Tyres

[TV8]

Hi everyone,

I have just bought a 94 4.0 Chimaera and have to get some new tyres for the rear due to wear. I had it checked-over and was told by a TVR specialist that it had the wrong tyres on the front and as they look new and were called Turanza and the rears are Expedia, I didnt think much about this statement.

The rears are Expedia S01 225/55 ZR16 which seems to be absolutely correct (but worn!) and the fronts are Turanza ER300 205/60 R15 91V, which as far as I can tell, is the right size but the wrong speed rating? However, I cant find 205/60 Z rated tyres for sale, W ratings are available in summer tyres, what ever they are. 215/55's are available in Z rating but that appears to be the size for PAS cars? I may also be looking in the wrong places?

Do I need to worry about the front tyres or discuss with the insurance company?

For the backs there apear to be larger sizes with lower profiles fitted to some models and would have thought that would only give more grip (providing the radius was similar) without the negatives of more weight in the steering from increasing the size of the fronts.

If I have change the fronts for ratings and buy 4 tyres, is there another recommended brand? - "the bible" seems pro-Bridgestone.

Any advice on what to fit and where to buy (I am near Bromley in South London) would be appreciated.

Thanks
Graham

Edited by TV8 on Wednesday 14th October 07:02

[JR]

TV8 said:

W ratings are available in summer tyres, what ever they are.

They are exactly what you want/need.

[FlipFlopGriff]

SO1's will be very old and likely dangerous by now. The corretc size for the rear should be 225/50/16 I think, and the fron 205/55/15. Toyo seem the most popular and work well on the car, but vcna only get V rated front which is acceptable to most insurers.
FFG

[JR]

FlipFlopGriff said:

SO1's will be very old and likely dangerous by now. The corretc size for the rear should be 225/50/16 I think, and the fron 205/55/15. Toyo seem the most popular and work well on the car, but vcna only get V rated front which is acceptable to most insurers.
FFG

Close but no cigar. The correct sizes for a 94 Chim are as per the original poster.

[V8s ONLY]

The correct O.E. sizes for a 94 Chimaera are 205/60-15 and 225/55-16.Bridgestone make matching turanza ER300 225/55-16s with v or w spee
d ratings. These tyres are not really a sports car tyre more a sporty comfort touring tyre.There is nothing stopping you from fitting 205/55-15s and 225/50-16s to this car as TVR did to later Chimaeras, these are available in more appropriate types for the car. Dont worry about v,w or z speed ratings but dont go any lower than v. Dont mix the old and new sizes though and fit same speed rating all round if you can but dont worry if you cant.

[FlipFlopGriff]

JR said:

FlipFlopGriff said:

SO1's will be very old and likely dangerous by now. The corretc size for the rear should be 225/50/16 I think, and the fron 205/55/15. Toyo seem the most popular and work well on the car, but vcna only get V rated front which is acceptable to most insurers.
FFG

Close but no cigar. The correct sizes for a 94 Chim are as per the original poster.

As they seem to have fitted so many sizes as standard its hard to be 100% accurate, so just playing safe. They will still be very old though.
FFG

[JR]

FlipFlopGriff said:

As they seem to have fitted so many sizes as standard

not in 1994.

[spend]

Early chims have a problem with the front tyres catching the battery box 'step'. Personally I would not recommend using the original tyre sizes, and assume that is why TVR reduced the spec in later models (then subsequently changed battery location in even newer models...)