195/50 -15 front and rear anyone ?

[thetyrant]

Im about to pick up some Mazda wheels to use for trackdays on my MR2, they are 15 x 7 and have 195/50 rubber on all 4 which are nearly new so will use them up as they are, depending how that goes i may fit something a touch wider on rear in future however has anyone on here ran 195/50-15 front and rear before ?

[JB21]

You'll be sound mate, my slicks are only staggered by 5mm (195 front/200 rear) and there's no issues.

I've just purchased another pair of the 200/580/15 to go square myself.

Don't buy into the internet bollocks of to much oversteer with a square set-up, you're going to die....blah, blah, blah!

[thetyrant]

You'll be sound mate, my slicks are only staggered by 5mm (195 front/200 rear) and there's no issues.

I've just purchased another pair of the 200/580/15 to go square myself.

Don't buy into the internet bollocks of to much oversteer with a square set-up, you're going to die....blah, blah, blah!

OK cool. at moment im 195-15 front 205-16 rear on the Zestinos and grip/balance is excellent, however im doing trackday on monday with a mate dual driving and dont want him wearing out my Zesty's lol... also i prefer car to move around a bit on trackdays as makes it more fun and i get bored otherwise, on the sprints its different so will save Zests for those.

Hence thinking i would get some other wheels with normal tyres on have more fun on the track, probably be better if we get big downpour as well, grip under braking might be an issue on normal road tyres but sure we will manage it.

Im not worried about it and will spice things up a bit   i was just wondering if anyone had tried it and how it worked out.

[Nvy]

I have 195/55/15 on a similar wheels. 2.2 camber all corners and the car feels like shyte, when you turn in the car would follow and its noticeable delay. It all depends on the other bits but my experience is not great, the car would grip even if pushed hard in the corner but the cornering itself is not confidence inspiring.

[thetyrant]

What

I have 195/55/15 on a similar wheels. 2.2 camber all corners and the car feels like shyte, when you turn in the car would follow and its noticeable delay. It all depends on the other bits but my experience is not great, the car would grip even if pushed hard in the corner but the cornering itself is not confidence inspiring.

What are the tyres though ?

[Nvy]

What

I have 195/55/15 on a similar wheels. 2.2 camber all corners and the car feels like shyte, when you turn in the car would follow and its noticeable delay. It all depends on the other bits but my experience is not great, the car would grip even if pushed hard in the corner but the cornering itself is not confidence inspiring.

What are the tyres though ?

Some winter tires Fulda something. Maybe its due to the soft side wall.

[Jay]

I've been using 195/50/15 square ever since I picked the car up 18 months ago so don't really have much point of reference but it's been staged round a track and daily driven and I'm fairly happy with how it behaves in both situations.

Ran worn out Rainsports initially and replaced with new Toyo T1R's that were on offer last year.

Keeping them square meant I had the option of swapping the wheels onto my FWD Starlets if need be.

[thetyrant]

Some winter tires Fulda something. Maybe its due to the soft side wall.

195/55 and winter tyres no wonder its a bit numb

Picked up the wheels tonight and all look ok, all matching Hankook tyres only done 1000miles, just waiting some conical wheel nuts coming and need to make 1 spigot as its missing before i can fit and drive it, hopefully tomorrow!

[thetyrant]

Ok made a spigot ring at work today and new wheel nuts turned up so wheels are on the car

Well....Its been a  few years since ive driven this car on normal road tyres and even that was only for a short spell before the the Federal RSR semi slicks went on, followed by the soft compound Zestinos i have on there now, needless to say the car is very different on the full tread hankooks!  as expected the overall grip level is a lot lower especially on braking! but once you get used to the car moving around on the tread its good fun to drive and much quieter and more comfortable, looking forward to few more road miles before hitting the track on monday  

Weight wise i thought they looked and felt heavy so i weighed them before fitting and also the stock wheels, was surprised that with tyres the TSW wheels are 15kg each which is pretty much same as my 15" fronts and little less than the 16" rears which with tyres are 18kg each


Balance wise its hard to say but it does feel a bit looser at the rear with less rubber, however how much of that is because of lower grip and deeper tread road tyres its hard to say, doesnt feel dangerous though... so far at least and will be track before i can really push it on.

Those who havent driven a MR2 roadster on decent sticky tyres will get a shock if they ever do, its like a totally different car and i had taken for granted just how much grip the Zestinos have until i swapped these on!

Quick pic below to show what they look like on car and i quite like them, was a nice run up and down Hartside pass, my favourite test route

You cannot view this attachment.

[1979scotte]

Ok made a spigot ring at work today and new wheel nuts turned up so wheels are on the car

Well....Its been a  few years since ive driven this car on normal road tyres and even that was only for a short spell before the the Federal RSR semi slicks went on, followed by the soft compound Zestinos i have on there now, needless to say the car is very different on the full tread hankooks!  as expected the overall grip level is a lot lower especially on braking! but once you get used to the car moving around on the tread its good fun to drive and much quieter and more comfortable, looking forward to few more road miles before hitting the track on monday  

Weight wise i thought they looked and felt heavy so i weighed them before fitting and also the stock wheels, was surprised that with tyres the TSW wheels are 15kg each which is pretty much same as my 15" fronts and little less than the 16" rears which with tyres are 18kg each


Balance wise its hard to say but it does feel a bit looser at the rear with less rubber, however how much of that is because of lower grip and deeper tread road tyres its hard to say, doesnt feel dangerous though... so far at least and will be track before i can really push it on.

