Very confused about MR2 wheels!

[garethmetcalf]

Hello

I'm new to this forum having read it many times for useful hints. I've recently bought an MR2 MK2 (J reg) japanese import that has been through various changes by previous owners. I think it may have originally been a 3S-FE but it now has the normal faster N/A engine in.

When I bought it I took it to a japanese motor specialists who sorted out some initial problems - new brake discs, suspension arm etc.

It came to me with Fox Racing 17" Alloys with 215/40/17 on the front and some wider tyres (235?) on the back. I was told by the garage that the rear tyres were dangerous as they were too big for the wheels and could potentially pop off when cornering quickly. I therefore had some new tyres fitted so now it has 215/40/17 all around.

However, it's very bumpy (more so than one I had a while back for a short time) and I have been reading that it's normal to have different sized wheels/tyres on the back. I have therefore bought a set of standard Mr2 MK2 alloys to fit this week. I came to fit them tonight and found out that the brake discs I have on the front have a central hub that's too wide to fit the original wheels, so it looks like I've wasted money on this set of original wheels (and accompanying nuts).

So, now I don't know what to do and my questions are as follows:

1. Why does the MR2 have different width wheels front and back as standard?
2. Is the car OK with the same sized tyres that I have on it front and back?
3. How do I find out what width the wheels actually are without taking the tyres off?
4. What should I do (if anything)??

Thank you very much for reading this far - I feel a right idiot not knowing this.

[MRturboTom]

Sounds like you've bought rev 1 wheels and got rev2+ brakes.

Yes, staggered wheels and tyres is extremely important, handling is ruined and massively oversteers running same size all round as well as reduced stability.

235 on a 7j wheel is perfectly safe.
Wheels normally have it stamped on them on the front or rear of the wheel.

Being mid engined grip at the rear is extremely important

[garethmetcalf]

Hi

Thanks for replying, I can see a sticker on the front ones that says 7x17 ET35 - can't see the back ones but will check in the light tomorrow.

So even if the wheels are the same size front and back I should have 235/40/17 tyres on the back (as they were when I picked it up) and that will be all I need to do to ensure safety/handling?

Or alternatively would dropping the front down to 205 work?

Cheers
Gareth

[peteV6R5]

Sounds like you've bought rev 1 wheels and got rev2+ brakes.

Yes, staggered wheels and tyres is extremely important, handling is ruined and massively oversteers running same size all round as well as reduced stability.

235 on a 7j wheel is perfectly safe.
Wheels normally have it stamped on them on the front or rear of the wheel.

Being mid engined grip at the rear is extremely important

Hi
Agree with Tom
235 on 7J are safe but are outside the recommended size for that wheel.
The garage is correct in telling you they are the wrong size. Max recommended is 225 (see table)
http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/tyr ... dvice.html

Loads on here including myself have run 235/40/17 tyres on 7J rims with no issues.

[garethmetcalf]

Thanks again.

What effect does having the same size tyres have on the handling - i.e. how will the car improve if i put 235 on the back?
If 235 are strictly too big, would 205 front and 225 rear work? (or are they a hard to find tyre)?

[baileydom]

Having a non-staggered setup basically makes the car much more likely to oversteer as the rear has less grip.

[MR2DI4]

Thanks again.

What effect does having the same size tyres have on the handling - i.e. how will the car improve if i put 235 on the back?
If 235 are strictly too big, would 205 front and 225 rear work? (or are they a hard to find tyre)?

Ok the 14" Toyota factory rims came with 195 fronts and 205 rears, the 15" Toyota factory rims came with 195 fronts and 225 rears but 205 and 225 work well. The 15" rims work pretty well but the 225 rears are getting hard to find now.

The rim widths are staggered, not just the tyres. This is a problem for most rim manufacturers and hence you find MR2's running the same front and rear and then messing with the tyres to get the stagger.

Unfortunately the 14" rims are now scrap aluminium as Bridgestone has long ceased production on the RE710, RE711 which was an excellent tyre.

[doogal44]

When you removed your 17" alloys did the spigot rings come off with them?
Sometimes they stay attached to the hub and may explain why the original wheels don't fit.
See if you can remove them and try the original wheels again.

[garethmetcalf]

I'm not sure - sorry for the dumb response - I didn't know what a spigot ring was until I just googled - that might make sense then if that was still attached to the hub. I'll take the car to a wheel place today and see if they can get the original (15") alloys to fit and if not I'll explore putting a 235 on the 17's.
Thanks for all the replies.