Oh no...not tyres again!!

[DavidLScott]

I thought I was being clever last year and had Z rated Dunlop SP9000's fitted to the front of my 97 Chimaera 450 but now I want to do the rears, it seems they are being phased out and from my internet trawl there doesn't seem to be any 225/50 ZR16's available now.

I like the idea of E Tyres coming out to you as i can keep an eye on what they are doing to my rims and they have offered either Dunlop SP2000 or Sport 01 as an alternative and keeping Dunlops all round (current rears are Bridgestone SO3).

I don't do track days or mad driving and wet weather stuff is limited as it's not a daily driver, more of a sunny day car that might occasionally get wet.

So what do you guys suggest?
Should I go for one of the Dunlops or mix with an alternative make.

Thanks
David

[miniman]

Two thoughts.

Firstly, so far I am very happy with my Toyo T1-Rs.

Secondly, I would definitely have bought them from e-tyres only they were quite a bit more expensive than my local chap. I've used e-tyres in the past, though, and the service was excellent.

[Fire99]

I run Toyo T1-R's too. Have performed absolutely A1 for me. Good wet and dry grip.

[WazzaL]

Tyres being different back to front is less important that side to side, so I have been told.

Personally I would go with the Toyos. Use them myself and a lot better than the bridgstones I had on before. (Personal preferance I know)but don't know much about the Dunlops.

If it is just for dry weather, might be worth looking at the Toyo888's but don't know how they would go with the Dunlop fronts.

[bigdods]

Falken FK452 is the usual weapon of choice. Many TVR owner have SP9000 front/452 rear. I have this combo and it works very well

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m62b0s... £62.84 a corner plus a bit of delivery. Just get your local tyre place to fit them

It says R rated on the site, mine certainly say ZR on the side.

ETA: P&P is £4.98 for 2 tyres

Edited by bigdods on Wednesday 17th February 12:23

[DavidLScott]

Thanks for the replies.

I like the idea of E Tyres as I don't have to waste maybe 2 hours of my day taking the car to a trustworthy fitter and hanging around while they fit them so if they are a tad pricier that's acceptable.

Toyo's have always had good revues here and it was only the lack of 15" Z's that sent me to the Dunlops (since then most insurers seem happy with W's).

[bigdods]

W rating exceeds Z so insurance would be happy. But on the 15" fronts most tyres are now V rated which is technically a lower spec than Z (but not by much from what I can find with google) so you would need to inform your insurance co.

http://www.blackcircles.com/general/speedrating

[Targarama]

What about 245/45 x16 ? - this was std fitment on some Chimaeras.

[Barreti]

I have Eagle F1's on the rear with Dunlops on the front without any issue.

[DavidLScott]

It's difficult to argue against the Falken price so it's rather tempting.
By the time you factor in delivery cost and getting them fitted, E Tyres are very close on cost I should think and I can carry on earning money while they fit them rather than wandering around some god forsaken industrial estate for best part of an hour.

[JR]

bigdods said:

W rating exceeds Z

handy if you read your own link

[DavidLScott]

Thanks for the info - I'm getting the Falkens fitted by E Tyres on Friday @ £89.50 each fully fitted and old ones disposed of - and I can sit in comfort while it's done.

[JR]

bigdods said:

Falken FK452 is the usual weapon of choice. Many TVR owner have SP9000 front/452 rear. I have this combo and it works very well

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m62b0s... £62.84 a corner plus a bit of delivery. Just get your local tyre place to fit them

It says R rated on the site, mine certainly say ZR on the side.

R simply means radial as opposed to cross ply. When the Rating system was introduced the Fastest speed tyre that could be made was rated as a Z; that was when cars rarely went above 160mph. Today the fastest cars are hitting 250mph and so that you don't have to pay for that technology two sub-divisions of z with upper speed limits have been introduced: W and Y. Thus your Falken is a ZR for z class radial, W sub-division. i.e. ideally suited to your car.

[FlipFlopGriff]

Had Dunlop SP9000's and Toyos (T1S and T1-R) on the rear on the Griff and they work well. Only just put some T1-R's on the front now as insurers are happy with the V rated tyre.
FFG