Nitrons or Racing reds?

[Zippee]

I'm going to be uprating the shocks on my T350 in the next month and was originally looking at Nitrons, costing around a grand for the full set plus fitting. However, I see on Powers website they are offering Racing Reds at £730 fitted. Would I be best off saving some money and going for these - they seem to be made by Nitron anyway. How much difference is there between Nitrons and R/Reds? Both in terms of quality/longevity and handling/set up?
I'm keen to get away from the twitchiness of the OEM Bilsteins I currently have and drive mostly fast road as the car is too noisy for most tracks.

[Barry Ashcroft]

As I understand RR are not made by Nitron they are made in china and the design was done by somebody to do with Nitron.
They have had lots of prblems with valves failing make sure that is solved before you buy would be my advice.
Or you could go for Gaz Golds which are cheaper of like you say pay a grand for Nitrons

[TVR_owner]

Zippee said:

I'm keen to get away from the twitchiness of the OEM Bilsteins I currently have and drive mostly fast road as the car is too noisy for most tracks.

The OEM shocks were indded garbage, but they were not Bilsteins, they were Harvey Bailey.

A move to Bilsteins with the correct length springs ratherthan the coild bound ones you have fitted would be a good upgrade at much less than the cost of Nitrons. If someone has fitted Bilsteins and the car feels twitchy, I would look elsewhere for the cause.

[Zippee]

TVR_owner said:

Zippee said:

I'm keen to get away from the twitchiness of the OEM Bilsteins I currently have and drive mostly fast road as the car is too noisy for most tracks.

The OEM shocks were indded garbage, but they were not Bilsteins, they were Harvey Bailey.

A move to Bilsteins with the correct length springs ratherthan the coild bound ones you have fitted would be a good upgrade at much less than the cost of Nitrons. If someone has fitted Bilsteins and the car feels twitchy, I would look elsewhere for the cause.

Thanks for that. I just presumed they were Billies as thats what my old Chim had as standard. I'm sure as many owners know the original shocks make the car feel very twitchy and unstable as well as giving an appalling ride. I just want a decent, well set up car tht would be capable of good, reasonably hard fast road use, with an occasional track day and visits to places such as The Alps. I had Gaz golds on my previous car and whilst OK they weren't fantastic, squeaking and requiring a rather delicate set up. Nitrons have been recommended by my mechanic but having seen Doms offer on the R/Reds (labelled as Nitron R/Reds) I just wanted to see if anyone had any experience of them.
I'm willing to pay up to the price of Nitrons but not more (ie no Ohlins) however, saving could be put towards other enhancements like De-cats and remapping.

How much do the upgraded Bilsteins (unadjustable presumably) come in at compared to R/Reds?

[K4TRV]

Have a look at Neil Garner's Web page.
http://www.neilgarner.co.uk/TVR_specials/

List RRs and Nitrons. Give him a call and ask.

HTH

Trev

[TVR_owner]

Zippee said:

TVR_owner said:

Zippee said:

I'm keen to get away from the twitchiness of the OEM Bilsteins I currently have and drive mostly fast road as the car is too noisy for most tracks.

The OEM shocks were indded garbage, but they were not Bilsteins, they were Harvey Bailey.

A move to Bilsteins with the correct length springs ratherthan the coild bound ones you have fitted would be a good upgrade at much less than the cost of Nitrons. If someone has fitted Bilsteins and the car feels twitchy, I would look elsewhere for the cause.

Thanks for that. I just presumed they were Billies as thats what my old Chim had as standard. I'm sure as many owners know the original shocks make the car feel very twitchy and unstable as well as giving an appalling ride. I just want a decent, well set up car tht would be capable of good, reasonably hard fast road use, with an occasional track day and visits to places such as The Alps. I had Gaz golds on my previous car and whilst OK they weren't fantastic, squeaking and requiring a rather delicate set up. Nitrons have been recommended by my mechanic but having seen Doms offer on the R/Reds (labelled as Nitron R/Reds) I just wanted to see if anyone had any experience of them.
I'm willing to pay up to the price of Nitrons but not more (ie no Ohlins) however, saving could be put towards other enhancements like De-cats and remapping.

How much do the upgraded Bilsteins (unadjustable presumably) come in at compared to R/Reds?

Bilsteins all round, change out of rear springs to Tuscan S and a correct alignment will transform your car without hurting the wallet too much..

[Robertjp]

Worth saying that gaz gold pro's are a fair leap onwards from the gaz golds, they were pretty comparible with RR's ... I compared both racing reds and GGP's next to each other at TVR Power (only £30 difference between the two sets fitted) and orignally i had wanted racing reds, i ended up going for the GGP's. The quality is very good.

Difference in handling is amazing but then it was pretty bad before, geo was out and on original shocks.

Apparently cars sit a little better on GGP's according to those in the know! I have heard racing reads can tend to ride a little high and be a little bit soft as standard (but i cant qualify this)

I havent driven a RRedded car only mine now it has the GGP's on.

