Your tyre setup.(pics)

[NeuroBeaker]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

Andrew

the eco tyres are often of a harder compound and it doesn't give such great grip - I'm used to the premium contact Continentals which have good wet and dry characteristics but I changed to toyo proxes on the rear and there is more grip with them, you can just feel it.

The fortwo's front end is quite light so I'm not surprised you get aquaplaning at times, especially where you live in the damp West of Scotland. Also, I think the 145s are very skinny and they will never help the roadholding. When you cosndier how much of the tyre is actually in contact with the ground, I assume they don't do too badly though! The 145 is a very skinny tyre and not much will help its road holding. There simply isn't enough tread width to ensure a great wet weather tyre.

I'm sure there must be other tyres of this size but I would stick with a premium make.

narrower tyres actually help against aquaplaning! more pressure / sq inch , why not try some all weather tyres?

Yes, I had always been told that wider tyres are more prone to aquaplaning - and that performance tyres compensated for this with clever grooves.

Well, I seem to have hit upon a tyre that might do the job... see what you think:

Yokohama AVS db 145/65/R15 72H (front)
Yokohama AVS db 175/55/R15 77H (rear)
Yokohama AVS db Review

And they actually seem to marginally outperform the Toyos:

Toyo Proxes T1-R Review

So now I'm leaning towards the Yokohama AVS db, unless I come across a better tyre before placing an order.

Thanks for your help so far, and do let me know your thoughts on those Yokohama AVS db tyres.

All the best,
Andrew.

[NeuroBeaker]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

Well,

I've ordered those Yokohamas. I'm looking at about a 2-3 week delivery time from the internet supplier I'm using, but I've still got some tread on the old tyres so time isn't critical.

I'll make sure I let you know the new tyres handle once I've got them scrubbed in with a few hundred miles of twisty roads.

All the best,
Andrew.

[munk]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

Watch out for that wet weather...

Yoko's don't damp roads, even when they're 1000 miles old.

[Fudge]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

I've always found Yoko's to be really soft, and as such offer great dry road performance but cr@p longevity!

[NeuroBeaker]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

Well, the comparison here for me is the Yokohama AVS db to the old Continental EcoContact - I'm sure those particular Yokohamas will have better wet grip than those particular Continentals.


As for tyre longevity - currently we wind up replacing tyres due to punctures long before the tread wears out. So we aren't seeing any benefit from longevity of tread. Furthermore, the car has done only 18,500 miles since first registration in 2002 - not particularly high mileage. lol

The tyres should be delivered tomorrow via mail order and will hopefully get them fitted next Monday. I'll let you know how it goes once they're run in.

All the best,
Andrew.

[madDan]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

Watch out for that wet weather...

Yoko's don't damp roads, even when they're 1000 miles old.

which particular Yokos are you talking about having experience of? don't forget tyres are evolving all the time.

[drageron]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

Tons of grip on Yoko's, but I wore a set out in 8000 miles. Thats the trouble with some budget tyres! I'm now using Toyo prx, and they are more fun (slippy when you want them to be) and have lasted much longer without showing much in the sign of wear yet!

[NeuroBeaker]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

Tons of grip on Yoko's, but I wore a set out in 8000 miles. Thats the trouble with some budget tyres! I'm now using Toyo prx, and they are more fun (slippy when you want them to be) and have lasted much longer without showing much in the sign of wear yet!

I absolutely don't want any slip, and as the car does not do high mileage wear is absolutely a non-issue with me.

Priority number one is grip. Priority number two is that I must fit the OEM sizes - otherwise the insurance company will not insure the car as my girlfriend is the primary driver (only 1 year no claims bonus).

Such criteria left me with few alternatives for other tyres when I wanted to move away from Continental EcoContacts. The Yokohama AVS db V500 tyres arrived yesterday and will be fitted on Monday.

Judging from the reviews I have seen online, these tyres will outperform the EcoContacts in every respect except wear (again, not relevant to me). Consequently, I'm certain it will be a dramatic improvement in every way that matters.

In the meantime, my hallway by my front door currently has a lovely new tyre smell going on there - it's really quite superb.

I'll make sure I get a review up once they're run in properly.

All the best,
Andrew.

[bt75alfa]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

didn't want to start a new thread , so i wonder if some one can advise me can i get/fit 205 50 15 on the rear of some roadster steel wheels or wold i be better putting 195 /55/15 on the rear , i am going to be fitting 185/55/15 on the front manny thanks billy

[Ferrina]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

I've got Roadster steels on my car and have 175/50R15's all round. Loads of grip and extra low profile makes it look DUB! I've got Goodyear NCT 5 tyres. See my webite for pix.

ps. 205's will go on a rear 15x6" Roadster steel, but not on the front. I think a 195/50R15 goes on the front, but may rub?

[madDan]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

yup 205 50 R15 will go on Roady rear Steelies

[NeuroBeaker]

Re: Your tyre setup.

Well, I'm getting ready for new tyres again, so thought I'd post a superfluous review of the Yokohama AVS db tyres for the SmartCar. I say superfluous, because I'd like to get the same tyres again but can't seem to find them anywhere:

• Yokohama AVS db 175/55 R15 77H RPB, Profile V500, Smart Rear axle runout (£115.80 GBP delivered for the pair)
• Yokohama AVS db 145/65 R15 72H Profile V500, Smart Front axle runout (£111.80 GBP delivered for the pair)
• Yokohama AVS db, Profile V500 total: £227.60 GBP (delivered for the four)

Grip in the wet and dry was fantastic - a vast improvement over my old Continental EcoContacts. When exceeding the levels of grip, the car was very progressive in the break-away and returning to solid grip. The only time I particularly found them wanting was in the snow and, let's face it, that's because they were high performance summer tyres. These were supposedly a tyre that would wear rapidly and yet, despite some very exuberant driving, I managed 18,500 miles on them during 2½ years before hitting the wear indicators and needing to order replacements. Honestly, if I could, I would order these exact tyres again, but they seem to be out of production and everywhere I've tried online seems out of stock for it in SmartCar sizes.

