mini just doesn't

[MX-5 Lazza]

On the MX5 people usually run them a few psi higher than standard due to the soft side walls. 26psi is standard and I have mine at 28psi though that's on 205/40/17 so much lower profile than standard and XL tyres which are a bit stiffer. On standard 15" size people usually run them around 30psi so 4-5psi higher than standard.

[Defcon5]

Have the alignment checked too

[Mad Dave]

Cheers chaps. I'm running them at 2.4bar / 33.5psi and the alignment was done last week.

[MX-5 Lazza]

What size wheels/tyres do you have?

[Mad Dave]

17" 'Bullets'

[MX-5 Lazza]

What size tyres though?

[Mad Dave]

Oh, sorry! 205/45 ZR17

My mechanic mate has just brought it back and declared there's nothing wrong with the suspension, he agrees it handles like a bag of st, but it must be the tyres

He also said the clutch will need doing some time too, so that'll be even more expense

[Defcon5]

If you have a Mk4 Golf on P6000s that handles better than a Cooper S on T1-Rs then there is something wrong with the MINI

[hoppinmad]

post this question on minitorque. lots of very clued up mini owners with motorsport backgrounds, no dis-repect to members on this forum but if any one on a forum is going to help you get to the bottom of this it will be on minitorque

[SB100]

Are you sure its not just a simple case of going from worn tyres to tyres with loads of tread - and, as a result, tread shift? Sounds like it to me Give them a bit of time to wear in.

[Defcon5]

It takes a fair few miles for the release agent to wear off too. Give them a week at least.

If you still want to get rid, PM me

[stargazer30]

I cant remember if the T1Rs are directional. If so check the fitters put them on the correct sides or the tread will be going the wrong way.

Most likely its the soft side walls, T1Rs are known for this but my lot on MR2ROC swear by them. My MR2 when it has its winter boots on is the same. You can feel the car shifting on the tyres as the corner force comes in. Its disconcerting at first as it feels like the back end is going to slide but it doesn't, its just the soft rubber walls moving under load.