Tyre load ratings
Discussion
I'm about to order a set of Rainsport 3's from Camskills but I'm confused over load ratings. My sizes are available in either 91 or 95 rating yet when I checked the Toyos that are on the car now they are 95 rear and 87 front. They were supplied by a well known Northern specialist around four years ago. On a car with near 50/50 balance (measured at 49% front and 51% rear) is it normal to have mis-matched load ratings and what should they be? Any information gratefully recieved.
They need to be adequate for the weight of the car. You can easily find a load index table on't'internet (see how easily I translated into Northern for you? 
).
I have been running Federals with 83 load index front, 87 rear, and they were excellent. As I am on 17 inch wheels my tyres are lower profile than the standard 15/16 combo, so it was actually nice to have the softer sidewalls that you get with lower load indices.
If it helps you, my 1.8 tonne Saab is on 94 load index tyres, as recommended in the Saab handbook.
). I have been running Federals with 83 load index front, 87 rear, and they were excellent. As I am on 17 inch wheels my tyres are lower profile than the standard 15/16 combo, so it was actually nice to have the softer sidewalls that you get with lower load indices.
If it helps you, my 1.8 tonne Saab is on 94 load index tyres, as recommended in the Saab handbook.
Thanks for the info Anthony, and for the Northern translation by eck. I'm hoping to soften the ride slightly as I've heard Rainsports have softer sidewalls. So would 95 be hard on the rears? Camskills didn't say any less than 91 would be available in my size but I'm guessing 91 would be OK. Do Rainsport users on here still run them at Proxes pressures ie around 24-26?
I cannot answer your questions, but doubtless someone can.
I have Rainsprout 3s on my Saab 9-5 daily. Awesome wet grip, deal with rivers, lakes and so on at 70 mph with ease - I am of course describing the A1 between Peterborough and Newark in winter.
The downside is that being a softer compound tyre, they wear quicker - my fronts (front wheel drive car) lasted 20,000 miles, though my rears are still 7mm. I imagine you won't get more than 30,000 miles out of a set on the TVR.
My rear 18 inch Toyo R888s were 92 load index and were somewhat on the stiff side of comfortable. I preferred the ride on the Federals at 87 load index. If 94-97 load index is right for a nearly 2 tonne Saab (97 on the estate if loaded regularly), and it does ride nicely, then I would guess that 95 would be on the stiff side on a TVR. Especially if you have 17 or 18 inch rear wheels and hence 40 or 45 aspect ratio tyres.
What wheels are you on?
I have Rainsprout 3s on my Saab 9-5 daily. Awesome wet grip, deal with rivers, lakes and so on at 70 mph with ease - I am of course describing the A1 between Peterborough and Newark in winter.
The downside is that being a softer compound tyre, they wear quicker - my fronts (front wheel drive car) lasted 20,000 miles, though my rears are still 7mm. I imagine you won't get more than 30,000 miles out of a set on the TVR.
My rear 18 inch Toyo R888s were 92 load index and were somewhat on the stiff side of comfortable. I preferred the ride on the Federals at 87 load index. If 94-97 load index is right for a nearly 2 tonne Saab (97 on the estate if loaded regularly), and it does ride nicely, then I would guess that 95 would be on the stiff side on a TVR. Especially if you have 17 or 18 inch rear wheels and hence 40 or 45 aspect ratio tyres.
What wheels are you on?
KateV8 said:
Thanks for the info Anthony, and for the Northern translation by eck. I'm hoping to soften the ride slightly as I've heard Rainsports have softer sidewalls. So would 95 be hard on the rears? Camskills didn't say any less than 91 would be available in my size but I'm guessing 91 would be OK. Do Rainsport users on here still run them at Proxes pressures ie around 24-26?
I have rainsport 3`s205 50/16
235 45/17
Just stay away from XL.
SILICONEKID345HP said:
KateV8 said:
Thanks for the info Anthony, and for the Northern translation by eck. I'm hoping to soften the ride slightly as I've heard Rainsports have softer sidewalls. So would 95 be hard on the rears? Camskills didn't say any less than 91 would be available in my size but I'm guessing 91 would be OK. Do Rainsport users on here still run them at Proxes pressures ie around 24-26?
