Discussion
The car is a T350c with a 4.3 conversion, so closer to Sagaris power than T350.
Originally the T350 was designed with 225/50r16 (632mm diameter) all round. The shift to 18” wheels was apparently more fashion than function lead and if you believe the history they were meant to have 235/40r18 (645mm diameter) all round but they rubbed at the front so fronts ended up as 225/35r18 (615mm diameter).
The Sagaris is always quoted as being much more planted that the T350. The major differences seem to be much stiffer springs and better quality dampers, 50mm on the track, better aero with splitters and guerney, and 255/35r18 all round.
I would like to make the T350 as planted as a Sagaris. I can sort out the dampers and spring rates and the aero, but I’m thinking about wheels and tyres.
Would it make sense to put 245/35r18 (629mm diameter) all the way round? They will fit at the back but might take a little fettling at the front for width.
Has anyone ever tried this combination are if so were you happy with it?
Originally the T350 was designed with 225/50r16 (632mm diameter) all round. The shift to 18” wheels was apparently more fashion than function lead and if you believe the history they were meant to have 235/40r18 (645mm diameter) all round but they rubbed at the front so fronts ended up as 225/35r18 (615mm diameter).
The Sagaris is always quoted as being much more planted that the T350. The major differences seem to be much stiffer springs and better quality dampers, 50mm on the track, better aero with splitters and guerney, and 255/35r18 all round.
I would like to make the T350 as planted as a Sagaris. I can sort out the dampers and spring rates and the aero, but I’m thinking about wheels and tyres.
Would it make sense to put 245/35r18 (629mm diameter) all the way round? They will fit at the back but might take a little fettling at the front for width.
Has anyone ever tried this combination are if so were you happy with it?
r500_wkd said:
The car is a T350c with a 4.3 conversion, so closer to Sagaris power than T350.
I would hope a 4.3 would be considerably more than 4.0 Sagaris power. 
You could try adding 5mm spacers all round to move the wheels out which will help the front tyre fit.
These would move you towards the Sag set up too. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
A proper geo set up by someone who knows what they are doing (with TVRs), with who you can discuss your needs will make the car feel much better and make best use of the tyres and or other kit you fit.
Mat Smith turned my car from a nervous, unsettled, tramlining handfull to a sweet, fun, compliant (as far as a TVR can be) car.
Well, perhaps a bit more, but I didn't want to upset anyone...
I'm quite happy doing the height, corners and geometry myself. Do my 911 outlaw which is spot on so have a good understanding of the subject and a good system. The TVR is a new challenge but I'm sure I will get there. It's part of the fun of it all.
It's the tyres I need help with. If I could run Sagaris 255/35r18 all round I would as it's the Sagaris I'm trying to emulate, but I can't as they don't fit, so hoping I might get away with 245/35r18. Hoping that someone has tried it before and can either confirm it works or prevent me from making a horrible mistake
I'm quite happy doing the height, corners and geometry myself. Do my 911 outlaw which is spot on so have a good understanding of the subject and a good system. The TVR is a new challenge but I'm sure I will get there. It's part of the fun of it all.
It's the tyres I need help with. If I could run Sagaris 255/35r18 all round I would as it's the Sagaris I'm trying to emulate, but I can't as they don't fit, so hoping I might get away with 245/35r18. Hoping that someone has tried it before and can either confirm it works or prevent me from making a horrible mistake
Unfortunately, due to factory tollerances, what fits on one car may be jammed solid on another.
A lot of tyre rub issues are, in my humble opinion, stem from people preferring the lowered, level look rather than the '2live crew' look. The latter giving better handling too.
If you were to spend the time to review all the 'what tyre' threads you'll find plenty of examples of larger tyres being fitted - plus plenty of comments about how under tyred the cars are
Spacers would be an easy, cheap and reversible change that would negate 10mm of the width increase.
The fronts, I have found they foul the light access hole covers. I modded mine to be concave - cut a hole and then glassed over a tennis ball.
I don't think the rears would be an issue.
Give it a try.
A lot of tyre rub issues are, in my humble opinion, stem from people preferring the lowered, level look rather than the '2live crew' look. The latter giving better handling too.
If you were to spend the time to review all the 'what tyre' threads you'll find plenty of examples of larger tyres being fitted - plus plenty of comments about how under tyred the cars are
Spacers would be an easy, cheap and reversible change that would negate 10mm of the width increase.
The fronts, I have found they foul the light access hole covers. I modded mine to be concave - cut a hole and then glassed over a tennis ball.
I don't think the rears would be an issue.
Give it a try.
