tyre size help on 16's...

[Big_Martin]

Yeah, they look quite flat when it's dull, but really zing in the sun

The orange looks great with black, you can't go wrong.

[riot68]

Wheel look good Martin, got a shot of the whole car?...

[Big_Martin]

Well... as it happens



The car isn't clean and it's only on the drive. I'll get out and take some proper ones (and start a profile thread) once I've cleaned it

[vishpish]

Well given I then went on to explain the functional reasons for my tyre choice we'll gloss over that hungover, pre-breakfast oversight.

Why are you going for a 195 btw? I always found having a 195 up front gave gobs of understeer ruining the sharp turn in characteristics of the car. 205 every time for best handling. Odd to want that for a sports car eh

Maybe I'm alone in pushing the car to the point where these characteristics become clear(and frustrating)

100% agree with this. I get understeer with the 205's never mind a 195 so would strongly recommend a 205 for handling bearing in mind that our cars tend to understeer before oversteer due to the complete lack of anything up front.

Where I disagree is running a different profile up front than rear. I run 205/45/16 T1Rs up front and 225/45/16 FK452s at the rear and both are at the end of their life almost.

With stiff shocks, s-techs, braces and a full susp setup, on flat ground, the car is incredibly predictable at the limit. I just think that running a fatter tyre up front might unbalance the feel of the car with a softer bouncier front compared to a stiffer rear.

[Marf]

Where I disagree is running a different profile up front than rear. I run 205/45/16 T1Rs up front and 225/45/16 FK452s at the rear and both are at the end of their life almost.

With stiff shocks, s-techs, braces and a full susp setup, on flat ground, the car is incredibly predictable at the limit. I just think that running a fatter tyre up front might unbalance the feel of the car with a softer bouncier front compared to a stiffer rear.

Can't say I ever noticed the car feeling unbalanced, my tyre setup was the best I'd ever used on the car. Barely any understeer and incredibly neutral on the limit.

Using your logic, then your car would surely feel unbalanced as there's a 10mm height different between the front to the back, compared to 1.25mm difference on my setup. Equal profile doesnt mean equal tyre height when the section widths are different.

Tyre height in mm = section width/100*profile

[Big_Martin]

Also, there is actually a 5mm height difference between front and rear with the stock setup

I've never experienced understeer with 195/55/15 fronts or 205/45/16 fronts, so I don't anticipate any with 195/50/16 either

[vishpish]

Where I disagree is running a different profile up front than rear. I run 205/45/16 T1Rs up front and 225/45/16 FK452s at the rear and both are at the end of their life almost.

With stiff shocks, s-techs, braces and a full susp setup, on flat ground, the car is incredibly predictable at the limit. I just think that running a fatter tyre up front might unbalance the feel of the car with a softer bouncier front compared to a stiffer rear.

Can't say I ever noticed the car feeling unbalanced, my tyre setup was the best I'd ever used on the car. Barely any understeer and incredibly neutral on the limit.

Using your logic, then your car would surely feel unbalanced as there's a 10mm height different between the front to the back, compared to 1.25mm difference on my setup. Equal profile doesnt mean equal tyre height when the section widths are different.

Tyre height in mm = section width/100*profile

You're missing my point. Height aside, a 50 profile tyre 'feels' softer than a 45 as obviously there is more sidewall to cushion bumps. I know this because I run 195/50's on my daily with uprated shocks and springs and the above on the '2 with uprated shocks and springs. I just don't trust the idea of running different profiles. I've never experienced any drawbacks from the height difference - if anything it looks and feels better. Just my opinion but I'd still strongly recommend 205/45 and 225/45.

[Race Idiot]

You're missing my point. Height aside, a 50 profile tyre 'feels' softer than a 45 as obviously there is more sidewall to cushion bumps. I know this because I run 195/50's on my daily with uprated shocks and springs and the above on the '2 with uprated shocks and springs. I just don't trust the idea of running different profiles. I've never experienced any drawbacks from the height difference - if anything it looks and feels better. Just my opinion but I'd still strongly recommend 205/45 and 225/45.

You know that the std tyre setup has staggered profiles right? Its not an uncommon thing with cars that run staggered tyre sizes, i'm sure toyota, bmw etc know what their doing.

