As very much a newbie, what make of tyres are toyo's (full name please!!) My RE010's are coming to the end of their life and so will be looking to replace them with something that doesn't tramline. I always thought is was due to parallel tracking.

Does anyone recommend a tyre dealer in SE London?

Cheers

Beakie

I've managed to find out about Toyos, I can get them for £90 all in. Someone I've just spoken to has recommended them, so I'll be giving them a go in the next couple of weeks.

[Edited by CaptainBeakie - 12/6/2001 1:49:50 PM]

 

Hi Guys.

Couple of months ago I posted a worry about a strange "floaty" driving sensation, especially at low/town speeds.

Suspension? Power Steering? Geometry out of kilter? I had no idea - but the driving made me nervous.

I thought at first it might be tramlining, but the tyres (and wheels) were fairly new - REO10s (standard fit) - and the problems started at about 1,000 miles and got steadily worse over the next 4,000. The tyres wore evenly (down to about 6mm which shows how gently I was taking things).

So I whipped the beast into my local dealer. They reported everything was OK.

Frustrating. Fortunately, I still had my Toyo T1s, so I bunged them back on, even though tread was down to 2-3mm.

You guessed it - everything was back to normal. It was the bloody REO10s! What I don't know is whether I got a faulty batch or if they really are that bad. When I bought the MY99 I don't *remember* my first set being that bad, although I was shocked how quickly they wore out (13,000 miles - the Toyos have done more than 25,000 and are still legal).

I've always stuck to the recommended tyre pressures - maybe that's a mistake with REO10s?

I aim to give the REO10s another try: anyone recommend tyre pressures that best suit this rubber?

If not, it looks like I'll have to fork out for another set of Toyos, which I've found to be absolutely brilliant in all conditions.

David Blows

 

RE010's - they really are that bad at tramlining! I realised just how bad when I put some SO2's on yesterday. Never had an issue with the grip levels, but I must admit I'm amazed at the difference to general 'feel' of the car, how much I'd accepted and got used to that wriggly bag-o-ferrets feeling on uneven surfaces.

Super-smooth ride and precise feel now. Wish I'd done it a lot sooner!

 

Captain Kirk to Scotty: "More AIR!!" Lot's more will take the wiggle out. 34psi and up was where I ended up (I had mine at 38.5), but things got crashy and noisy!!

Needless to say, putting better tyres on is the only real way to totally *cure* things.

By way of history, the RE-010s (and those wheels) were first seen on the Legacy GT-B way back on the first GT-B (a BG shape car circa 97ish). I had one and they were pants then!

 

I sold my cr@p RE010's to a bloke with a Saab - he needed them to pass his MOT.

Toyos much, much, much, much, better....

 

Interesting...

I would have thought that increasing the tyre pressure would have exacerbated the tramlining. Obviously a non-technical observation on my part, but are there any more views? I was planning to put the RE010s back on and DROP the pressure, but my only concern was: by how much?

David Blows

 

David,

I did not say anything about the tramlining (I found extra did help a bit), but the extra pressure will take a lot of the waffle out (truer handling/response).

Good luck.

 

David

After a few more miles on the SO2's by way of comparison, I have a few more thoughts on the RE010's to add.
The SO2's are so different, as stated above, but in addition I found that they are more vague and 'floaty' on the limit in the dry, feel much less predictable than the RE010's. I think that the 010's are such a rigid, inflexible tyre that they were fitted OE because they give such instant feedback, every bump and ripple and rut deflecting them and causing the steering wheel to kick and wriggle, but at high speed on the limit in dry conditions they are - IMHO - far more predictable for the same reasons, they just don't flex.....but the downside is low-speed they are so harsh. No compromise, but no surprises either. I didn't try running them lower than around 32f 30r I think.
I'm sure others may disagree, but that's how I see it.
The SO2 has tremendous grip and smooths out the ride to a degree I just didn't expect at low speeds, with precise turn-in, and wet grip is also better, but handling high speed isn't as good. However, the 010's were down to 3mm, the new SO2's are only 500 miles old with 7-8mm, so I expect them to improve lots more. Less bounce, flex and drift, more crisp feel.... but they definitely don't tram-line!

 

Jerry B,

thanks for that - you actually describe how my car feels with RE010s far better than I did! Essentially, crap at low speed, fine at the other end of the scale. All makes sense.

I've always run tyres at the recommended 33f 28r - anyone else got suggestions (especially in relation to RE010s) before "the big experiment" begins?

David Blows

 

I'll probably test my own hypothesis and crash trying to prove it, then have to write back and revise my opinion!
I suspect that the break-away point on the so2's could be more progressive but I haven't got there yet.

Hope you find the right solution for you.