Buying tyres, my least favourite activity

[SuperArt]

I am seeing a lot of tyre related posts recently. Whether it's because I'm actively looking to read up on tyres or it's just that time of year I've just been consuming a wealth of tyre knowledge over the last 3 days from new threads. A lot of good information out there.
Unfortunately there hasn't been too much information relevant to my specific needs.

My car is currently fitted with 16x9 16x7J wheels wearing 205/45R16 T-1Rs on the front and 225/40R16 T-1Rs on the back. I thought it would be a simple matter of looking online for these sizes but I cannot find a matching set from the same manufacturer and with the same pattern for these sizes.

In a bid to open up my search to other options I defer to your collective knowledge on this matter and see if I might be able to get away with a different width or profile combination.

Not interested in any high-performance rubber, really just focused on a next best alternative to Toyota's original recommended specifications which I suppose are road/summer tyres.

Suggestions anyone?

[JB21]

225 40 16 is a rare size. You'd be better with a 225 45 16. But if you're set on the sizes you mention then Falken do them.



https://www.tyres-guru.co.uk/cart

[Joesson]

@JB21 , That's 2 hours 11 minutes since @SuperArt asked the question! What took you so long?

[JB21]

@JB21 , That's 2 hours 11 minutes since @SuperArt asked the question! What took you so long?

Haha I did see it earlier but work got in the way of my reply 😁

[SuperArt]

Appreciated! If I were to move away from 225/40 R16 to a different profile (same width) would that adversely affect the drive in any way?

[Dev]

 Sometimes having a little more sidewall can be beneficial for feel and comfort  but that is dependent on a lot of other factors like side wall stiffness and the suspension.
 
Less sidewall can be nice as far as less sidewall flex but they will have less feel at the edge and it can snap like a rubber band with they let go making them less forgiving and can contribute to a harsh ride but this all depends on the car and the suspension.

 

[Gaz mr-s]

9" ?!  That's wide for the rear, never mind the front. Can you confirm?

[Ardent]

My car is currently fitted with 16x9 wheels

Really or typo?

[SuperArt]

My car is currently fitted with 16x9 wheels

Really or typo?

Typo, fat fingers. 16x7J good catch! I'll leave the error in the first post for the sake of continuity.

[JB21]

Appreciated! If I were to move away from 225/40 R16 to a different profile (same width) would that adversely affect the drive in any way?

For road not really. As mentioned it would improve ride comfort and be more progressive on the limit.

[Zxrob]

I run 225/45/16 and 195/55/15 TR1

More than happy, road set up with the occasional trackday

Rob

[Gaz mr-s]

Well since the standard rear width tyre is a 215 it would make sense to go to it.
I have aftermarket 7" on mine, & smaller than 195 on the front doesn't look good. (I'm standard 15" though)

Do some reading of tyre tests. It may be slightly different with a 16" front, possibly greater choice, but Hankook k125 came out best in tests. Falken used to be cheaper, but since Brexit, t'other way round.  Both brands will be better than old Toyo.

[Dev]

With a car like ours there is plenty of grip with the standard sizes and it's always better to buy a better tire than a wider tire. 215s are the perfect size for the rear which opens you up to more options and keeps unsprung weight in check.

[McMr2]

I am seeing a lot of tyre related posts recently. Whether it's because I'm actively looking to read up on tyres or it's just that time of year I've just been consuming a wealth of tyre knowledge over the last 3 days from new threads. A lot of good information out there.
Unfortunately there hasn't been too much information relevant to my specific needs.

My car is currently fitted with 16x9 16x7J wheels wearing 205/45R16 T-1Rs on the front and 225/40R16 T-1Rs on the back. I thought it would be a simple matter of looking online for these sizes but I cannot find a matching set from the same manufacturer and with the same pattern for these sizes.

In a bid to open up my search to other options I defer to your collective knowledge on this matter and see if I might be able to get away with a different width or profile combination.

Not interested in any high-performance rubber, really just focused on a next best alternative to Toyota's original recommended specifications which I suppose are road/summer tyres.

Suggestions anyone?

I also run 16×7J all round. Currently have T1rs on the front (lots of tread but they're ancient) in 195, with Nankang NS20 rears in 215.

I've also been looking to replace all 4 tyres as the rears are nearly done and I'm sure I saw Ns20s in both 195 and 215 for 16s. Will need to check the profiles but I'm sure I remember thinking it was a viable option.