Not that i've ever bothered running the 'correct' setup myself, i've run both 205/45/16 225/45/16 and 205/50/16 225/50/16

To be fair I ran both with different makes of tyre so the comparison isnt exactly like for like.

The only thing I prefered on the 45 profile tyres was the slightly faster response on turnin, they didnt ride as well and didnt feel as progressive when giving up grip.

Also they looked silly, but I like the nice chunky sidewall look instead of tiny rubber bands.

[Nic]

I bought my MR2 Rev3 Turbo with Falken FK452 tyres fitted. I've been impressed with them, they have worn very well, grip levels have generally been good in all conditions, they are predictable at the limit and considering what they cost seem very good value for money.

I'm changing the wheels so I need a new set of tyres but cannot decide which brand/model to go with.

Wheel to be fitted
Front: 16"x6.6" +30
Rear: 16"x8" +40

Closest 16" tyre sizes compared to stock
Front: 195/50R16
Rear: 225/45R16

I was going to buy another set of Falken FK452's but they are not available in 195/50R16, only 205/50R16

The car will be used predominantly on A and B roads, with the occasional motorway run and I'm going to be doing 1 or 2 track day later this year.

The other tyre option I've been looking into -which are available in the correct sizes- is the Toyo T1-R. However it's not a tyre I've used before, I've read a lot of reviews raving about the grip levels but that they wear quickly.

So is anyone running Toyo T1-R tyres front (195/50R16) and rear (225/45R16) that can give me some feedback in terms of grip in different conditions and wear rates?

Or any other suggestions of which tyre makes/model work well on the MR2?

[Marf]

Can anyone guess what I'm gonna say??


AD08!!

For a daily driven occasional track car, you won't find a better road tyre IMO.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m53b0s99p5960 ... se%3A_75dB

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m62b0s310p596 ... se%3A_75dB

[Nic]

CFor a daily driven occasional track car, you won't find a better road tyre IMO.

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m53b0s99p5960 ... se%3A_75dB

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m62b0s310p596 ... se%3A_75dB

Cheers what sort of mileage would you expect to get out of a set with general road use?

[Marf]

Fronts'll last for ages as with any other tyre on a MR car, rears, I had 6k or so out of my rear set before I sold the car and they had plenty of meat on them, I'd estimate 8-10k out of a rear set, maybe less if you track it hard.

The wet weather performance is staggering, ditto sub zero temps. That's what really impressed me about them, they inspire so much more confidence in adverse conditions as well as being nearly as grippy as a semi slick in the dry.

[Nic]

Fronts'll last for ages as with any other tyre on a MR car, rears, I had 6k or so out of my rear set before I sold the car and they had plenty of meat on them, I'd estimate 8-10k out of a rear set, maybe less if you track it hard.

The wet weather performance is staggering, ditto sub zero temps. That's what really impressed me about them, they inspire so much more confidence in adverse conditions as well as being nearly as grippy as a semi slick in the dry.

Can't find anywhere with 195/50R16 in stock, Camskill says they are being replaced in August with a new model the AD08R.

[Marf]

ditto, can find the 205/50 though

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205-50-16-YOK ... 53e2a1970b

That's what I ran up front along with 225/45/16 at the rear

[Nic]

Edited as info I had was incorrect.

[cg nz]

Looking to get back into MR2 ownership and chance to get 16" wheels which give more tyre choice...

16" wheels propb be 7" front/8" rear

So if std wheels are 15" and tyres 195-55-15/225-50-15

What will be best 16" tyres to be closest to std?

Posts in this thread suggest various sizes...

[Johnr32]

Most popular sizes are F 205/45/16 with R 225/45/16 and I think are the closest to the standard rolling radius. I have gone for F 205/50/16 and R 225/50/16 which is perfect for the crappy roads plus I find it softens the bumpy roads but still gives me the confidence around corners.

[Nic]

I've decided to go with:
Front - 205/45R16
Rear - 225/45R16

[Nic]

What will be best 16" tyres to be closest to std?

Closest to stock front-rear staggered widths and rolling radius would be:
Front: 195/50R16 - tyres in this size are limited.
Rear: 225/45R16

MR2 Wheel/Tyre Calculator - http://mr2.gordaen.com/wt_calc.php