Tyres!

[Little_Blue_Car]

Morning all, I wonder if there is some accumulated wisdom available regarding what tyres to put on TVRs now. I've currently got Toyo Proxes but they are an MOT advisory this year and one now has an unrepairable puncture...

I'm running the Imola's - 15inch at the front, 16 inch at the rear. Current tyre sizes are 205/55/R15 and 245/50/R16.

What are you guys using? Any recommendations for what to buy or where to look?

Thanks in advance

Chris

[Belle427]

Uniroyal Rainsport or Toyo are ok, it's a case of what you can get the sizes in really.

[PabloGee]

I have the same wheels and had Uniroyal Rainsport until recently (they were 10 years old, and a bit of excessive wear on the front as the tracking was slightly out),

I bought a set of Kumho Ecsta HS51 which have largely the same ratings as the Uniroyal, they are a well established brand (used to be Ford OEM), and were 25% less costly.
So far so good, and I've driven it in the rain.

[sixor8]

245/50 x 16 on the rear is actually bigger than OE, even after 225/50 x 16 became harder to find in the right speed rating.

245/45 × 16 became commonly fitted, which is actually the widest you can go,really, on the standard 7.5" wide rim.

[The Three D Mucketeer]

I've got 225/50 Michelin Sports 4s on the rear of my Chim.. from CAMSKILL no problem
15" fronts were always an issue ... that's why I put 16" wheels on the front.

[PabloGee]

sixor8 said:

245/50 x 16 on the rear is actually bigger than OE, even after 225/50 x 16 became harder to find in the right speed rating.

245/45 × 16 became commonly fitted, which is actually the widest you can go,really, on the standard 7.5" wide rim.

I didn't spot that detail!
Mine are the original 225/50 R16, and 205/55 R15
Limited choice, but there is still choice...

I bought mine form Oponeo, as Camskill had a slightly different tyre.

[stevemcs]

We did tyres on one last week and they had Uniroyals, they had different size to you on the rear but there were around 5 brands where you could make a matched set.

[scottliv]

I have Yokohama Advan Fleva V701. I got the fronts in ATS 205/55R15 (don’t have PAS) and 225/50/16 on the back. These were not available in the UK but got them from AUTODOC. Fitting was easy at a local place. Really nice compliant and grippy tyre.

[bad company]

I need new rubber at the front for my Chim 500. Does this look like a reasonable tyre & price ?



Or alternatively these.

Edited by bad company on Sunday 17th August 08:04

[Little_Blue_Car]

Hey all, thanks for the advice - thought I would let you know I went for the rainsports in the end and they seem to be pretty good so far although I have upped the psi from the toyos as it all felt pretty squidgy. Doesn't help that I also need new suspension too!

Main reasons for the choice were that I use the car all year round so need something that inspired confidence in the wet more than I need a track day tyre. Got a decent price on camskill and they did the correct sizes. Got the whole lot bought, shipped and fitted for 550 bucks.

It's a Continental brand I think, so hopefully that add something to the quality...but who knows.

Thanks again for the input...on to suspension research now!

[PabloGee]

Suspension.
There are a few options depending on budget and driving style.
I have Protech that were installed by the previous owner, and they’re fine, but if I had a spare £1k I’d go for Bilsteins fitted by Ben Lang of Blackdown Automotive - this is considered to be the best option.

[The Three D Mucketeer]

I've found my Nitrons a vast improvement on Billies on both my Chim and Tuscan Convertible.
And they look like a proper bit of engineering

Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Sunday 12th October 09:41

[mk1fan]

Use my TVRs all year round on the road, trouring and track.

While I do use TD tyres on occassion on others I just use the 'road' ones.

Been very happy with the all round abilities of the Uniroyal Rainsport 3 and now Rainsport 5. Continental Premium Contact 7 is an improvement according to tyre tests but with increased cost.

Latest version of the Michelin Pilot Sport range appears to be the benchmark though. Not sure I have the abilities to maximise / notice the difference in performance though

[Belle427]

More a question than a recommendation and Im aware ben lang was an ex TVR chassis guy but are the Bilsteins he supplies much different to what was fitted to the cars originally?
Wondered if its just a case of everyone recommending them from what they have read here, I fitted them to my old car but that was based on what I read here.
I removed gaz gold pros and to be honest the difference was not that noticeable to me.

[The Three D Mucketeer]

I know Ben worked on the Tuscan Convertible (not sure about earlier cars) and he worked alongside Bilstein . But also tried Ohlins 3 stage and Nitrons , as usual I think the final choice of Bilstein may well have been a commercial one and not totally technical.... Like Brigstone SO2/3 tyres and then TOYO Proxies .
The major changes were spring rates which continue to be increased . Damping being a function of velocity rather than displacement , helps a lot on the pot holed roads around me .

I seem to remember early cars were fitted with KONI , but my MK3 had Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers from the factory.

Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Monday 13th October 17:35