GTA tyre choice advice......

by **NLB** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:53 am

Dear all,

After a busy summer (families, eh?) where the GTA didn't even get MoT'd, I now have it back on the road, with a new MoT and the oil leaks fixed (was coming out round the cambox gaskets, dripping onto the exhausts and making loads of smoke - not nice); the next issue to be addressed is tyres.

The ones on there are fine, but 5+ years old and starting to perish a little bit, and are "budget" tyres anyway. They are probably slightly out-of-round, according to my local tyre place, due to the car standing quite a lot - this resulting in a slight steering tremble at speed. It seems worth replacing them, but my tyre place are not sure what tyres can be obtained in sets - they can find various alternatives, but not four matching in the right sizes. The car is on standard wheels, and has 225/50 R15s on the back, and 195/50 R15s on the front.

The net gives me quite a few apparent choices, but the tyre place tells me that quite a few options exist only on databases, and are not really in stock anywhere... Out of the apparent options, I have at least heard of Toys, Falkens and Yokohamas.

Any thoughts, reccomendations etc.? Ta very much.

by **JohnC** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:04 pm

Hi NLB,
I see you state the Alp is a D500 which I understand is an Atmo, then you say it is on standard wheels......I understand most Atmos were supplied with the optional Turbo wheels, it might be helpful to know if what you call "standard wheels" is in fact the spline type center original Atmo wheels, of if it had the more popular optional Turbo wheels fitted when new :wink:

by **NLB** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:14 pm

Ah.... sorry, my lack of expertise showing here. The car is a non-turbo/Atmo; the wheels are the turbo ones, I am sure - with the "fanblade" design and the flush centre covers. Like almost all of the GTAs one sees (which is why I assumed they were standard...) that haven't got those 5-spoke Azed things fitted. I'd post a picture if I knew how in this forum.

by **JohnC** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:44 pm

That makes a difference......I can only go on my own experience, and there are others with more experience than mine, but I got my last set of 255/45/VR15`s which is the correct size for those that want to be fussy, from "Vintage Tyre Supplies" at Beaulieu, down south, but they are expensive as they only do a supply run every so often, and they are Michelin which in my view are the best (I am sure I am going to be shot down in flames for saying that :lol:

), the Fronts are a common size, and something like Goodyear F1 tyres are not that expensive. But I am sure there will be other members with their own ideas....so watch this space :wink:

by **jonc** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:46 pm

I'd have to recommend the Toyo T1-Rs. They are excellent and cheaper than many other brands.

I've seen many people use these on GTAs and A610s.
Those standard, Atmo sizes should be no problem for the Toyos.
(Just checked on Event Mobile tyres and they have them - I've used them a number of times)

by **NLB** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 7:19 pm

Thanks chaps. My owner's manual shows both the 225/50 and the 255/45 R15 sizes as being applicable to the Turbo wheels (the standard Atmo ones are shown as TRXs - had those on my old BMW E28, and had to buy a new set of wheels...). So, I will go for the 225/50 and 195/50 Toyos T1-Rs, I think. On the Black Circles website for £336 for a set, which doesn't seem too bad.

Thanks again.

Luke

by **JohnC** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 8:13 pm

Good thinking Luke, just checked the Michelin 255`s, and they are £346 ex VAT each :roll:

.....Hope mine don`t wear out too soon :lol:

by **jonc** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:22 am

That was what tipped me towards getting my Azev alloys. It was cheaper to get a set of wheels at 7.5x16 and 10x17 including tyres than to replace all 4 tyres on the standard Turbo rims - and all down to the price of 255/45R15 tyres.

I got a pair of Toyo Proxes T1-R in 255/40R17 fitted for £250!