TYRES!!!

[Twerlie]

i know this is a difficult subjet, but i REALLY need new tires on the back of my Chimaera and i really dont know what ones to go for coz everyone is saying different things about So2's/So3'3 Toyo T1's Etc..... (WHICH ONES)? And should i replace them all round as the front only have 5mill left?
I would like to put 245/45/16 on the back, will this be ok or should i stick to the 225/50/16?

Thanks in advance!

Ross

[Steve _T]

quote:i know this is a difficult subjet, but i REALLY need new tires on the back of my Chimaera and i really dont know what ones to go for coz everyone is saying different things about So2's/So3'3 Toyo T1's Etc..... (WHICH ONES)? And should i replace them all round as the front only have 5mill left?
I would like to put 245/45/16 on the back, will this be ok or should i stick to the 225/50/16?

Thanks in advance!

Ross

I have just put SO3s on the rear of my 5L Chim, no complaints from me, they seem at least as good as the SO2s they replaced. General comments from the racing community are favourable according to Mr. Heath and that's as good an endorsement as you're likely to get.

Tread depth of 5mm on the front is fine, general advice is to change with 2-3mm to go, just be on the look out for uneven wear. There was a recent posting on tyres on one of the forums on this site (can't remember which) and it is a FAQ.

I don't know about replacing 225s with 245s but my gut reaction is stick with the sizes that TVR put on your car as otherwise you may adversely affect the handling. I'm no expert here, but I'd say your tyre profiles will have been chosen for a reason and unless you know better then stick with what you know. It can be an expensive experiment at of over £200 a set.

Just my 5 cents,

Steve
(and Bright Yellow Chim' 5L)

[trefor]

225/50 x 15 will fit on the front (better for your health if you have PAS) and 245/45 x 16 will fit on the rear. These are the same size as fitted to 5.0L cars on the same width rims. I have these sizes on my Chimaera - no problems whatsoever.

If you can get them then SO2s are the most 'proven' tyre for the Chimaera. Otherwise SO3s appear fine - a number of Chimaera owners have them now. Can't comment on Toyos but I'm sure they're OK too.

T/.

[hughjayteens]

I have Griff 500 wheels and tyres (245s) on my car and they are fine - Never tried any others but more rubber cannot be a bad thing surely??

[Ed_P]

Ross

Have a look also at the thread I started on the General TVR section. There appears to be conflicting advice on mixing SO2s and SO3s. With so many owners needing to replace just fronts or backs, it's disappointing that no useful guidance is coming from Blackpool.

Since posting the thread, I have "bitten the bullet" and had Toyo T1-s fitted to the rear of my 4.0L Chimaera, with SO2s currently on the front. Will have a good "blast" this weekend and see how it feels.

[.mark]

quote:
I have Griff 500 wheels and tyres (245s) on my car and they are fine - Never tried any others but more rubber cannot be a bad thing surely??

The only problem with more rubber is in the wet, these are very light cars as we all know if you have fatter tyres the risk of aquaplaning is higher.

[Vmax500]

OK, so this is pure laziness but in order to minimise time spent on the phone trawling through the yellow pages, can anyone who has recently bought some tell me a reasonable price for a pair of SO3 245/45ZR16s.

I have been quoted £326.20 all in. Should I keep looking or is this about right?

[Popester]

There is a recent post on the General page which quotes an all in price of £260 for a pair of SO3 245/45 boots from Bracknell Tyre and Rubber. Guess you should shop around for a better deal and spend the savings on .

Steve

[jj_work]

I replaced the so2's on the front of my 4L (205/55 15) with some new SO3's. I moaned loads about them... It felt like the car had lost front end grip. (I live in Mk so it's always being canned around roundabout's) So when I replaced the rear I found some SO2N - which I was told were the same SO2 tyre, but Porsche approved. They looked slightly different when on the rim, but I loved the SO2's, so I got them. Did a track day at Donnington 80 miles later...!!! (as you do on brand new tyres).

And I must say, I couldn't fault either tyre. I was really impressed with the SO/3's on the front, and they ran fine with the SO/2. If anything I had a little too much front end grip.. My next set will now be SO/3's.. Get them, then get it on a track, and be happy.

jj (they don't half wear though... oohh..!! - 1m 28S a lap around Donnington, I'd say they gripped)