Tyres, How Many Should I Change?

[edli83]

just got my car back from service and the tread on the tyres are

4.0mm, 4.0mm, 2.0mm, 1.6mm (left to right, front to back order)

shall i just change the rear 2?

what fitment will I need, i think the standard bridgestones you get from toyota are on atm, do I need to match these?

thanks

Ed

[cfc1]

A new tyre has 8mm of tread.. so the 2 you have with 4mm still have a lot of life left in them.. leave them on. As for having to stay with Bridgstones.. no, you can put on whatever make of tyre you want.. but be warned, not all tyres are the same.. some perform better than others.

Best advice i can give you is this.. if your happy with your Bridgestones, and are happy to pay the price you get quoted (shop around.. it can save you a few quid ).. then stick with them.

[earpl]

ditch the bridgestones!!! i but mine back on after my toyo's went hard at santapod. and the bridgestones had less grip than the knackered toyo's. for a 195x50x15 TOYO proxi T1-S expect to pay around £50 for each tyre, IF YOU USE YOU GOLD DISCOUNT (explaind in the gold forums) you will pay £24.10 each tyre instead, that all inclusive of vat + delivery to your door. i got mine using it 2 weeks ago, absoloute bargin.......... than last weekend splatted them all up the side of my car at satapod again

[edli83]

hmmmz, the bridgestones seem orite, havent really tested them properly in the wet. Any tyres that fellow toc'ers recommend?

Theres like a big range between pricing doe, cheapo unknown brand 30£, bridgestones 50£..... dilemma

[earpl]

you missed my post when you put that :P

most tsporters use toyo's

[edli83]

earpl, does the discount go on after you order from them? cos it still says 50£ a tyre when i log on...

EDIT: ahh i think im looking at different sizes to you, was looking at 185/55/15 V. If I buy just two, will it look stupid with tyres different sizes???

shall i do away with the bridgestones, but then as cfc1 says there is still life in them, feels like a waste.

[earpl]

you following the details for the log in, search for

195x50x15

speed index = V

brand toyo

24 for t1'r's

26 for T1's

[cfc1]

OK.. 1st of all.. IMO the Toyo's are much better than Bridgestones.. (standard fitment on most of the TVR range.. so deff a performance tyre)

If you have 185/55x15 you can change up to the 195/50x15 without any problems. You only have to do 2 tyres at a time if you are changing sizes, as the law only askes that the tyres have to be the same size across the axle.. 2 fronts must be same size.. 2 backs must be same size, but back and front can be different sizes.

Putting 195/50x15's on won't make it look different as both sizes have more or less the same rolling radius.. worked out as follows..

185x55% = 101.75mm in height (the sidewall height)

195x50% = 97.50mm

Only a difference of 4.25mm

At the price for Gold members Toyo's ARE a bargain.. at work we supply and fit etc them for 40 quid.. for fitting only we would charge 8 quid, thats valve and balance included, so that will give you an idea of the total cost you will be looking at.

I will just add that i have also used Bridgestones and never had any problems with them.. good tyres too.

[edli83]

you following the details for the log in, search for

195x50x15

speed index = V

brand toyo

24 for t1'r's

26 for T1's

←

i still cant get that price, im seeing

PROXES T1-R 195/50 R15 82V Rim-protectionleiste NEW- 31.60£

PROXES T1-S 195/50 R15 82V Rim-protectionleiste runout - 34.10£

Ed

EDIT: logged in again, and I can select it must have been looking at something else before, thanks for the help guys!

[jaxx]

always do them in 2s at least

the back ones are more important than the front believe it or not! even on a FWD, so best put your two 4mm part worns on the front and new on the back.

i always thought the bridgestones were good until i ran toyos, and promptly realised they where ghey!

[cfc1]

That advice is spot on jaxx.. it IS now said that the rear tyres are more important than the fronts.. due to heavy breaking at high speed, the back end of a car can step out if the tyres are worn, this is now the reguarded as one the the most common causes of road accidents.

[edli83]

thast cool, save me having to change them about.

im looking at my service report and the tread is as follows:

rear left - 4,2,2 (inner/middle/outer mm)

rear right - 4,3,1.6 (inner/middle/outer mm)

wat is up with the mad tread differences, the fronts fine with it all at 4mm.

[cfc1]

Is it possible that the current rear tyres were once on the front? if so, it could have been a problem with tracking, ball joints, track rod ends etc... that caused the tyres to wear on the outside edge (although normally a mechanical fault would wear the inner edge),

If they have always been on the back, then there could be a problem there.. possibly week rear shocks, worn suspension bushes.. or at worst, a bent rear axle. The rears are non adjustable, so its not a tracking issue.. if in doubt, get a geometric check carried out asap.. you don't want your new tyres doint the same thing.

[edli83]

The tyres were on the front previously, but if it was a problem with the front end, im sure the current front tyres would have inconsitent tread as well.

I may go in and ask toyota next week.

Cheers for the advice cfc1

Ed

[Gnome]

So I should really get my rear tyres put up front, and have the brand new ones slapped on at the back then.

How much should I expect to pay to have them changed like this? First time I've eve rhad to have tyres changed on a car! :D

[ferrariboyuk]

always do them in 2s at least

the back ones are more important than the front believe it or not! even on a FWD, so best put your two 4mm part worns on the front and new on the back.

←

Lets not get carried away here. Backs must be equally important if high speed traction at the rear is an issue. If people start to put tyres at the front with less tread then theres going to be an issue driving round corners and people will understeer and have another accident.

