Tyres Tuscan MK1

[toobin]

The outcome of a recent MOT leaves me looking for 3 new tyres. I currently have Toyos on the back and Bridgestones on the front all at 225 / 35. Speaking to TVR Centre this morning he recommended that I replace the two rears with 255's. Does anyone have any advice on this, also is the Bridgestone / Toyo combination a good formula? any advice welcome before I part with the reddies

[G20RG B]

I think you should have 255 on the rear and 225 on the front. I run this combination but with 35s on but to be honest I think you should go with 40s as the ride can be a bit harsh with 35s.
Check e-bay as there are some good prices for tyres (Toyos). I run Toyos all round and think there fine but I'm sure you will get lots of diffrent opinions!!.

Is your car Crystal Topaz? If it is great colour,slightly biast of course.

Edited by G20RG B on Monday 5th June 15:08

[toobin]

G20RG B said:

I think you should have 255 on the rear and 225 on the front. I run this combination but with 35s on but to be honest I think you should go with 40s as the ride can be a bit harsh with 35s. Check e-bay as there are some good prices for tyres (Toyos). I run Toyos all round and think there fine but I'm sure you will get lots of diffrent opinions!!. Is your car Crystal Topaz? If it is great colour,slightly biast of course. Edited by G20RG B on Monday 5th June 15:08

Thanks G2ORG B - have you driven other combinations as a comparison as I'm not too sure of the science behind the different widths? and does a 35 make it a lower profile?

Topaz is absolutely the finest of all colours - pitty we cant get tyres to match

[dealmaster]

I have Toyo Proxis all round and are 255/35/18.
Got mine from a company who sell on Ebay at £85 each - almost half the price from most tyre companies.

It cost £30 at my local tyre place to fit and balance them.
I believe that TVR fitted Toyos as standard on the mark 1 Tuscan's.

Cheers

Nick

[beano500]

The book says 225/50 fronts and 225/55 rears Then it goes on to say "Please note: Front & rear wheels are different despite looking identical"

I know I've got Toyos fitted, but I haven't checked what sizes - I shall now do so, as I am expecting to need new rears soon and seeing as our cars (Toobin) are virtually related! I fully expect to find something different fitted - well it was built on a day of the week with a "y" in it: bound to be different!!!!

[NCE 61]

beano500 said:

The book says 225/50 fronts and 225/55 rears Then it goes on to say "Please note: Front & rear wheels are different despite looking identical"

They are the sizes for 16" rims and the difference between the wheels is the offsets. Toyos that are fitted to a standard Tuscan are normally 235/40/18 Front 245/40/18 rear, Tuscan S has 255/35/18 all round Toyo or Goodyear. Standard fitment from the factory is now Goodyear F1 GD3.

Edited by NCE 61 on Monday 5th June 16:50

[G20RG B]

toobin said:

G20RG B said: I think you should have 255 on the rear and 225 on the front. I run this combination but with 35s on but to be honest I think you should go with 40s as the ride can be a bit harsh with 35s. Check e-bay as there are some good prices for tyres (Toyos). I run Toyos all round and think there fine but I'm sure you will get lots of diffrent opinions!!. Is your car Crystal Topaz? If it is great colour,slightly biast of course. Edited by G20RG B on Monday 5th June 15:08 Thanks G2ORG B - have you driven other combinations as a comparison as I'm not too sure of the science behind the different widths? and does a 35 make it a lower profile? Topaz is absolutely the finest of all colours - pitty we cant get tyres to match

Hi tobin,
yes 35 is a lower profile but as the alloy spider is nearer the tarmac, as the tyres are like rubber bands you run the danger of buckling the wheel if you hit a pot hole and I think it's to harsh you feel every bump, Car previously had 40s all round on Toyos and I think I would get 40s again. Although 35s do look good!!

[beano500]

Well it's good to have knowledgeable people round...

NCE 61 said:

They are the sizes for 16" rims and the difference between the wheels is the offsets. Toyos that are fitted to a standard Tuscan are normally 225/40/18 Front 245/40/18 rear, Tuscan S has 255/35/18 all round Toyo or Goodyear. Standard fitment from the factory is now Goodyear F1 GD3.

Ta - now dare I ask: What about our Red Roses!?!!! If anyone knows, I bet you do, Nick

[delamars]

When I got my car it had Proxes T1S's all round. I thought it drove really well but felt a little nervous at times. They'd only been on the car for about 1000 miles.

I replaced the rears in December with Proxes T1R's and was at first a little worried but when I found that the fitters had put 35 psi in them I let them down a to 26 psi and they felt much better.

I just had 2 fronts (T1R's again) put on on Saturday and went 26 psi all round and the difference to the drive was amazing. It's a lot, lot better now.