Those who havent driven a MR2 roadster on decent sticky tyres will get a shock if they ever do, its like a totally different car and i had taken for granted just how much grip the Zestinos have until i swapped these on!

Quick pic below to show what they look like on car and i quite like them, was a nice run up and down Hartside pass, my favourite test route

You cannot view this attachment.

More grip isn't always more fun.

[thetyrant]

More grip isn't always more fun.

Agreed and sometimes it nice to have the contrast, i usually run normal road tyres for trackdays to have a bit more fun with car moving around as its just so planted on the semis slicks and kind of boring with so little power, that said ive mostly been doing sprint events where you need the grip to get the times so just been leaving them on for odd trackday but then im bored by lunch haha, be nice to at least start this trackday on the road tyres but im sure if its dry at Croft on monday i will want to get the Zesty Semis back on for few laps to compare though

[JB21]

Ok made a spigot ring at work today and new wheel nuts turned up so wheels are on the car

Well....Its been a  few years since ive driven this car on normal road tyres and even that was only for a short spell before the the Federal RSR semi slicks went on, followed by the soft compound Zestinos i have on there now, needless to say the car is very different on the full tread hankooks!  as expected the overall grip level is a lot lower especially on braking! but once you get used to the car moving around on the tread its good fun to drive and much quieter and more comfortable, looking forward to few more road miles before hitting the track on monday  

Weight wise i thought they looked and felt heavy so i weighed them before fitting and also the stock wheels, was surprised that with tyres the TSW wheels are 15kg each which is pretty much same as my 15" fronts and little less than the 16" rears which with tyres are 18kg each


Balance wise its hard to say but it does feel a bit looser at the rear with less rubber, however how much of that is because of lower grip and deeper tread road tyres its hard to say, doesnt feel dangerous though... so far at least and will be track before i can really push it on.

Those who havent driven a MR2 roadster on decent sticky tyres will get a shock if they ever do, its like a totally different car and i had taken for granted just how much grip the Zestinos have until i swapped these on!

Quick pic below to show what they look like on car and i quite like them, was a nice run up and down Hartside pass, my favourite test route

You cannot view this attachment.

I hate driving mine on Rainsports, it feels like a pudding and very unpredictable. Switch to AR1's and like you say its a totally different car, switch to slicks and its totally different again.

[thetyrant]

I hate driving mine on Rainsports, it feels like a pudding and very unpredictable. Switch to AR1's and like you say its a totally different car, switch to slicks and its totally different again.

I dont mind road tyres as long as not too squishy (toyo T1R etc) it makes you appreciate the proper sticky/firm sidewall tyres when you get them on, i kind of like the difference and its so long since ive driven on a normal road tyre in any of my cars it was quite a difference last night on these!, this morning on way into work felt much better and i think ive scrubbed the surface a bit  now as felt much more sure footed than first few miles yesterday!, the wheel/tyres had been sat in a loft for about a year before i got them so while not too hard they certainly feel better now with some miles and a heat cycle through them so all good

Im going to see if i can squeeze the spare wheels with zestys in the car for croft as cant be bothered to take it on a trailer and if its dry (unlikley if forecast is right!) i would like to run a session on them,  if i remove the harness bar behind seats i might just squeeze all 4 in?  i cant remove the passenger seat which would help with space as ive got another lad meeting me there to share the driving and he wont be going out without me until he has proven he is safe...if at all lol

[thetyrant]

Quick update....

Had the trackday at Croft today after a few epic dry sessions on Zestinos with 15/16 wheels i fitted Hankook on the 15's as rain started, nothing much for first few hours just enough to damp the track but after lunch got very wet!.

Anyhows even on the damp track the 15's felt good, obviously not as much grip and feel as a the stiff sidewalled Zestino setup but was still able to lap at a good turn of speed and balance felt just as nice, as track got wetter the Hankook tyres really impressed me and was able to push on at quite a fast pace until puddles got really deep mid afternoon, impressed overall with balance and wet grip so ive got a wet and dry tyre set now which is good.

Booked on for Oulton park on 16th of June and have a garage which will make it nicer when changing wheels if needs be, was no fun today swapping wheels in sideways rain shower outside!....like the old Evo days when i was always changing tyres at track

[Roj]

... if i remove the harness bar behind seats

Interested to hear more about the harness bar. Custom job?

[thetyrant]

... if i remove the harness bar behind seats

Interested to hear more about the harness bar. Custom job?

Yes custom bar i took it off the car i removed previous turbo setup from, its nothing fancy just a sturdy bar that bolts on in place of where the soft top frame goes, ive deleted soft top and rear bins 

[Roj]

... if i remove the harness bar behind seats

Interested to hear more about the harness bar. Custom job?

Yes custom bar i took it off the car i removed previous turbo setup from, its nothing fancy just a sturdy bar that bolts on in place of where the soft top frame goes, ive deleted soft top and rear bins 

Ah, cool, thanks. Would be a bit expensive for me to go that route as I've no hardtop... either that or I'd get a bit wet

Good to hear you got on ok with the square 15s btw. I'll be going from ZV7s stock FL sizes to 195/205 NS-2Rs on PFLs for my track wheels so should sit somewhere between your setups.