Rear Tyres how wide?

[T88CAN]

I will shortly need to replace my rear tyres, Has any one tried some over size rear tyres in attempt to give a little extra grip? I was thinking of 265 or 275/40 section boots,(currently 255/40) i believe the rear wheels are large enough to accomodate them with out scrubbing the body work? any opinions or suggestions please

[TUS 373]

Hi Tony,

I guess you would be OK going to the same size as the Tuscan S - but a wider set up than that may be even more of a compromise. Meaning - possibly less grip under some circumstances due to a larger foot print. This may be an issue if you jump straight off the gas onto the brakes as the lack of weight on the back wheels - with wider tyres than ever - may cause more of a tendency to swap ends?

The wide tyres would look good though!

Hope all is well at your end, I still have a Tuscan in the garage!

[J_S_G]

I'd be dubious about going any wider 'cos of downforce (given that I don't really trust it in the wet as it is). Depends if it's used as a weekend, dry-weather car, or an everyday one.

[whitey]

Give the factory a quick call?

[bogie]

did you ever get a definitive answer to this - IM deciding what to stick on the rear at the moment and 275/40 would be OK diamter wise to keep speedo correct, just wondering how it will affect the balance of the car?

[basil brush]

I don't see how you'd get them under the arches. The back of mine had to be raised when I swapped to 245/40 F1s as they were rubbing. You'd need to go down to a 35 profile to keep the gearing.

[bogie]

you mean for a Tuscan S? for a std car that was orginally on 255/55/16 then 255/40/18 or /45 is a nearer match than 35 series rubber? 275/40 is within 1% of the original 255/55/16 diameter just 20mm wider

cant see the 20mm difference on width causing a prob - its 10mm either side of the hub...theres more clearance than that there

is your car running lower Red Rose suspension then?

[bogie]

have a play with this:

www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

if the car was originally geared for a 255/55/16 rear then 255/45/18 would be the best match....35 profile is way low and speedo would read 5mph over at 60mph

...do you think TVR change stuff between the std and the S car...or on cars that you just fit 18's on and then default to 35 rubber?

[NCE 61]

bogie said:

you mean for a Tuscan S? for a std car that was orginally on 255/55/16 then 255/40/18 or /45 is a nearer match than 35 series rubber? 275/40 is within 1% of the original 255/55/16 diameter just 20mm wider cant see the 20mm difference on width causing a prob - its 10mm either side of the hub...theres more clearance than that there is your car running lower Red Rose suspension then?

The orignal 16 inch wheels on my Tuscan had 225/55/16 fitted. 18 inch wheels orignally had 255/35/18 (Bridgestone SO2's)rear then this was changed to 245/40/18 (Toyo T1S)

[bogie]

ah - ok.....so 255/40/18 is nearest to std size or 275/35/18 ..if they fit width wise

[NCE 61]

bogie said:

ah - ok.....so 255/40/18 is nearest to std size or 275/35/18 ..if they fit width wise

255/40/18 are standard fit on a Tuscan 'S'. I think 275's might be too wide to fit in the wheel arches.

[basil brush]

NCE 61 said:

bogie said: ah - ok.....so 255/40/18 is nearest to std size or 275/35/18 ..if they fit width wise 255/40/18 are standard fit on a Tuscan 'S'. I think 275's might be too wide to fit in the wheel arches.

I thought they were 255/35 all round on a Tuscan S?

You'll have to check the specific brand you are looking at as not all tyres are the same width for a given size. I reckon 275 F1s would actually be illegal on my car as they'd stick out beyond the arches.

[basil brush]

bogie said:

you mean for a Tuscan S? for a std car that was orginally on 255/55/16 then 255/40/18 or /45 is a nearer match than 35 series rubber? 275/40 is within 1% of the original 255/55/16 diameter just 20mm wider cant see the 20mm difference on width causing a prob - its 10mm either side of the hub...theres more clearance than that there is your car running lower Red Rose suspension then?

I've got Nitrons on.

[silvertuscan]

I recently changed all the tyres on my 2001 (Y) Red Rose.
Everywhere I went or called quoted different sizes in width and diameter. With so many options to choose from and not wanting to get it wrong, I spoke the Engineer at the factory.
He advised me that they are now currently fitting 265/18/35's all round (yeah even on the front).
They are fitting Proxes, but others are ok.
I plumped for Brodgestone S03's and they seem spot on, but you really do feel every undulation in the road surface. Car at first felt like it pulled on way or another until I got used to it.
I used to have 235's on the front, 255's on the back.

[bogie]

265/35 all around? I never thought it was lacking in front end grip ?

decisions, decisions...I was hoping to go back to 40 profile rubber ...but 265/35 rears will do to start with ...will see how it behaves on track - never had any understeer yet, so cant see why it would need wider fronts myself....

[nsparey]

basil brush said:

NCE 61 said: bogie said: ah - ok.....so 255/40/18 is nearest to std size or 275/35/18 ..if they fit width wise 255/40/18 are standard fit on a Tuscan 'S'. I think 275's might be too wide to fit in the wheel arches. I thought they were 255/35 all round on a Tuscan S? You'll have to check the specific brand you are looking at as not all tyres are the same width for a given size. I reckon 275 F1s would actually be illegal on my car as they'd stick out beyond the arches.

Yep just had a look at mine, 255/35/18s all round Goodyear F1s.