How do wheels and tyres alter handling

[jonbarrett]

I assume when a car is first designed it will have the rims and tyres specified to match the suspension design.

I've always felt my Cerbera is poor at holding the road, especially B-roads.

At 55,000 miles I'm aware that the suspension bushes, shocks and geo will need a refurb but what about the tyres and rims.

Its fitted with 18in rims and low profile tyres, much wider on the back (I can post the exact dimensions if that would help).

My question is would it have left the factory with such wheels and tyres. If not what would they have been and would the rims and tyres now fitted have improved or compromised the handling?

I have to admit they look great but I'm willing to compromise looks for some better road holding.

[alinton]

I've said this before, and I'm not alone.

Incorrect tyres can destroy the handling on these cars. Mine had Bridgestone S03's and handled like a bag of frogs.

I replaced them with Goodyear Eagle F1's and it totally transformed it.

Andy.

[SXS]

Subjective, depends how you drive the car. I've been taxi'd in a cerb which looked like it had some really extreme negative camber on the rear and the fronts had some serious toe-in..... but the way that fella threw it into the corners amazed the hell out of me, sorry I didnt notice the regular driving, I was having too much fun clenching my batty'ole.

[GreenV8S]

As you lower the tyre profile the tyre loses its ability to absorb bumps, so the suspension becomes more susceptible to imperfections in the road surface leading to more steering kickback and less feel. If the tyre is also wider, this increases steering kickback and reduces steering feel even further. Both changes also make the suspension more sensitive to geometry changes. Super low profile tyres look great but tyres with more sidewall tend to make it easier to produce a forgiving suspension setup.

[VPower]

Jon

As you mentioned the bushes, I'd get them done first.

Over the last few days I have been poly bushing the front end of mine.

To say they are knackered is an understatement.
They look OK, but are off centre and the drag link bushes were well wobbly.

I have even found that they have been changed in the past and the upper rear bush has been fitted in the wrong way round and one of the spacer/ferrules is missing on the off side!!

So much for a FULL TRV main "stealer" history!

I also had the front wheels toeing out, so have adjusted them and the difference in handling is so dramatic!!

So as has been said by many owners in the past, get the bushes and geo done first.

Steve