Thanks for that.
I'm definitely not in the too low camp. Keeping it high stops the scraping and helps some of the geometry challenges as you say. The car is also sitting on 400/350 springs rather than the standard 200/175 which I think is going to improve the rubbing issue a little over the softer cars.
The tennis ball trick sounds like a great one. I think I might just go with the 245's all round and get the glassing kit out.
Thanks for the help.
I'm definitely not in the too low camp. Keeping it high stops the scraping and helps some of the geometry challenges as you say. The car is also sitting on 400/350 springs rather than the standard 200/175 which I think is going to improve the rubbing issue a little over the softer cars.
The tennis ball trick sounds like a great one. I think I might just go with the 245's all round and get the glassing kit out.
Thanks for the help.
My experience is from a Tuscan not T350, but chassis etc is all the same underneath.
Don't go for the Sag steering arms in isolation unless you are also going to raise all the wishbone pivots by 20mm as the Sag has. The later cars aren't that far out.
225/40 front 255/35 rear works well on Tuscans. The choice of 255/35 all round on the Tuscan S and Sag may have been as much down to looks as performance.
Don't go for the Sag steering arms in isolation unless you are also going to raise all the wishbone pivots by 20mm as the Sag has. The later cars aren't that far out.
225/40 front 255/35 rear works well on Tuscans. The choice of 255/35 all round on the Tuscan S and Sag may have been as much down to looks as performance.
Basil Brush said:
My experience is from a Tuscan not T350, but chassis etc is all the same underneath.
Don't go for the Sag steering arms in isolation unless you are also going to raise all the wishbone pivots by 20mm as the Sag has. The later cars aren't that far out.
225/40 front 255/35 rear works well on Tuscans. The choice of 255/35 all round on the Tuscan S and Sag may have been as much down to looks as performance.
Great advise. Thank you. Mine is an early T350C, late 2002. I was going to keep it reletively high at the front to try to mitigate the bump steer issues.Don't go for the Sag steering arms in isolation unless you are also going to raise all the wishbone pivots by 20mm as the Sag has. The later cars aren't that far out.
225/40 front 255/35 rear works well on Tuscans. The choice of 255/35 all round on the Tuscan S and Sag may have been as much down to looks as performance.
I had the same bump steer issues on the 911 outlaw which is a bit low. Got a set of simple bump steer correctors which sorted the issue out very well. I take it the issue is a bit more complex on these things.
https://www.stuttgart-classica.co.uk/suspensionste...
Check the rack is shimmed up as high as it will go as well. I like the bump steer adjuster you linked to. I was looking at alternative track rod ends with different mounting shaft length, but these adjustable ones look a good idea.
I had the Sag gurney on my T350 but took it off as I prefer the original look. I haven't noticed any change in performance, but maybe I'm not pushing it hard enough.
I had the Sag gurney on my T350 but took it off as I prefer the original look. I haven't noticed any change in performance, but maybe I'm not pushing it hard enough.
non_linear said:
Check the rack is shimmed up as high as it will go as well. I like the bump steer adjuster you linked to. I was looking at alternative track rod ends with different mounting shaft length, but these adjustable ones look a good idea.
I had the Sag gurney on my T350 but took it off as I prefer the original look. I haven't noticed any change in performance, but maybe I'm not pushing it hard enough.
The rack shouldn't need lifting more than 10mm to dial out any bump steer, but will vary car to car. Later cars had 10mm rack shims from the factory.I had the Sag gurney on my T350 but took it off as I prefer the original look. I haven't noticed any change in performance, but maybe I'm not pushing it hard enough.
non_linear said:
Check the rack is shimmed up as high as it will go as well. I like the bump steer adjuster you linked to. I was looking at alternative track rod ends with different mounting shaft length, but these adjustable ones look a good idea.
I had the Sag gurney on my T350 but took it off as I prefer the original look. I haven't noticed any change in performance, but maybe I'm not pushing it hard enough.
If that guerney is gathering dust in a corner and you want to move it on I would love to try one. Happy to grease your palm with silver...I had the Sag gurney on my T350 but took it off as I prefer the original look. I haven't noticed any change in performance, but maybe I'm not pushing it hard enough.
r500_wkd said:
If that guerney is gathering dust in a corner and you want to move it on I would love to try one. Happy to grease your palm with silver...
Would have been happy to but I sold it a couple of years ago. In hindsight annoying as I need new mounting brackets to replace corroded ones on a Sag I'm restoring. I look forward to hearing if you get any improvement with it.
Edited by non_linear on Saturday 29th June 08:56
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