Chimera Tyre Selection
Discussion
Sorry to rack out this old chestnut as I am sure this has been discussed many times before .
So the existing Bridgestone SO2s are 19 yrs old and cracked in the tread but still legal so I think they will be condemned at the upcoming MOT.So what to replace them with . Toyo Proxies T1R or Uniroyal Rainsport 3 . The opinions seem divided ? The former a summer tyre ,the later a rain tyre. How do they both perform . Any views .?
So the existing Bridgestone SO2s are 19 yrs old and cracked in the tread but still legal so I think they will be condemned at the upcoming MOT.So what to replace them with . Toyo Proxies T1R or Uniroyal Rainsport 3 . The opinions seem divided ? The former a summer tyre ,the later a rain tyre. How do they both perform . Any views .?
^^^^^^^ this.
I have the V rated Rainsport 3 on my Chim and very happy with them.
I have little intension of doing 149 mph let alone for any length of time. I looked at the load index and the V can take the corner forces and weight likely to be applied by our cars on each wheel. V by definition is likely to be a more compliant tyre than the W on our light weight cars and I’ve found them to be very suitable as steering vibration over bumps or breaks in the road surface that used to cause steering judder has basically disappeared. Tyres stay in contact with the road more consistently as the Rainsport is a very soft tyre compared to most road tyres,, it’s no surprise the older generation of road tyres don’t wear out on a light weight car like a TVR so to me the Rainsport is something of a perfect match as they also work very well on wet roads.
I have the V rated Rainsport 3 on my Chim and very happy with them.
I have little intension of doing 149 mph let alone for any length of time. I looked at the load index and the V can take the corner forces and weight likely to be applied by our cars on each wheel. V by definition is likely to be a more compliant tyre than the W on our light weight cars and I’ve found them to be very suitable as steering vibration over bumps or breaks in the road surface that used to cause steering judder has basically disappeared. Tyres stay in contact with the road more consistently as the Rainsport is a very soft tyre compared to most road tyres,, it’s no surprise the older generation of road tyres don’t wear out on a light weight car like a TVR so to me the Rainsport is something of a perfect match as they also work very well on wet roads.
People do concern themselves with the sped ratings of tyres (I used to) when the owners manual from the 1990s specifies ZR front tyres.
No manufacturer makes 15" tyres any more in a higher rating than V that I can find, and if it came to it, any insurance company would have to accept that you have fitted the highest speed rated tyres that are available. Back in the day, Z was the highest (150 mph +) but now there are W and Y ratings as well.
Its one of the reasons (along with bigger brakes and wider choice of tyres) that several owners fit 16" wheels on the front.
No manufacturer makes 15" tyres any more in a higher rating than V that I can find, and if it came to it, any insurance company would have to accept that you have fitted the highest speed rated tyres that are available. Back in the day, Z was the highest (150 mph +) but now there are W and Y ratings as well.
Its one of the reasons (along with bigger brakes and wider choice of tyres) that several owners fit 16" wheels on the front.
Bridgestone does the RE002 in a 205/55/15 W. Supply seems to be in irregularly scheduled batches, however. Also (if you fancy a 15 year old tread design) TVR Parts do the T1Rs in a TVR-specific version with the correct speed rating, too.
It is good OEM practice to equip very accelerative cars with a higher rather than lower speed rated tyre than the car's top speed would require.
It is good OEM practice to equip very accelerative cars with a higher rather than lower speed rated tyre than the car's top speed would require.
900T-R said:
Bridgestone does the RE002 in a 205/55/15 W. Supply seems to be in irregularly scheduled batches, however. Also (if you fancy a 15 year old tread design) TVR Parts do the T1Rs in a TVR-specific version with the correct speed rating, too.
I remembered that they did last year, I think Demon Tweeks did too. But a search on TVR Parts for tyres only returns 18" examples now.Camskill says 'no stock' for the Re002 and black circles don't even list any higher than V rated.
Showing as sold out, might be worth giving them a call to see if they are having another batch made.
https://tvr-parts.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tvr-g...
I think tyre manufacturers do a batch and then when the demand is there will do another run. Yokohama did a batch in the correct rating as did Bridgestone for a brief period about 2 years ago IIRC. If the specially commissioned ones by TVR parts have all sold out they may consider doing another run.
https://tvr-parts.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tvr-g...
