My car has 15's all round
It's a pre facelift car
Looking to replace all 4 tyres with an up to date spec.
The current ones have useable tread so not desperate to do them, but gonna have to tackle the task at some point so it's a good time to start searching what to get.
I have seen Toyo TR1's...... does anyone have experience with those?
I had T1R's (older version) on a car before and they were crap.
Some reviews say the TR1 is a good tyre... not too trusting on the reviews lol. MR2 owner recommendation might be better suited!
I think the sizes are
185 55 15 front
205 50 15 rear
Hope that's correct
Would like a decent matching set.
Don't want any form of budget or cheapskate tyre. No linglongs etc.
Seems difficult to find matching sets of the usual premium brand/tyre (Michelin etc)
Potentially willing to buy a whole set of wheels and tyres if anyone has a perfect spare set laying around they need rid of!
There is a dedicated thread to tyre recommendations somewhere on this forum ...
... but I have Falkon ZE310's on mine. 'A' rated in the wet and the grip is phenomenal.
It is not straightforward to select (the same brand) tyres for these cars due to the width difference front/rear, exacerbated on the Facelift with it's differing diameters.
I suggest that the current trend for ever increasing wheel/ tyre diameters on new cars doesn't encourage tyre manufacturers to provide a selection in the smaller diameters.
That said as
@fawtytoo my choice was Falken that gripped well in the wet on the few occasions they got wet, and in the dry. Tread wear over my few miles travelled was insignificant and they held pressure well during over winter storage.
Before I sold my car I did consider replacement tyres simply due to the age of mine, so I can empathise with your situation!
I have read on here , somewhere, that , of course the front and rear tyres do different jobs and so why not different brands fronts/ rear?
@rajid Here's a link to that mentioned above.
Ignore the stated dates of posting this is some quirk of the system.
https://www.mr2roc.org/index.php?topic=3313.0
I ran Toyos for some 18 years loved them, never noticed a difference on the revised TR1's, they were always well received by members on this forum and recommended!
Norman
+1 on the falkens. I would have them again.
Yoko ad08r were epic when new. Awful when aged.
Currently on yoko flevas.
Depends on your use.
Daily? Weekend B road bandit? Track?
@rajid size wise should be a little sticker in the bottom of the glove box.
Quote from: Joesson on April 19, 2026, 08:38It is not straightforward to select (the same brand) tyres for these cars due to the width difference front/rear, exacerbated on the Facelift with it's differing diameters.
It's easy on the facelift. Widen the fronts to 195 with no issue at all and then fit a matching set of Michelin pilot sport 3 or Goodyear efficientgrip amongst many other choices.
The issue is the 15 all round on the PFL.
Quote from: Craigjm on April 20, 2026, 12:29The issue is the 15 all round on the PFL.
Yes, I found that certain tyres were available for the front but not the rear. It seems that the wider the wheel, the less choices you have for 15".
The Hankook Prime 3 usually beat the Falken in tyre tests, & is made in 205/50
I'm on Toyo TR1's all round on my PFL and never had a problem with them.
They are grippy, comfortable and quiet and in the 5000 miles & 2 years they have been on the car have not worn at all.
I do drive it in a spirited manner quite regularly but have not tracked it.
Can't comment about wet performance as I try to not take my two out in the wet & if I get caught in the rain I drive much slower.
I run factory recommended tyre pressures to.
Tread pattern is pretty to ::)
Thanks for the recommendations and personal reviews.
My car is not particularly a daily, it's more of a 5th or 6th car (just driven whenever I feel like it, usually by choice, and always for some fun!)
It's driven very swiftly with plenty of speed carried very late into/and often right through corners with not a lot of braking unless absolutely necessary.
I am looking for a very grippy and controllable tyre for the dry days, don't need any specifics for wet driving as wet conditions cause for a much more considerable driving style, so whatever the tyre, it's going to be good enough for gentle and regular driving if caught in the wet, for sure!
I am thinking about those TR1 tyres as I've seen some good deals and starting to believe the reviews and stories too. Very tempted!
I have had good experiences with Michelin pilot sport (newer versions, I think the 3's are an expensive old outdated tech tyre now..!) and also have Eagle F1 asymmetric tyres on another car with no complaints. I don't think the best versions of either those are available in the desired sizes, hence creating this thread.