So, on to something new... I'm finding getting any decent tyres for the SmartCar a challenge in the sizes 145/65-R15 (front) and 175/55-R15 (rear). I know Continental EcoContacts are always an option, but the performance and feel of those tyres is terrible - particularly in the cold and rainy climate of a wintry Scotland. Something about the compound means it firms up in the cold more so than other tyres I've used and you lose any remaining pretences at such luxuries as ride comfort... or grip.

I've got Kumho tyres on my MINI and have been very impressed with them, so I thought I'd try something from Kumho on the SmartCar too. I haven't been able to get a matching set sourced in the standard sizes, so I'm going to go for an equivalent size for the front by choosing 155/60-R15 instead. This is slightly wider than the OEM size, but the aspect ratio is smaller and the rolling circumference is only about 0.44% out (smaller). I'm pretty sure the slight reduction in radius will compensate for the slight increase in width as far as any clearance issues are concerned - but it's not a drastic change anyway.

As another point, slightly increasing the width at the front increases the contact area for the front tyres to the ground, so may even dial back some of the SmartCars understeer when out performance driving. I don't anticipate this being a problem as, although I am a complete disaster with automotive DIY, I'm reasonably in-tune with what a car is doing when driving it. The Smart's traction control is pretty heavy-handed anyway, so I don't anticipate any dangerous handling problems... as I said, it's a very minor change anyway.

The specific Kumho's I'm thinking of ordering are:

KUMHO KH11 ECSTA KUMHO KH 11 - 175/55R15 77T TL (rear, OEM size)

KUMHO KH11 ECSTA KUMHO KH 11 - 155/60R15 74T TL (front, equivalent size)

I actually got the Camskill referral from somewhere on SmartManiacs (can't remember exactly which thread) but their prices are phenomenal. That order would have been £203.80 (fitted and balanced) on MyTyres and it's £140.76 (delivered only) on Camskill. While the Camskill quote still leaves me to pay for fitting, I'm pretty sure I should be able to get that done locally for less than £60.

I know earlier on we briefly touched on whether the standard Smart alloys would accept a tyre wider than 145, but has anyone ever squeezed a 155 width onto them? Changing the wheels themselves is not an option, so... does anyone know specifically if the 155/60-R15 size will cause any problems on the standard ForTwo alloy or shall I go right ahead and pull the trigger?

All the best,
Andrew.

[NeuroBeaker]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

I branched out into this other thread too:

smartmaniacs > The Cars > fortwo - (450) sept 1998- oct 2007 > New tyres...questions! > Re: New tyres...questions!

Well, I went ahead and ordered those tyres:

KUMHO KH11 ECSTA KUMHO KH 11 - 175/55R15 77T TL (rear, OEM size)

KUMHO KH11 ECSTA KUMHO KH 11 - 155/60R15 74T TL (front, equivalent size)

Ended up being about £140 to get them delivered to the door. They'll arrive in the next couple of days and then I'll take them to a local garage for fitting, which should be around £40 - making it about £180ish for a "fitted total". I've still got some life left on my current fronts (Yokohamas) and I also want to get a front suspension problem sorted before I get my new front tyres fitted - as it seems one of my fronts is wearing a little unevenly as a result.

I'll try to keep you updated as to how it goes, and thanks to everyone who chipping in with advice.

All the best,
Andrew.

[NeuroBeaker]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

As I was just saying in that other thread... I went ahead and fitted those tyres - and they seem to be working out really well.

They're just about run in and the end effect is slightly more front-end grip relative to the back and slightly less understeer. It's not a completely revolutionary difference, but it is noticeable and something that's quite appreciated when pressing on down a country road.

All the best,
Andrew.

[andrearayburn]

Re: Your tyre setup.(pics)

Presumably Smart ForTwo being rear wheel drive - plus rear engine fitted. Benefit from a staggered rim and tyre configuration? 'Fully-directional' tyres are more Performance oriented over asymmetric tread patterns. Excellent wet/ ant-aqua-planning. (Falken GRB 452 or Toyo T1R - both Japanese - fully directional tyre patterns - similar tread wear - all season, OK.).

Brabus Smart (450) ForTwo
Wheels are: 16" Stock Brabus Aluminium

(5.5" wide 30 off set - 195 40 16" tyres front.).
(6.5" wide -1 off set - 215 40 16" tyres rear.).

Above handling/ stability is excellent over stock tyres, especially fronts. All roads country to motorway. Low profile tyres require care negotiating serious pot holes.

15" Smart Brabus Mono IV - Previous model fitment

(5.0" wide 34 off set - 195 45 15" tyres Toyo T1R front.).
(6.5" wide -1 off set - 215 45 15" tyres Toyo T1R rear.).

More practical all road set up - handle well. All season. Lower centre of gravity. Brabus configuration should fit all if not most other Smart ForTwo models. Good light-weight/ unsprung weight. Once powder coated plus maintained become durable, for wear. Can buckle. Eyes with good visual observations pay-off. Other materials can also buckle.


Both set ups were superior to odd makes tyres with 175 and 195 15" 'asymmetric' Strikeline-wheels. All wheels balanced plus laser geometry aligned. Tyre pressure: 32-31 front: town and about. 33-32 front: distance motorway driving.

(Hand-held tyre pressure gauge.). Sizes (rolling radius) work fine with speedometer, ABS, traction control, etc. Will test with/ against: 'cruise-control' once purchased/fitted? Will look for photos.