Discussion
Hi all
Sorry if this has been discussed before!
I have a chimaera 500, with 15” & 16” original wheels,
the tyres on are Proxes and after asking around a lot, these are as rare as hens teeth.!
Would anyone know where to buy new ones or perhaps could suggest alternatives for the rims I have.
Many thanks.
Sorry if this has been discussed before!
I have a chimaera 500, with 15” & 16” original wheels,
the tyres on are Proxes and after asking around a lot, these are as rare as hens teeth.!
Would anyone know where to buy new ones or perhaps could suggest alternatives for the rims I have.
Many thanks.
Plenty of threads on here and also some in on TVRCC site. Sourcing depends on your choice of tyre spec. Obviously starting with the tyre profile you have/want....is it per the range in the Steve Heath manual and with/without power steering. Then the big debate is whether you settle for V speed rating or go to the rarer W rating.....depending on you view on what's an appropriately suitable match for the original speed spec of circa 20+ years ago. Assume you're looking for regular road use tyres......mostly termed as Summer tyres and not specifically for track use. Then there is your £ budget consideration
Mbwa-kali said:
Plenty of threads on here and also some in on TVRCC site. Sourcing depends on your choice of tyre spec. Obviously starting with the tyre profile you have/want....is it per the range in the Steve Heath manual and with/without power steering. Then the big debate is whether you settle for V speed rating or go to the rarer W rating.....depending on you view on what's an appropriately suitable match for the original speed spec of circa 20+ years ago. Assume you're looking for regular road use tyres......mostly termed as Summer tyres and not specifically for track use. Then there is your £ budget consideration
Agreed. I think V spec are basically a bit softer with a max speed of 149 mph which is slower than the W rated tyres. If you think you will be doing over 150 mph often buy W rated.
This does not effect your insurance cover unless of course you crash on a V rated tyre at 150 mph
V rated work well on TVR but then I use larger rims, less tyre profile.
I’d not get to hung up on putting V rated on an old car that’s unlikely to be doing extreme speeds. The tyres were W specked because the cars manufacturer suggested it could do 171 mph I seem to recall. V should offer more compliance over bumps but also some tyre squat, roll. If you get this right you will be using that tyre roll for grip as hard tyres would have let go by now.
You gain grip in almost all scenario unless you are on race tracks flat out that is.
I use V rated on my 17 Rainsports, love em.
Edited by Classic Chim on Friday 10th December 08:34
The biggest issue will be finding anything other than V-rated ones for the front, particularly if you want same make/type of tyre front & rear; in fact, I don't think that's possible anymore.
TVR parts used to supply them but as far as I'm aware Toyo stopped making them some time ago and stated no intention of producing any more batches. Loads of tyre threads if you search but everybody has their own view; a lot liked the Uniroyal Rainsport 3s, although I think they've been superseded by Rainsport 5s.
TVR parts used to supply them but as far as I'm aware Toyo stopped making them some time ago and stated no intention of producing any more batches. Loads of tyre threads if you search but everybody has their own view; a lot liked the Uniroyal Rainsport 3s, although I think they've been superseded by Rainsport 5s.
Just to add in case it's helpful; I've bought various tyres (for my Chim and another car which needed Cobras) from my tyres.co.uk. I think it's a German company but sells into the UK and good website in English. Delivery took about a week/ 10 days but no problems and tyres fine. Plenty of emails keeping me informed of order status. They do have 15'' tyres in stock. I bought some Hankook 205/50 86W speed rated as suited me. But I see they also indicate stock for Toyo Proxes 225/50 ZR 91 W but not much change from £200 per tyre. Don't know date of manufacture but for some tyres you pay extra and 2021 production g'teed. Obviously these are tyres only so you need to have them fitted.
TarquinMX5 said:
Loads of tyre threads if you search but everybody has their own view; a lot liked the Uniroyal Rainsport 3s, although I think they've been superseded by Rainsport 5s.
