Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

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chasperth
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Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by chasperth » Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:45 am

Ok help needed, I think I’ve made a huge mistake in tyre choices and now need to rectify it ASAP.
The car has always had AO48’s all round and handled superbly. The down side is I will have to use it in all weather’s and maybe most of year so I decided to replace the worn rear tyres with new all weather ones as the AO48’s are probably just too slick for all year driving.
I went round and got 2 new Dunlop Sport Maxx tires fitted after website said they are sport all weathers. I decided to leave the front’s AO48’s on as they still have lots of wear left for the summer.
Now the car handles ‘VERY’ dangerously. Seriously the front wants to turn in and hold and the back wants to wave about and wobble on the slightest corner. Even on the dual carriageway the car is all over and you have to slow down for every bend, it’s terrifying really and I know that with the two tyre types they will never work out.
So damage control help needed as I think I have two options to try.

First: If I replaced the fronts with Dunlop’s Sport Maxx would the car then handle normally? I know it’s never going to match the AO48’s but I’m not going to track or push it to the edge. Or will it just never feel right. I don’t want to run the further costs of putting another £200 on to find it’s really bad and feels like it does just now.

Second: Just replace the rears with AO48’s again, e-bay the Dunlop's and buy a winter car run-about. As the car handling was exceptional before and filled you with so much confidence these new tyres are terrifying.

Thanks in advance for advice.

Chas
Titty Exige 190 Touring.

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hiscot
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by hiscot » Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:12 am

new tryes have a release agent on them so they dont stick to the mold , you may need a few hundred miles for them to come good
when i got a new set at the first roundabout i wanted to go back and have my old tyres refitted they where that scarey
they came good after a few weeks , give them time to bed in then then make your mind up
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ExigeKen
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by ExigeKen » Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:19 am

I prefer T1Rs for all weather driving however for the first 500 miles they are like driving on a bar of soap. Also there is nothing to match the A048 in the dry.

Not sure if it makes a difference but I would rather have the same tyre all the way round.
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Edin430
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by Edin430 » Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:21 am

Only problem you'll have is I think the sport maxx don't come in the correct sizes for the exige fronts... ?

So you'll still have to have a tyre mix.

I'd swap all 4 for T1-Rs. Sub £300. Then flog the other tyres on ebay....

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chasperth
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by chasperth » Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:35 pm

Yup, phoned them today and would have to be a different front tyre type so this may go no where as i really dont want to throw money at something which might not work.

Looks like i take them off and get 4 new Yoko A048's.

Anyone know best place to source these from as Farmers Autocare don't do them !

thanks
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H8OAG
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by H8OAG » Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:51 pm

Drive slowly out of perth avoiding the closed friarton bridge and head to Auchterarder..........

http://www.wheelsaround.com/

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neil
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by neil » Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:50 pm

H8OAG wrote:Drive slowly out of perth avoiding the closed friarton bridge and head to Auchterarder..........

http://www.wheelsaround.com/

:cheers
:withstupid Ronnie's your best bet

On the subject of tyre choice, I've run A048's year round and never had any (major) problems. Admittedly coming over the Slug Road in a blizzard isn't the most sensible thing I've ever done, but they're fine so long as you take your time. I wouldn't put anything else on the car now
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chasperth
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by chasperth » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:27 pm

Hi, Got in touch with http://www.wheelsaround.com/ and they were
£135 Rear and £115 front. So all in all not much dearer than the Dunlop rears i bought !!

So if anyone needs a set of Dunlop Sport Maxx 225 45 R17 with less than 100 miles on them for a song as they were £213 fitted im open to offers.

PS don't buy them for yer Exige they are S*^%e lol
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Shug
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by Shug » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:50 pm

Common issue with the Elise and it's derivatives, as it's lighter than most cars, even sporty ones. So they need softer compound & construction tyres to feel right - plus it's always a horrendous idea to go mixing R rated semi slicks and normal road tyres - the results will always be scary, even more so when you're running the super sticky ones on the front...

There's usually at least 2 threads live about tyres, always worth a wee search in technical before making changes 8)

Still, lesson learned (albeit the expensive way) without any damage to you or car, so result :thumbsup
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frog
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by frog » Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:52 pm

I have never tried these Dunlops, I'm running Toyo Proxies. I was ready to bin these tires at about 100miles,... that was until I spoke to Hanger111 and told me that I needed to put about 150-200 miles of good driving into them to scrub them in. - what a difference, there now ACE :D . Still think I will get R888 next time.
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Matelotman
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by Matelotman » Fri Aug 29, 2008 6:05 pm

ExigeKen wrote:I prefer T1Rs for all weather driving however for the first 500 miles they are like driving on a bar of soap. A
Replaced my faithful T1R's today with..... new T1R's. Holy sh1t !!!!! you weren't kidding when you said bars of soap - I drove out the tyre place and it felt like I was on bare rims :shock:
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peck555
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Re: Wrong Tyre Choices - HELP

Post by peck555 » Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:16 pm

Don't mix brands of tires and also,I have found, don't mix old and new tires. I replaced my AD07 rears,but not the fronts...bad idea. Just my experience,hope it helps.
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