I have Rears 245/40 R18
Fronts 235/40 R18

And hopefully I won't kerb the alloys again 'cos T1R's have a rim protection lip on them .....

[NCE 61]

beano500 said:

Ta - now dare I ask: What about our Red Roses!?!!! If anyone knows, I bet you do, Nick

Red Rose Tuscans originally had Bridgestone SO2’s and as far as I can remember had 235/35/18 Front & 255/35/18 Rear. Can’t say for sure as my original Tuscan had 16” rims & by the time I changed them to 18” rims they were already using Toyo Proxy T1S’s.

[toobin]

delamars said:

I have Rears 245/40 R18
Fronts 235/40 R18

....

Thanks delamars (incidentally fantastic surname )and everyone else

This is the story so far.

Went to a garage in St Albans after ordering a 225 / 35 Bridgestone SO3 front tyre. However they were unable to jack the car so I took said tyre to the TVR Centre as they were fitting rears anyway. After a long conversation with Gyles they are putting on 245 / 40 fronts Toyo TIR and 225 / 40 Rears again Toyo TIV. The thought seems to be that the front should be slightly wider as it helps stablize the car.

Anyway this is all happening over the next few days as 4 wheel alignment also taking place so if anyone thinks this is madness then let me know please.

Also does anyone want to buy a Bridgestone, apparently if I take it back I need to wait for head office to post the cheque.

I hate tyres now!!!

Edited by toobin on Tuesday 6th June 09:02

[dvs_dave]

[quote=toobin
The thought seems to be that the front should be slightly wider as it helps stablize the car.

.....if anyone thinks this is madness then let me know please.
[/quote]

.....on a powerful rear drive car to help stability????? That my man sounds like utter madness to me. I suggest you go elsewhere before he tells you that tires only go flat on the bottom.

[toobin]

dvs_dave said:

.....on a powerful rear drive car to help stability????? That my man sounds like utter madness to me. I suggest you go elsewhere before he tells you that tires only go flat on the bottom.

Hmmm those were my thoughts too

[basil brush]

I think you may have got the sizes the wrong way round front to back.

IIRC originally all Tuscans (RR & non) with 18s had 225/35 front and 255/35 rear Bridgestone S02s. When the S was launched with front spoiler they were fitted with 255/35 all round. TVR then moved to Toyo as original supplier and the non S cars moved to 235/40 front 245/40 rear. Around the beginning of 2004 they then moved to Goodyear F1s as standard fitment in the same sizes, which is I believe still the case.

I'm currently running on F1s at 235/40 front and 255/35 rear.

[tvr5000]

Stick 255's on the back as I have noticed a lot better grip when the power comes in with no problem with ride quality. I presently have 245's on the front as they were swapped straight from the back as they were new. Idea is to have 255's all round.
Could you smell glue when the guy was telling you to put 225's on the back cos he'd probably just finished sniffing it!!

[toobin]

tvr5000 said:

Stick 255's on the back as I have noticed a lot better grip when the power comes in with no problem with ride quality. I presently have 245's on the front as they were swapped straight from the back as they were new. Idea is to have 255's all round. Could you smell glue when the guy was telling you to put 225's on the back cos he'd probably just finished sniffing it!!

There was a string of stella cans around his neck

I think your right about it being the wrong way round, I did question this with rather a strange look. I think a call in the morning would be a good idea

basil brush said:

I think you may have got the sizes the wrong way round front to back. IIRC originally all Tuscans (RR & non) with 18s had 225/35 front and 255/35 rear Bridgestone S02s. When the S was launched with front spoiler they were fitted with 255/35 all round. TVR then moved to Toyo as original supplier and the non S cars moved to 235/40 front 245/40 rear. Around the beginning of 2004 they then moved to Goodyear F1s as standard fitment in the same sizes, which is I believe still the case. I'm currently running on F1s at 235/40 front and 255/35 rear.

235/40 front 245/40 rear - this sounds good to me

Edited by toobin on Monday 5th June 22:23

[Nat_H]

I've gone for the Proxies also, £85 was to good to miss....

Went for the 225/35 255/35 combo, dont notice to much tram lining though.

But 35 profiles are so much cooler, the sidewalls cant be more than an inch high.

[toobin]

Nat_H said:

I've gone for the Proxies also, £85 was to good to miss....

Went for the 225/35 255/35 combo, dont notice to much tram lining though.

But 35 profiles are so much cooler, the sidewalls cant be more than an inch high.

Ahh the final tale in the saga. This is exactly the combo that I have now gone for (mainly based on availability) although definately not £85 - you lucky
4 Wheel alignment too.

And just to clarify they were recommending a higher profile and not a wider tyre in the front so appologies TVR Centre (who incidentally have been great)

Thanks everyone for a helpful response.