Tye size help please!

plant · September 4, 2016, 21:04

I know there are loads of posts regarding tyre sizes for the Roadster but its making my head spin reading them all so I apologise in advance!
I am a new Roadster owner and have just fitted some Tein springs and 'Toms New Action' 15" wheels. The fronts are 6.5 and rears are 7's and as far as I know the they have a 35ET. I have had to add a 5mm spacer to the rear to aid with clearance.
The wheels came with nearly new Nankang 205/50R15's on every corner which I have read is a big no-no on the Roadster. Now I assume this size is perfectly accepatable for the rears but what would be the recommended tyre size to replace the fronts with to create the correct stagger.
Thanks in advance s:D

s:D

shnazzle · September 4, 2016, 21:27

I would definitely say 205 is a bit narrow for the rear. And 205, in my opinion, is too wide for the front.

If you were going to replace any, I'd put 215 or 225/45 on the rear. Then put 195 on the front when they're ready to be changed.

Or, just go whole hog and change all 4

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plant · September 4, 2016, 21:44

Thanks for the advice. would that be 195/50 or 45 for the front?
It handles a little odd with the current sizes. Oddly enough I bought them off someone who had them on a Roadster!

shnazzle · September 4, 2016, 22:01

195/50 fronts.
The thing is, having wider fronts will reduce your turn-in a bit. Make it feel a bit less nimble.
Having narrower rears will make the car more prone to oversteer, making it feel more painful when you plow into a tree backwards

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shnazzle · September 4, 2016, 22:15

Sorry, the latter is very negative s:)

s:) Drive sensibly and you won't get that response. That's worst case of course. But it is brought in earlier with narrow tyres

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plant · September 4, 2016, 22:20

Haha, don't really want to stick it in the trees just yet! There is a definite oversteer and the front feels a little on the light side.
So if I go for it and change all 4, 195/50 fronts and would I be best to go for 215/45 or 225/45 on the rear? I want the best out of the car and it doesn't quite feel 'right' with its current set-up.

shnazzle · September 4, 2016, 22:23

I'd go for 225 on the rear. But I don't know how that'd go on 15s. You'd need a low profile. Don't know if you can get them. 225/40/15 might be hard to find

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plant · September 4, 2016, 23:21

Seem to be quite tricky sizes to find! I am thinking I might leave the fronts at 205/50/15 and replace the backs with 225 50 15's followed with a full geo. Hopefully this should improve the steering/handling

I found this info on another forum so this seems to fit in with my wheels:
'Tyre sizes for the fronts:
15" wheels
195/55/15, 5.5j - 7j recommended 6j (standard size Toyota rev 2 onwards)
205/50/15 = -10mm less than stock RR / 5.5j - 7.5j recommended 6.5j
205/55/15 = +11mm bigger than stock RR / 5.5j - 7.5j recommended 6.5j

Tyre sizes for the rears:

15" wheels
225/50/15, 6j - 8j recommended 7j (standard size Toyota rev 2 onwards) '

jvanzyl · September 5, 2016, 09:36

Quote from: "plant"Thanks for the advice. would that be 195/50 or 45 for the front?
It handles a little odd with the current sizes. Oddly enough I bought them off someone who had them on a Roadster!

The guy you bought them off is on eBay right? "Silverxxxx"?
I couldn't say for sure but I don't believe the guy actually "runs" a roadster...I think he just breaks them.

plant · September 5, 2016, 09:39

That's the fella.
Just at tweeks now getting the backs swapped for 225/50/15 and getting a geo done. Hopefully that will sort it!

shnazzle · September 5, 2016, 10:01

It should make a difference.
Other than that, there are other no-tyre factors like the state of your subframe, suspension, the air dams on the underside of the front bumper, correct tyre pressures.

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tricky1138 · September 5, 2016, 10:32

Remember Shnazzle that PFL came with 205 at the rear as standard!

Could just put 185 on the front!

shnazzle · September 5, 2016, 10:42

Quote from: "tricky1138"Remember Shnazzle that PFL came with 205 at the rear as standard!

Could just put 185 on the front!

Did it?! I thought it was 215. That must be the 16s on the FL s:D

s:D

Tricky is right, definitely put 185 or 195 on the front then

plant · September 5, 2016, 10:44

It is a pfl model.Tweeks seem to think there will be clearance issues with 225s on the rear so it looks like I will be replacing the fronts for 185 or 195s but they don't have stock to match the rears. Geo was within tolerance so that's not the problem (although steering wheel was 6 degrees out). Shocks were all inspected and fine when the teins were put on and wheels run true. Noticed no issues with the standard rims so hopefully reducing the size of the fronts will fix things.

1979scotte · September 5, 2016, 15:00

225 is fine on the rear.
I have 225 R and 205 F.
Wouldnt reccomend the 205 front makes the car feel heavy and dulls the handling slightly.

Stifler · September 5, 2016, 15:35

Just for reference PFL factory fitment is:

Front: 185/55/15
Rear: 205/50/15

I've just ordered some AD08R's in these sizes for my 02 Roadster (but appreciate your alloys are not stock!)