Yeah, after having Toyos I decided to move to the Rainsport 5s on the Griff (running 15/16 inch Estorils). Had to drop the rears to 225s from 245, but they've been fine. Seem quite soft, so suit the car and wet weather grip is certainly improved.
I see Michelin have been advertising the Pilot Exalto PE2 for the likes of 90s hot hatches, so with a bit of luck they'll move into TVR sizes soon.
ETA - PH article on the Michelins here
Edited by Podie on Friday 10th December 15:13
I put Rainsport 5s on my Chimaera just over a year ago, to replace some rather old Toyos. They immediately gave me so much more confidence, both wet and dry, though I expect that ultimate dry grip is a bit lower. I recently had to drive home along roads that had had an absolute soaking, with a fair amount of standing water. It felt just like driving a 'normal' car - on the Toyos I'd have been very cautious. Like all tyres they took a couple of hundred miles to bed in, and were slightly vague feeling until they had, with a bit of motorway wander.
The only problem that I had was that they fouled the back of the front arches on lock - I'm running 16" fronts and 17" rears, one section shallower but original width. The Toyos didn't do this, so it would appear that not all tyres are actually the same size. Fixed with a bit of sanding (of the bodywork, not the tyres)... On standard rims they should be fine.
The only problem that I had was that they fouled the back of the front arches on lock - I'm running 16" fronts and 17" rears, one section shallower but original width. The Toyos didn't do this, so it would appear that not all tyres are actually the same size. Fixed with a bit of sanding (of the bodywork, not the tyres)... On standard rims they should be fine.
I use Toyos in 15" and 16" standard TVR sizes. (225/15 and 245/16). The asymmetric TR1 though, not the old style T1R's. Tread wise they look like a bit like Rainsports.
Work fine for me, and a quick Google would suggest easy to source. When I say work fine for me, I don't do track days, and I don't rag the arse off the car on public roads. It also hibernates for the winter, as it goes furry in the damp.
Work fine for me, and a quick Google would suggest easy to source. When I say work fine for me, I don't do track days, and I don't rag the arse off the car on public roads. It also hibernates for the winter, as it goes furry in the damp.
I’ve recently replaced a mixture of Rainsport 2 and 3 with a full set of Rainsport 5 - replacement due to calendar age rather than wear.
The fact that I’ve gone through three iterations of this tyre tells you that I’m happy with them. Sure, I don’t stress my tyres to the limit in the dry - I’m a “slow in, fast out” driver - but they handle perfectly nicely. And I’ve never had a brown trouser moment in the wet on these tyres.
Yes, I have to settle for V speed on my standard 15” front wheels. But I don’t see that as a problem.
What else could I recommend? Well, on my Saab 9-5 Aero estate I’m on a set of Michelin CrossClimate, and they’ve been excellent. Very good wear, even on the front of a torque-steer monster. And I’ve driven them on snow, and found them surprisingly good. If you want something with all-year performance and if you can get the sizes you need, they’re a very good choice.
The fact that I’ve gone through three iterations of this tyre tells you that I’m happy with them. Sure, I don’t stress my tyres to the limit in the dry - I’m a “slow in, fast out” driver - but they handle perfectly nicely. And I’ve never had a brown trouser moment in the wet on these tyres.
Yes, I have to settle for V speed on my standard 15” front wheels. But I don’t see that as a problem.
What else could I recommend? Well, on my Saab 9-5 Aero estate I’m on a set of Michelin CrossClimate, and they’ve been excellent. Very good wear, even on the front of a torque-steer monster. And I’ve driven them on snow, and found them surprisingly good. If you want something with all-year performance and if you can get the sizes you need, they’re a very good choice.
My Saab 9-5 Aero estate was on Rainsport 3s all year round, and my current 9-5 estate is too - I scrapped the 2006 Aero when the gearbox broke, but kept the wheels and tyres because I liked them so much and fitted them to the replacement. I also have Uniroyal Rainports on my Chimaera too, and love them on that, great grip all year round, and I am putting well over 300 bhp through them.