Will take a look at that link sent, thank you.
Still willing to read more lovely tyre reviews from MR2 owners, to help decide!!!
By the way as a side note:
I am more interested in a performance / sticky grip aimed tyre, I am not interested at all in a touring style tyre or an eco tyre!
I don't particularly want a track day / semi slick style tyre, just something similar to a high end road tyre like a Michelin PS4S (if such a thing exists in matching sizes!)
The car prob wont be doing more than 2-3k a year so don't need to worry too much about tread wear mileage longevity either, they'll get old and wrinkly, before bald! 👨🏻�🦲
Hope that makes it easier to help!
Thanks once again :)
probably ADO8RS, but it doesn't look like anybody has the rear in stock.
Then your probably looking at Demon Tweeks.
Quote from: Craigjm on April 20, 2026, 12:29It's easy on the facelift. Widen the fronts to 195 with no issue at all and then fit a matching set of Michelin pilot sport 3 or Goodyear efficientgrip amongst many other choices.
The issue is the 15 all round on the PFL.
My focus was on the PFL but that would be good news for face lifted Members.
Very happy with the yoko flevas in stock 15 sizes on mine.
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on April 20, 2026, 19:13probably ADO8RS, but it doesn't look like anybody has the rear in stock.
Then your probably looking at Demon Tweeks.
Beat me to it.
Not checked availability as I'm not in the market for tyres right now. But very fond memories of laws of physics defying cartoon levels of grip ado8r.
Especially when considering we are talking use on the public highway.
Quote from: Ardent on April 20, 2026, 22:07cartoon levels of grip ado8r.
'eco' rs is nothing like the original apparently.
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on April 20, 2026, 19:13probably ADO8RS, but it doesn't look like anybody has the rear in stock.
Then your probably looking at Demon Tweeks.
Have had experience with a set of brand new AD08R around 10yrs ago on a clio and they were excellent, seems difficult to find the right sizes for them.
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on April 20, 2026, 23:34'eco' rs is nothing like the original apparently.
So I hear.
Quote from: rajid on April 21, 2026, 01:39Have had experience with a set of brand new AD08R around 10yrs ago on a clio and they were excellent, seems difficult to find the right sizes for them.
AD08R were replaced by the RS. But as I said above, no-one seems to have the rears.
For right or wrong on my PFL( it's actually an MR-S)
However, a word of caution, because I had a variety of wheels from other MR2 I had bought(and eventually sold) I cannot recall the wheel widths that I used.
I installed 195/50/15 on all 4 wheels - a square set up , used Yokohama AD08RS on all 4 and just looked up that they, along with the likes of Michelin PS3, are available at Camskill (for a damned good price)
Grip,ride + handling on the Yokos has been excellent
A previous discussion re 195/50/15 here https://www.mr2roc.org/index.php?topic=70974.0
for those people recommending or mentioning what they're running, please can you also add what type of driving you do? I am quite interested in the fast road driving, spirited drive type of tyre / owner!
(picture a very early sunny, dry, warm Sunday morning on some empty roads, ready for some sharp sticky turns!)
Just a B road bandit here. Same conditions as you mention.
In the market for a full set of rubbers for my FL on standard wheels. I don't have the time or inclination to find out which is the best option by trying them out myself over a long period. So I come to the hive-mind of mr2roc. Staying at stock sizes and not wanting to mix front and back options, and not wanting to spend too much time on it, I find myself drawn to the Falken ZE310 because seemingly that's all that's available anymore that fits the bill and gets positive mentions here!
@househead While there is a long term thread and a more current one on this subject my somewhat limited view is that Falken tyres fit the bill rather well.
@househeadThe ze310 is decent. But in most tests that featured both, the Hankook Ventus prime 3 beat it.
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on April 25, 2026, 12:54@househead
The ze310 is decent. But in most tests that featured both, the Hankook Ventus prime 3 beat it.
Thx Gaz ... on what metric(s) does the Hankook beat the ze310 in testing?
My use will be occasional going forwards. Almost always dry driving, and perhaps not used for 2-4 weeks at a time. At some point in the future it may see some (casual) track use. That said, I'm not necessarily looking for the best of the best unless it comes in at a similar price point to the rest.
Edit: can't see the Hankook's in 215/45 R16 available anywhere obvious.