Subjective of course, but I actually prefer the nankangs for normal road use compared to the Toyos I previously had on the rear (225/40) - they were seriously sketchy in the wet.

[s12vea]

I would go for 1955016 / 1954516 front and keep the same 2254016 or 2254516 rear

You should be fine with toyo or fallen and possibly uniroyal

Camskills or black circles are good source of information and pricing

[Zspeed]

I would agree with @s12vea , you can put a 195 on a 7j. When I got mine it had 205 toyo on the front and I found the steering improved no end and eliminated tram lining when I went to 195 Michelin ps3.

This might have a bit to do with the stiffer tyre as well.

@SuperArt How does it handle with the 16s all round?

I was considering doing something similar with some secondhand 15in lightweight OZ wheels for the track but not sure if it would hinder more than help.

[SuperArt]

I would go for 1955016 / 1954516 front and keep the same 2254016 or 2254516 rear

You should be fine with toyo or fallen and possibly uniroyal

Camskills or black circles are good source of information and pricing

Which size on the front best preserves the speedo accuracy?

[SuperArt]

I would agree with @s12vea , you can put a 195 on a 7j. When I got mine it had 205 toyo on the front and I found the steering improved no end and eliminated tram lining when I went to 195 Michelin ps3.

This might have a bit to do with the stiffer tyre as well.

@SuperArt How does it handle with the 16s all round?

I was considering doing something similar with some secondhand 15in lightweight OZ wheels for the track but not sure if it would hinder more than help.

16 all round isn't a problem, tyre sizing correctly is the key.
For the sizes I'm running I haven't once felt the car is over or under tyred. However I've yet to experience REALLY good tyres so I have nothing to compare against.
Compared with stock wheels and stock setup on Bridgestones which I had before swapping to TTE wheels and toyos , the car felt more responsive on stock setup that's for sure.
Again this is just gut feeling, I'm not able to quantify the difference or even adequately put into words what the difference is.
The main difference is weight, the tte wheels are not light. I also suspect toyos are not as good as bridgestones.

[s12vea]

I would go for 1955016 / 1954516 front and keep the same 2254016 or 2254516 rear

You should be fine with toyo or fallen and possibly uniroyal

Camskills or black circles are good source of information and pricing

Which size on the front best preserves the speedo accuracy?

No idea tbh
There must be a website you can check that.

Have your old tyres gone square from all that time parked up...

[Zspeed]

I would go for 1955016 / 1954516 front and keep the same 2254016 or 2254516 rear

You should be fine with toyo or fallen and possibly uniroyal

Camskills or black circles are good source of information and pricing

Which size on the front best preserves the speedo accuracy?

Have a play on 'will they fit'

[SuperArt]

I would go for 1955016 / 1954516 front and keep the same 2254016 or 2254516 rear

You should be fine with toyo or fallen and possibly uniroyal

Camskills or black circles are good source of information and pricing

Which size on the front best preserves the speedo accuracy?

No idea tbh
There must be a website you can check that.

Have your old tyres gone square from all that time parked up...

Haha not a chance. I get her turned over and moving every other week during "sorn season". Doing figure 8s in the front is like giving her some much needed excercise.
Old tyres are just old. These Toyos were shod three years ago and plenty of tread left. Still it'll soon be time to replace so I'm just planning ahead.

[Alex Knight]

I would go for 1955016 / 1954516 front and keep the same 2254016 or 2254516 rear

You should be fine with toyo or fallen and possibly uniroyal

Camskills or black circles are good source of information and pricing

Which size on the front best preserves the speedo accuracy?

Erm, none.

These cars are RWD, and that's where the speedo measurement is taken.

You could put roller skates on the front, wouldn't change anything.

[Beachbum957]

We run Yokohama Fleva 701 on 16x7 wheels and 195/45-16 front and 205/45-16 rear, and the combination works very well.  We had been running 215/40-16 rear previously, but that size isn't available in the US market except in some cheap imports. Options for 215/45-16 / 225/40-16, 225/45-16 are also very limited in our market when trying to match to an appropriate front size. The speedo is a bit off with the current rears, but not much.

[1979scotte]

I would 100% go down to a 195.
You've got enough weight on the front with those 16" wheels.

[SuperArt]

It was staring me in the face this whole time. According to the original brochure...

Grand Prix 7j x 16 for tyre size 205/45 R16 or 195/45 R16 front and 205/45 R16 rear axel


No idea why I went for the Toyo sizes I've got currently...
Guess I'm going with 195 and 205. I wonder how the car will respond going from 225 rear to 205.