Edited by Robertjp on Tuesday 9th March 13:50

[YRRunner]

TVR_owner said:

Zippee said:

I'm keen to get away from the twitchiness of the OEM Bilsteins I currently have and drive mostly fast road as the car is too noisy for most tracks.

The OEM shocks were indded garbage, but they were not Bilsteins, they were Harvey Bailey.

A move to Bilsteins with the correct length springs ratherthan the coild bound ones you have fitted would be a good upgrade at much less than the cost of Nitrons. If someone has fitted Bilsteins and the car feels twitchy, I would look elsewhere for the cause.

Strange, Billies came standard on mine. Another weird TVR factory anomaly me thinks. Upgraded them to Nitron Racing Shocks anyway, and haven't looked back.

[alex_gray255]

I upgraded mine to Nitrons after looking at the prices of the alternatives. If you are looking to spend that kind of money, you might as well say "what the hell" and go the full hog

[D14 AYS]

I have had all of the above on my various TVR's, Nitrons are a different league to any other shocks I have used, Nitrons EVERY time

[earlyriser]

[/quote]
Bilsteins all round, change out of rear springs to Tuscan S and a correct alignment will transform your car without hurting the wallet too much..
[/quote]

Agree with John . Tis what I have, diy fit for approx £600 and then geo at next service. Handling transformed. I suspect Nitrons are OTT unless you are planning on lots of track days

[Zippee]

earlyriser said:

Bilsteins all round, change out of rear springs to Tuscan S and a correct alignment will transform your car without hurting the wallet too much
Agree with John . Tis what I have, diy fit for approx £600 and then geo at next service. Handling transformed. I suspect Nitrons are OTT unless you are planning on lots of track days

Thanks guys. After much thought and discussion I've decided to steer away from Nitrons as I just won't get the benefit for fast road. I'm going to plump for Racing reds instead having been assured the problem with the seals is now sorted and they give me the adjustability should I require it in the future.

Edited by Zippee on Wednesday 10th March 10:23

[PYNEY]

hi tony

i had rr fitted to my tamora when i had her
they transformed the ride and were ideal for me , all road use

never had any issues with the seals going etc
and saved some money, matt at sebrings fitted the two rear shocks done a great job

cheers keith

[TVR_owner]

YRRunner said:

TVR_owner said:

Zippee said:

I'm keen to get away from the twitchiness of the OEM Bilsteins I currently have and drive mostly fast road as the car is too noisy for most tracks.

The OEM shocks were indded garbage, but they were not Bilsteins, they were Harvey Bailey.

A move to Bilsteins with the correct length springs ratherthan the coild bound ones you have fitted would be a good upgrade at much less than the cost of Nitrons. If someone has fitted Bilsteins and the car feels twitchy, I would look elsewhere for the cause.

Strange, Billies came standard on mine. Another weird TVR factory anomaly me thinks. Upgraded them to Nitron Racing Shocks anyway, and haven't looked back.

Billies would have come standard on your Sag. They wer never fitted with anything else when new.

[blackiepaul]

Got Nitrons goign on mine over the next couple of weeks by Topcats racing. They are a specialist with Nitrons and run them in their racing cars and are use to setting up cars for fast road and of course track. They also do all the others - worth thinking about using them.

[GT TVR]

TVR_owner said:

YRRunner said:

TVR_owner said:

Zippee said:

I'm keen to get away from the twitchiness of the OEM Bilsteins I currently have and drive mostly fast road as the car is too noisy for most tracks.

The OEM shocks were indded garbage, but they were not Bilsteins, they were Harvey Bailey.

A move to Bilsteins with the correct length springs ratherthan the coild bound ones you have fitted would be a good upgrade at much less than the cost of Nitrons. If someone has fitted Bilsteins and the car feels twitchy, I would look elsewhere for the cause.

Strange, Billies came standard on mine. Another weird TVR factory anomaly me thinks. Upgraded them to Nitron Racing Shocks anyway, and haven't looked back.

Billies would have come standard on your Sag. They wer never fitted with anything else when new.

Had the Billies on my Tuscan 2S(standard I think); didn't like them (too hard). Now have (adjustable) Nitrons with Eibach springs: very good, for the first time the car has a suspension.

[TVR_owner]

Busy discussing having some Bilies revalved to Sagaris settings for the Tuscan as the front rebound rates are all wrong on the standard Tusacn Bilstein shock.

[GT TVR]

TVR_owner said:

Busy discussing having some Bilies revalved to Sagaris settings for the Tuscan as the front rebound rates are all wrong on the standard Tuscan Bilstein shock.

Basicly your are speccing you own dampers then, not bad.

[stimshady]

i have nitrons and they are great, although i have never driven one without so can't add much comparison!

[TVR_owner]

GT TVR said:

TVR_owner said:

Busy discussing having some Bilies revalved to Sagaris settings for the Tuscan as the front rebound rates are all wrong on the standard Tuscan Bilstein shock.

Basicly your are speccing you own dampers then, not bad.

Not quite but almost. Will be fitted to try on the Spanish trip. Basically Tuscan shocks valved the same front and back as the Sagaris with the same spring ratings as the Sagaris.

We can compare..