Is it possible that the current rear tyres were once on the front?  if so, it could have been a problem with tracking, ball joints, track rod ends etc... that caused the tyres to wear on the outside edge (although normally a mechanical fault would wear the inner edge),

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The tyres on my gold yaris wear on the outer edges. My local tyre suppliers say oh dear your trackings out but its regularly serviced by toyota. I think its just caused by turning into my road with needs almost full left lock

[cfc1]

always do them in 2s at least

the back ones are more important than the front believe it or not! even on a FWD, so best put your two 4mm part worns on the front and new on the back.

←

Lets not get carried away here. Backs must be equally important if high speed traction at the rear is an issue. If people start to put tyres at the front with less tread then theres going to be an issue driving round corners and people will understeer and have another accident.

Is it possible that the current rear tyres were once on the front?  if so, it could have been a problem with tracking, ball joints, track rod ends etc... that caused the tyres to wear on the outside edge (although normally a mechanical fault would wear the inner edge),

←

The tyres on my gold yaris wear on the outer edges. My local tyre suppliers say oh dear your trackings out but its regularly serviced by toyota. I think its just caused by turning into my road with needs almost full left lock

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On your 1st point.. yes, i would agree with you.. they are equally important.. but what i find at work is this.. when someone needs new rear tyres.. they ask for them to be swapped around and the new tyres to go on the front, this leaves them with worn tyres on the rear.

Now, after a lot of reaserch by one of the leading tyre manufacturers, they have found that the most common cause of high speed accidents are caused by the rear of the car loosing traction under heavy breaking and stepping out, spinning the car.. so to combat this they now reccomend that the new tyres should be fitted on the rear.

On your point about your own tyres wearing on the outer edge.. power steering DOES cause the tyres to wear on the outside edge.. more so on the passenger side (turning right more often than left - roundabouts) so if you are constantly turning the same way on full lock to get into a drive.. alternating which way you turn if possible, will help stop your tyres wearing out too quick.

[Gnome]

So I should really get my rear tyres put up front, and have the brand new ones slapped on at the back then.

How much should I expect to pay to have them changed like this? First time I've eve rhad to have tyres changed on a car! :D

←

Anyone? ;)

[alanbradley]

They should just do it if you ask for them to do that - I wouldn't expect to pay any extra. Even better, they should ask if you want it done that way

A

[Black Knight]

cfc, to be honest I'm with Ferrariboy on this one.

I always feel so long as the rear tyres still have adequate tread on them then the news should go on the front to give a more even wear. These are the highest loaded tyres (hence why they wear faster) and the ones that take most of the load when cornering and breaking.

You need tread to disperse water whilst the tyre rolls otherwise you aquaplane. So long as the tread is sufficient to do this you can put the more worn pair on the rear.

Also, for interest, when my cars gone into the dealers for servicing I've noticed they've rotated the tyres as a matter of course at no additional charge. Can't see them deliberately making my car more dangerous.

Just my opinion though

[cfc1]

So I should really get my rear tyres put up front, and have the brand new ones slapped on at the back then.

How much should I expect to pay to have them changed like this? First time I've eve rhad to have tyres changed on a car! :D

←

Anyone? ;)

←

Sorry Gnome.. didn't see you hiding in the corner

Personally.. i would put my new tyres on the front... FWD..steering etc.

They should just do it if you ask for them to do that - I wouldn't expect to pay any extra. Even better, they should ask if you want it done that way

A

←

They should just do it if you ask for them to do that-----<< I agree.. if thats what the costomer wants, then the garage should do it

I wouldn't expect to pay any extra. Even better, they should ask if you want it done that way ----- << Some garages will charge upto 20 quid per side if a costomer ONLY wants wheels swapped from back to front. (i think thats a rip off)

A charge should be made for this service of about 10 quid.. if, however, the costomer has purchased a couple of tyres on his/her visits and asks for things to be swapped.. then it should be free of charge.

As for it being offered by the fitter.. not a hope in hells chance.. if we done that with every costomer and 50% wanted them swapped.. there just isn't enough hours in the day.. profit margin on the tyres (unless your getting ripped off) for that to happen.

cfc, to be honest I'm with Ferrariboy on this one.

I always feel so long as the rear tyres still have adequate tread on them then the news should go on the front to give a more even wear. These are the highest loaded tyres (hence why they wear faster) and the ones that take most of the load when cornering and breaking.

You need tread to disperse water whilst the tyre rolls otherwise you aquaplane. So long as the tread is sufficient to do this you can put the more worn pair on the rear.

Also, for interest, when my cars gone into the dealers for servicing I've noticed they've rotated the tyres as a matter of course at no additional charge. Can't see them deliberately making my car more dangerous.

Just my opinion though

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I said i agreed with him too.. read my post again :P

I was only trying to explain what the latest research has shown... I will add that if we did all follow this advice.. the new latest research findings would be..... new tyres are better on the front because of too many accidents on tight bends caused by worn front tyres.. It would only be a matter of time.

[Gnome]

Cheers for the advice Alan and Davy. ;)

[jay dh]

what different will be made if u change tyre size to 195/50 rather than the standard 185/55?

other than the 195/50 will be slightly bumpier cos of a thinner tyre wall.

Jay

[YarisT]

what different will be made if u change tyre size to 195/50 rather than the standard 185/55?

other than the 195/50 will be slightly bumpier cos of a thinner tyre wall.

Jay

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I have just put 195/50 Toyos on my standard T Sport rims and the only thing thats changed is the amount of grip im getting compared with the Bridgestones that were on before. The tyre wall diference is something daft like 2mm... you aint gonna notice it!

[jay dh]

why did you choose 195/50 rather than 185/55 if there is no difference? are they cheaper?