I have rainsport 3`s205 50/16
235 45/17
Just stay away from XL.
I decided that if I'm choosing a winter style tyre then I'd go for a low a rating as possible,, it stands to reason the bad weather means slower driving so the rating can cope,,
I drove two Tvr's today, identical cars but one set up with firm springs, another set up with soft springs,,
Anti roll drop links are different also mind, as you'd predict, one was firm and more edgy, responsive to steering etc, firm over bumps,, the other more lazy and slower to react, more gentle over the bumps,, more body role,, both were wonderful in there own way but very different,,
Mines the one on soft springs,,, I do lots of local driving so often at 30-40 mph, town roads etc, Toyo Proxes and the softer spring rate has gone along way to giving me a very modern ride all things considered, I don't speed on the road and so I don't need a hard set up,, cruising my car is just more compliment, good grip, high bump and rebound setting controls the spring but the spring itself absorbs the bumps so the initial thumb is less,, I'm reasonably happy with it but from a performance perspective it's no where near as good,,, unless it's wet
I drove two Tvr's today, identical cars but one set up with firm springs, another set up with soft springs,,
Anti roll drop links are different also mind, as you'd predict, one was firm and more edgy, responsive to steering etc, firm over bumps,, the other more lazy and slower to react, more gentle over the bumps,, more body role,, both were wonderful in there own way but very different,,
Mines the one on soft springs,,, I do lots of local driving so often at 30-40 mph, town roads etc, Toyo Proxes and the softer spring rate has gone along way to giving me a very modern ride all things considered, I don't speed on the road and so I don't need a hard set up,, cruising my car is just more compliment, good grip, high bump and rebound setting controls the spring but the spring itself absorbs the bumps so the initial thumb is less,, I'm reasonably happy with it but from a performance perspective it's no where near as good,,, unless it's wet
T
QBee said:
I cannot answer your questions, but doubtless someone can.
I have Rainsprout 3s on my Saab 9-5 daily. Awesome wet grip, deal with rivers, lakes and so on at 70 mph with ease - I am of course describing the A1 between Peterborough and Newark in winter.
The downside is that being a softer compound tyre, they wear quicker - my fronts (front wheel drive car) lasted 20,000 miles, though my rears are still 7mm. I imagine you won't get more than 30,000 miles out of a set on the TVR.
My rear 18 inch Toyo R888s were 92 load index and were somewhat on the stiff side of comfortable. I preferred the ride on the Federals at 87 load index. If 94-97 load index is right for a nearly 2 tonne Saab (97 on the estate if loaded regularly), and it does ride nicely, then I would guess that 95 would be on the stiff side on a TVR. Especially if you have 17 or 18 inch rear wheels and hence 40 or 45 aspect ratio tyres.
What wheels are you on?
I'm on same as you, 18 rear and 17 front on SP12's. To be honest the ride has always felt OK at the front and hard at the back of the car, the load rating difference could be an explanation. The car sits on Nitrons and is sprung for road use so shouldn't be too stiff. I'll ring Camskills tomorrow and see what they can order in for me. I'll go 91 if I have to but not 95 again! I knew about the tread life but not concerned, the car is limited to 5k a year so not such a disadvantage. I have Rainsprout 3s on my Saab 9-5 daily. Awesome wet grip, deal with rivers, lakes and so on at 70 mph with ease - I am of course describing the A1 between Peterborough and Newark in winter.
The downside is that being a softer compound tyre, they wear quicker - my fronts (front wheel drive car) lasted 20,000 miles, though my rears are still 7mm. I imagine you won't get more than 30,000 miles out of a set on the TVR.
My rear 18 inch Toyo R888s were 92 load index and were somewhat on the stiff side of comfortable. I preferred the ride on the Federals at 87 load index. If 94-97 load index is right for a nearly 2 tonne Saab (97 on the estate if loaded regularly), and it does ride nicely, then I would guess that 95 would be on the stiff side on a TVR. Especially if you have 17 or 18 inch rear wheels and hence 40 or 45 aspect ratio tyres.
What wheels are you on?
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