Tyre recommandations?

[Spyderwoman]

I need a new set of tyres, but with these awkward sizes it is very difficult to get what I like.

front: 185/55 R15 6j
rear: 215/45 R16 7j

What I want is something excellent on wet and dry track, front and rear same or equal quality

The tyres I like are:
- Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
- Dunlop SP9000
- Bridgestone Potenza S-O3 Pole Position
- Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
- Pirelli Pzero Nero

What I can get is:
- Bridgestone KE040
- Toyo Proxes
- Yokohama

I think the KE040 are not bad, but not so good in the rain

The Toyo Proxes I hear are ok, until they start to wear and then they loose all grip.

Yokohama is not my tyre

Anybody with some experience or advice?

[omega_supreme]

A woman that knows about tyres. I think I'm in love. Tell me all Dutch women are like you!

Tyre choice: sorry I can't help ya here...I get the skinniest thing I can find and slide around. Dorifto yo!

[EL PAALO]

first, I would go with different sizes.

195/55 15 or 205/50 15 for the front.
225/45 16 for the rear.

[Spyderwoman]

I already looked for conversion sizes. But still

Perhaps I should go for different tyres front and rear

[Mister2.2]

Have you checked reviews on TireRack.com? Or do you guys have your own TyreRack.com (heh heh heh)

[EL PAALO]

Toyo T1R - comparable to the Goodyear F1 GSD3 in all respects and should be available to you.

205/50 15 front and 225/45 16 rear. front is obviously wider, but almost exactly the same height as oem. rear is a little taller, but gives you a little more width.

[Spyderwoman]

I checked TireRack + some test results of various car magazines / organisations.

I just ordered the Bridgestone Potenza RE040.
Got the last 2 available in Europe for rear, and two of the 6 left in front wheel size.
They are shipped to the Netherlands now, hopefully just in time before I go to Scotland to have some fun on twisty little roads

They are not exactly what I want, but they come in the right size and will be good enough.

Thanks for the help for now. After Scotland I will continue my search for when these are finished. I learned that I have to plan this in advance

[Spyderwoman]

I just returned from Scotland. With a group of 5 MR2's and 38 motorbikes we drove 1700 kms on the most narrow and twisty roads. Sometimes wet, sometimes dry, most of the time involving a lot of steering and a lot of shifting gears

I got my Bridgestone Potenza RE040's just in time.

A softer feel than the original Yokohama's, and much better grip on the road, especially on wet track.
In te beginning I felt some oversteer in long fast curves, but after a few 100 kms that was gone. In short fast curves the rear of the car didn't want to overtake the front so quick as with the original tyres.

In wide hairpins the backend would easily slide round the bend, without the lightest loose of control

The motorbikes never had a change against my MR2 in curves, especially not the very short, sharp turns. And believe me, we were not going slow

I am quite happy with these tires.

When the tires start to wear I will post my findings again for those who are interested in other people's experiences.


Pictures of Scotland will be on my website in perhaps a weeks time.

[Mister2.2]

The RE040 is a good tire but they do wear out quick and uneven from my own experience.

[Raptor13x]

Originally Posted by Spyderwoman

I just returned from Scotland. With a group of 5 MR2's and 38 motorbikes we drove 1700 kms on the most narrow and twisty roads. Sometimes wet, sometimes dry, most of the time involving a lot of steering and a lot of shifting gears

I got my Bridgestone Potenza RE040's just in time.

A softer feel than the original Yokohama's, and much better grip on the road, especially on wet track.
In te beginning I felt some oversteer in long fast curves, but after a few 100 kms that was gone. In short fast curves the rear of the car didn't want to overtake the front so quick as with the original tyres.

In wide hairpins the backend would easily slide round the bend, without the lightest loose of control

The motorbikes never had a change against my MR2 in curves, especially not the very short, sharp turns. And believe me, we were not going slow

I am quite happy with these tires.

When the tires start to wear I will post my findings again for those who are interested in other people's experiences.


Pictures of Scotland will be on my website in perhaps a weeks time.

I envy you! So many neat places are right at your doorstep. Also, if we drove like that over here we'd be arrested immediately. I think fun is illegal in America. Regardless, congrats on a good time! Pics of the event sound great!

[Spyderwoman]

@Mister2.2:
I think that uneven wear in tires is not because of the tires themselves, since the material is the same all around.
I can imagine that the negative position of the rear wheels of the MR2 may have some influence. Although I would also think that tires made for this car could be customized to that position.
But I am no expert at all, these are just my thoughts.

I checked my previous tires regularly, and have seen no uneven wear, not even inside compared to outside of the rear wheel tires.

Could your uneven wear be caused by something else?

It will be interesting to find out how tire ratings differ on different MR2 models. Of course driving style is also of influence, but since you're there and I am here we can't test that

My style depends on the situation.
I spend way to much time in traffic jams going to work, some time cruising in sixth gear on the highway, and not enough time driving like mad on twisting roads
I would love to trade my traffic jams mileage for mad twisting mileage.


@Raptor13x:
Everytime I want to visit places like Scotland I find that there is a big body of water between my doorstep and the roads there.
The distance is not the problem, but it takes 16 hours by ferry, + some more hours for boarding and debarking.

Speeding is not allowed there either, but they have so much land for so few people that it is possible to do it there without meeting police for a long time.
I do believe you when you say that speed limits and the police in the US are more strickt than in some countries here.

Perhaps you should do a European tour by MR2

[Mister2.2]

No the uneven wear is pretty common with that tire AFAIK. When I read reviews I saw plenty of people saying the same thing. Try going to tirerack.com and check for yourself...

On another note.. I ran the RE040 a long time ago, probably over 5 years ago... I thought it had been replaced by an updated model?

[Spyderwoman]

In that case: do you know what causes the uneven wear?

[Raptor13x]

Uneven wear can be caused by improper inflation, poor alignment, aggressive driving, or on the manufacturing end, poor tire design.