Tyre Choice Confusion 205/50R15 & 245/45/R16
Discussion
With lockdown eased I've taxed my Griff ready to enjoy it but am in need of new tyres almost immediately as I have about 2mm on the rears. My 500 (non-PAS) has always run 205/50R15 and 245/45R16 and I'm struggling to determine what to fit now?
For the past 12 years I've been running the ubiquitous and once common-fit Toyo T1Rs that I know are now discontinued and only had a V rated front. The forums seem to have very mixed views on these tyres but a lot of that seems to come from how the car is used. I use my car purely on the road so am not worried about track damage and I drive in the rain when it falls but don't make a point of going out specifically to drive in the rain!
When I bought the car it was running well-worn Porsche-specification Conti SportContact 2s on the rear and nearly new Toyo T1S on the front and the Conti's were so good that the front-end was terrifying in the wet. When I first fitted the T1Rs all round I hated the soft sidewalls and the 2-stage movement into a corner of tyre flex then suspension but the tyres bed in and you get used to it and the car is one of our most comfortable!
Looking to replace with the same sizes now seems nigh impossible and limited as follows:
Toyo T1R with TVR logo (late 2018) all round but with wider 225/50 fronts so higher aspect ratio and no PAS remember
Toyo TR1 all round (cannot find any feedback on these from TVR owners yet?)
Uniroyal Rainsports 5s all round with the front in correct size and the rear in 225/50/16 (sub-500 size)
Am I missing anything? What is current perceived wisdom? I see lots of love for the Uniroyals but am not sure I want a narrower rear and equally am not sure I want a wider front? Will I be a TR1 Guinea Pig?!
Thanks for any guidance, this used to be much easier I'm sure!
For the past 12 years I've been running the ubiquitous and once common-fit Toyo T1Rs that I know are now discontinued and only had a V rated front. The forums seem to have very mixed views on these tyres but a lot of that seems to come from how the car is used. I use my car purely on the road so am not worried about track damage and I drive in the rain when it falls but don't make a point of going out specifically to drive in the rain!
When I bought the car it was running well-worn Porsche-specification Conti SportContact 2s on the rear and nearly new Toyo T1S on the front and the Conti's were so good that the front-end was terrifying in the wet. When I first fitted the T1Rs all round I hated the soft sidewalls and the 2-stage movement into a corner of tyre flex then suspension but the tyres bed in and you get used to it and the car is one of our most comfortable!
Looking to replace with the same sizes now seems nigh impossible and limited as follows:
Toyo T1R with TVR logo (late 2018) all round but with wider 225/50 fronts so higher aspect ratio and no PAS remember
Toyo TR1 all round (cannot find any feedback on these from TVR owners yet?)
Uniroyal Rainsports 5s all round with the front in correct size and the rear in 225/50/16 (sub-500 size)
Am I missing anything? What is current perceived wisdom? I see lots of love for the Uniroyals but am not sure I want a narrower rear and equally am not sure I want a wider front? Will I be a TR1 Guinea Pig?!
Thanks for any guidance, this used to be much easier I'm sure!
Mines an early pre-cat, non PS, and had these very old Toyos on it.
So I've replaced them recently with Uniroyal Rainsport 5 tyres same size but rears are OTT "Y" speed rated.
And gone back to Amil rims.
Just waiting to give em a go now GA flying restrictions are being relaxed.
Stay Alert
So I've replaced them recently with Uniroyal Rainsport 5 tyres same size but rears are OTT "Y" speed rated.
And gone back to Amil rims.
Just waiting to give em a go now GA flying restrictions are being relaxed.
Stay Alert
Seems my memory has failed me and I have 205/55R15 on the front.
Not sure that makes choice any better as rear size still an issue. Am I going to notice dropping from 245 to 225? I assume less propensity for understeer, less outright traction, more progressive recovery from breakaway?
Not sure that makes choice any better as rear size still an issue. Am I going to notice dropping from 245 to 225? I assume less propensity for understeer, less outright traction, more progressive recovery from breakaway?
If you want to replace with matched make and model tyres you'll be going Uniroyal 225/50R16 rears with 205/55R15 fronts or Toyo TR1 with 245/45R16 rear and 205/50R15 fronts as they don't do a 55 profile.
I've reduced the rears to 225 like earlier cars as I don't like mismatched tyres and didn't want to lose 10mm ride height at the front with a 50 profile. That spoiler and exhaust have enough trouble without me lowering!
As a side note, you cannot get two rear tyres in the boot! Mine are going on tomorrow once I get them to my fitter.
I've reduced the rears to 225 like earlier cars as I don't like mismatched tyres and didn't want to lose 10mm ride height at the front with a 50 profile. That spoiler and exhaust have enough trouble without me lowering!
As a side note, you cannot get two rear tyres in the boot! Mine are going on tomorrow once I get them to my fitter.
Griffit, how are you getting on with your 225 rear Rainsports? Is anyone else using them too?
I am in the same position now (Toyo T1R, 205/55/15 and 245/45/16), I need to change the fronts and can’t find replacement Toyos so considering options if I change all four to keep a match. Mine is a non-PAS 500 with standard Estorils.
I am in the same position now (Toyo T1R, 205/55/15 and 245/45/16), I need to change the fronts and can’t find replacement Toyos so considering options if I change all four to keep a match. Mine is a non-PAS 500 with standard Estorils.
Well they are still on the car... I did a 435 mile spirited days drive to see if they bedded-in properly and either they were better afterwards or I had grown accustomed to them. Annoyingly I don't remember the pressures I settled on but believe fronts were raised to match rears for a bit more turn-in response.
They are still too soft in the sidewall in my opinion and liking and turn the car from a sports car into a cruiser. I'm tempted by the Yokohama option still but not Michelin is starting to produce some "heritage" sizes in modern compounds, which might be worth watching?
They are still too soft in the sidewall in my opinion and liking and turn the car from a sports car into a cruiser. I'm tempted by the Yokohama option still but not Michelin is starting to produce some "heritage" sizes in modern compounds, which might be worth watching?
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