I think tyre manufacturers do a batch and then when the demand is there will do another run. Yokohama did a batch in the correct rating as did Bridgestone for a brief period about 2 years ago IIRC. If the specially commissioned ones by TVR parts have all sold out they may consider doing another run.
Another one that went the Rainsport 3 option. As pointed I couldn't find the ride speed rated ones for the 15" rims so I bought a spare set of Imola rims and use the 16" on the front too. £266 for the 4 tires and £125 + £80 to buy and refurbish the wheels, oh and a pair of spacers for the fronts too. All in less than a set of tires for the daily.
I went T1R's from TVR Parts. I just wanted to keep to speed rating (personal choice). I had Dunlop SP9000's prior and the S02PP's prior to that.
I wanted to get the RE002's but couldn't find any so opted for the T1R's. I'm happy with them. Would prefer a stiffer sidewall like the S02PP's but don't think any tyre is like that anymore in those sizes. So I run 2 PSI more all round.
I wanted to get the RE002's but couldn't find any so opted for the T1R's. I'm happy with them. Would prefer a stiffer sidewall like the S02PP's but don't think any tyre is like that anymore in those sizes. So I run 2 PSI more all round.
Dave Minett said:
So the existing Bridgestone SO2s are 19 yrs old and cracked in the tread but still legal so I think they will be condemned at the upcoming MOT.So what to replace them with . Toyo Proxies T1R or Uniroyal Rainsport 3 . The opinions seem divided ? The former a summer tyre ,the later a rain tyre. How do they both perform . Any views .?
19yrs old! f
k me.. Nevermind the MOT, you should be condemning them! 5yrs would be the point you should start thinking of replacing them! Germany does 4yrs..As for Rainsports vs. T1R's.. Rainsports all day, much newer better tyre.
My Chimarea has 16" spiders fitted all round and had new Toyo TR1 tyres fitted when I bought her which have now covered a little over 6,000 miles and are only 2 years old. Tread is fine but I cannot say the same for the carcase which appears to be filing as both front tyres are now egg shaped. This was discovered after they started shaking so went to have them rebalanced and the fitted spotted the issue and showed me on the balancer machine.
Rims are true but tyres are not. Emailed Toyo customer service for advice and got no response as a result I would never consider buying Toyo tyres as it seems that one cannot rely upon the company to back their products and our safety seems to be of no concern to them what so ever.
It looks like I will have to replace the fronts but one thing is certain it will not be with Toyos of any description!
Rims are true but tyres are not. Emailed Toyo customer service for advice and got no response as a result I would never consider buying Toyo tyres as it seems that one cannot rely upon the company to back their products and our safety seems to be of no concern to them what so ever.
It looks like I will have to replace the fronts but one thing is certain it will not be with Toyos of any description!
Was it left parked up for a long period without moving? By that I mean a month or more.
In the winter, I put 30 psi in my Chimaera tyres for when it's parked up for months. I do move it a 1/4 of a wheel turn every week. Paranoid maybe, but I do hear about this sort of thing happening to any make of tyre because users often only have 20 psi in them or less.
Forgetting to drop the pressure again in the Spring last year was entertaining for an hour!
In the winter, I put 30 psi in my Chimaera tyres for when it's parked up for months. I do move it a 1/4 of a wheel turn every week. Paranoid maybe, but I do hear about this sort of thing happening to any make of tyre because users often only have 20 psi in them or less.
Forgetting to drop the pressure again in the Spring last year was entertaining for an hour!
Brithunter said:
Rims are true but tyres are not. Emailed Toyo customer service for advice and got no response as a result I would never consider buying Toyo tyres as it seems that one cannot rely upon the company to back their products and our safety seems to be of no concern to them what so ever.
It looks like I will have to replace the fronts but one thing is certain it will not be with Toyos of any description!
Just to add they don't appear to do Rainsport in larger sizes ie 225x50x15 & 245x45x16 for the 500 model variant only Toyo's. I have found T1R an acceptable replacement, as said previously could be stiffer compared to Bridgetsones. I can't vouch for Rainsports on Chim but I would like to try them, although i did fit them on my daughters Suzuki which is a hoot.It looks like I will have to replace the fronts but one thing is certain it will not be with Toyos of any description!
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