@Ardent how do the Yoko Flevas compare to the Falkens? I tried asking AI to compare them for me but ChatGPT and Gemini literally gave me completely opposing answers, so I've discounted everything they said.
@househead Your reference to "not used":
I bought the Falken tyres soon after my purchase of the car, maybe 2012. They were still in visibly very good condition when I sold the car last year.
I used the car only 6 months of the year and the other 6 months on SORN when I fettled/ maintained/ etc. Typically it was on axle stands during SORN, so no load on the tyres, Otherwise I increased the tyre pressure to resist flat spotting.
In the 6 months of normal usage the tyres held standard pressure well.
I can say that the Falken tyres stayed in good condition for over a decade!
Quote from: househead on April 25, 2026, 00:34In the market for a full set of rubbers for my FL on standard wheels. I don't have the time or inclination to find out which is the best option by trying them out myself over a long period. So I come to the hive-mind of mr2roc. Staying at stock sizes and not wanting to mix front and back options, and not wanting to spend too much time on it, I find myself drawn to the Falken ZE310 because seemingly that's all that's available anymore that fits the bill and gets positive mentions here!
For a facelift widen the fronts by 10mm and fit Michelin pilot sport 3 all round
Quote from: househead on April 25, 2026, 19:56Thx Gaz ... on what metric(s) does the Hankook beat the ze310 in testing?
My use will be occasional going forwards. Almost always dry driving, and perhaps not used for 2-4 weeks at a time. At some point in the future it may see some (casual) track use. That said, I'm not necessarily looking for the best of the best unless it comes in at a similar price point to the rest.
Edit: can't see the Hankook's in 215/45 R16 available anywhere obvious.
The Prime3 is only made up to 15", after the introduction of the Prime4 which is 16" upwards.
I'll let you google tests yourself.
Quote from: Craigjm on April 26, 2026, 13:04For a facelift widen the fronts by 10mm and fit Michelin pilot sport 3 all round
The PS3 is available in 215/45/16 (Camskill, Audi fitment)
The Hankook Prime3 in in the earlist tests beat the PS3, which is a really old tyre, but there are a few on here swear by them. I have a set, but not used them yet.
Quote from: Joesson on April 26, 2026, 07:57@househead
Your reference to "not used":
I bought the Falken tyres soon after my purchase of the car, maybe 2012. They were still in visibly very good condition when I sold the car last year.
I used the car only 6 months of the year and the other 6 months on SORN when I fettled/ maintained/ etc. Typically it was on axle stands during SORN, so no load on the tyres, Otherwise I increased the tyre pressure to resist flat spotting.
In the 6 months of normal usage the tyres held standard pressure well.
I can say that the Falken tyres stayed in good condition for over a decade!
Very insightful, thx! If only I'd employed the same level of dedication to preservation, I wouldn't now be looking at spending hundreds of quids O:-)
@Craigjm ... Those Pilot Sport 3's are super expensive. From what I can see, the rears would need to be their DT1 variant, which apparently is specifically designed with Audi in mind. Not sure if to read anything into that or not. I dug up an old thread on here where it was stated Michelin say not to mix DT1 and non-DT1 on the same car, but that's probably mostly meaningless? (one thinks, they're making an assumption of same sizes on all four and mixing them on axles probably isn't a good idea).
I've fitted the MPS3 on two MR2 now and had no issues.
Quote from: Superluminal on April 25, 2026, 23:19@Ardent how do the Yoko Flevas compare to the Falkens? I tried asking AI to compare them for me but ChatGPT and Gemini literally gave me completely opposing answers, so I've discounted everything they said.
The gap in years makes it tricky to give a fair comparison. I just remember being very happy with them. I also recall them shifting huge amounts of water.
I think i only went fleva as could not find the falkens at the time.
And I only stick to oem sizes.
Maybe foolishly, but thats me.
Quote from: Superluminal on April 25, 2026, 23:19@Ardent how do the Yoko Flevas compare to the Falkens? I tried asking AI to compare them for me but ChatGPT and Gemini literally gave me completely opposing answers, so I've discounted everything they said.
Flevas not rated highly in tests. The Falken compared pretty well with Hankook Prime 3, - better in the wet as Ardent says.
The Michelins are well worth the money.
They were fantastic whe i had them, so good in the rain and took one hell of a beating on track days. DT1 varient is meaningless aswell.