I am now needing new tyres for my RB5 as they are totally gubbed after 20000 miles.(Yes thats right I drive like a Granny before you all start) I have been offered Vredestein Sportrac tyres in 215/40/17 and Toyo Proxes T1-5 in the same size. Which tyre should I go for? I am being quoted £385 for four for the Sportrac's and £399 for the Toyo's fitted and balanced and my alloys undamaged by my friendly fitter near Perth.
Should I be considering another deal altogether? Any help much appreciated.
Thanks Greg

 

At that price go for the Toyos. Good value and a great looking tyre. Nice!

Matt

 

I got quoted £79 each all in for 16" toyos down here in portsmouth. Incidently, apparently S02s are like rocking horse hit down here at the mo.
(please dont reply that "X has them in stock!!")

 

Go for the Toyos... an excellent choice...

 

Thanks guys for your quick response. I have now ordered up the Toyo's for fitment next week. Incidentally I was quoted £1200 for 17 inch OZ Super Ts with Proxes T1-s. This after being quoted £750 for same wheel by same company but not in a Subaru offset. Why such a huge hike in price?
Anyway decided to keep my original 17s
Greg

 

I used TOYO's on my calibra - wouldnt again !! 7500 miles and all through !! I want miles as much as grip !!! 7500 is just NOT cricket!!
Pete

 

re :- the SO 2's apparantly there are none in the country (or weren't last week) and Bridgestone couldn't give a delivery date.

Maybe it's a follow on from the Firestone Ford thing in the States, FYI ford have recalled the tyres on the Explorer so Bridgestone may be upping the production of these tyres at the expense of the SO-2's.

re: mileage I get about 10000-12000 from a set of four SO-2's with a rotation front to back at 5000, 7500 miles for just the fronts in a FWD car wouldn't surprise me at all from a "sticky" tyre, if it was all four I'd be a lot less happy.

p.s. what tyre pressures are you running as I was running into the problem of the inside of the front tyres being worn prematurely, upping the pressure to 36-38psi cured the problem, and made the car handle better IMHO

 

Go for the Toyo's Boyo

Great Track tyre, with very controlled break away, much more forgiving than the So-2 which snap at the limit. Also really good "down the lanes in the wet when there's lottsa standing water around.. Just don't expect to get 20000 miles out of them though.

Richard

 

My tyres have worn the same way at the front too. The pressure was 30psi but definitely too low. I will try the Toyos at 36 and see how I get on. I am disappointed to hear that they wont last as well as the Pirellis have.
My local Subaru dealer recommended 30psi at front and 28psi at back for 17s but for some reason the pressures in the tyres have not been very stable, I am forever pumping them up. They seem to lose about 3 psi every 8weeks.

The fronts are worn out on the inside fronts and the backs are down to 2mm. The fronts may have gone this way as the car spends a lot of time in town. The power steering may have this effect at parking speeds. Hope to get the new tyres fitted tomorrow. The tyre dealer deals in Toyos but not Bridgestones so the price wouldnt nearly be as good. I am going to take cash so that I may negotiate a lower price. Will let you know.
Greg

[This message has been edited by Greg115 (edited 28 August 2000).]

 

Harj.
Perhaps you should sort your geometry out then?
Oh, that's a bit hard with a bent car though isn't it?

Stef.

 

Toyo's are a good tyre all in, but they die so quick on the outer walls if you like roundabouts. Personally im not buying them again as they bald of the outer edge so fast.

 

Toyos now fitted and generally nothing to report. Turn in seems a bit sharper but thats about it so far.
All in fitted and balanced £390.10 from Gordons Tyres in Pitlochry.
Greg

 

spent the last week experimenting and pushing my new Toyo's fitted on my RB5. First impressions are that although wider than the Pirellis, they are quieter, turn-in is sharper but do make the car slide a bit more - which is great fun. I'm running 34psi front and 32 rear which seems to work best. I can now also pull good wheel spinning broad-sides from junction which wasn't so easy on the Pirelli's so I guess the traction isn't as good but at least the engine doesn't bog down! Been praying for loads of rain the past week with no luck so can't comment yet on the wet weather ability.