But like a number of people, I am no longer on 15/16 wheels thanks to upgrading the brakes, and run 17 inch wheels instead. In my humble opinion V rated tyres are fine for the British road - where am I going to exceed 149 mph? I have never managed it yet, even on 40 or so track days. Straights aren't long enough.
But like a number of people, I am no longer on 15/16 wheels thanks to upgrading the brakes, and run 17 inch wheels instead. In my humble opinion V rated tyres are fine for the British road - where am I going to exceed 149 mph? I have never managed it yet, even on 40 or so track days. Straights aren't long enough.
Really? The Yokohama is a circuit tyre for a dry day. You wouldn't want it on the road in the wet.
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Yokohama/Advan-A0...
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Yokohama/Advan-A0...
LucyP said:
Really? The Yokohama is a circuit tyre for a dry day. You wouldn't want it on the road in the wet.
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Yokohama/Advan-A0...
Yeah I don’t need a performance tyre for the wet. I want a tyre offering modern technologies and grip levels. My Chim only comes out in the dry, if it does rain I’ll drive accordingly. https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Yokohama/Advan-A0...
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/chartDisplay....
According to the above it is above average in wet conditions for an extreme performance summer tyre.
I have exactly this issue.
Acquired a set of 15 front and 16 rear split rims and cannot find 2 pairs from the same manufacturer for love or money..
I’m looking for 205/60/15 fronts and 225/50/16 rears. (Actually for a V8S, excuse the incursion)
The only recommended tyres I can see in these sizes are Conti premium contact 2s, but no-one seems to have any.
Anybody got any suggestions?
Acquired a set of 15 front and 16 rear split rims and cannot find 2 pairs from the same manufacturer for love or money..
I’m looking for 205/60/15 fronts and 225/50/16 rears. (Actually for a V8S, excuse the incursion)
The only recommended tyres I can see in these sizes are Conti premium contact 2s, but no-one seems to have any.
Anybody got any suggestions?
Edited by RayTVR on Tuesday 25th January 21:57
I have exactly this issue.
Acquired a set of 15 front and 16 rear split rims and cannot find 2 pairs from the same manufacturer for love or money..
I’m looking for 205/60/15 fronts and 215/50/16 rears. (Actually for a V8S, excuse the incursion)
The only recommended tyres I can see in these sizes are Conti premium contact 2s, but no-one seems to have any.
Anybody got any suggestions?
Acquired a set of 15 front and 16 rear split rims and cannot find 2 pairs from the same manufacturer for love or money..
I’m looking for 205/60/15 fronts and 215/50/16 rears. (Actually for a V8S, excuse the incursion)
The only recommended tyres I can see in these sizes are Conti premium contact 2s, but no-one seems to have any.
Anybody got any suggestions?
There are almost no brands of 215/50 x 16 out there that I can see searching my local stockist, apart from Linglong. 
If you go to 225/50 x 16, you can get Uniroyal Rainsport 5 for the rear and Uniroyal Rainexpert 3 for the front. The tread patterns may be different though.
There are some real ditchfinder tyres in both sizes called Winrun or Landsail....
Mid range by Nexen (NBlue) or Maxxis (different shaped tread though).
Bridgestone and Michelin do both sizes too but not in exactly the same sub-brand / tread.
If you go to 205/55 x 15 on the front, you will be able to find more tread patterns matching front and rear (Uniroyal / Goodyear etc.), it's what many Chimaera / Griff owners and TVR themselves did from the mid 90s.
If you go to 225/50 x 16, you can get Uniroyal Rainsport 5 for the rear and Uniroyal Rainexpert 3 for the front. The tread patterns may be different though.
There are some real ditchfinder tyres in both sizes called Winrun or Landsail....
Mid range by Nexen (NBlue) or Maxxis (different shaped tread though).
Bridgestone and Michelin do both sizes too but not in exactly the same sub-brand / tread.
If you go to 205/55 x 15 on the front, you will be able to find more tread patterns matching front and rear (Uniroyal / Goodyear etc.), it's what many Chimaera / Griff owners and TVR themselves did from the mid 90s.
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