'Winter' tyres
Discussion
Quite correct about Andy - he says the 195's go on fine on the standard rims (yoko 048's). Lotus don't recommend this, yet having watched Andy Walsh drive, the man knows a thing or two about car handling!
I can't believe they mention the 195 as a winter tyre - if they are referring to the yoko 048, it is mainly a fair weather tyre. I use mine on trackday and sh*t myself every time I hit standing water. Then again I am pretty rubbish and scare easily. I(I have 2 sets of wheels) The 175 fronts (Bridgestones) will be better in the wet - better so than the yokohama advan AD07's that are 175 front in the US and standard on next years elise. They are supposed to not be as good as the bridgestones in the wet. The only guy I know who has used them is Andy walsh who said he didn't think they were grippier than the bridgestones and offered less braking feel.
The other options are the Toyo proxy's (don't have experience of dunlops) - good value tyre, but melt quickly on the track. This I have seen a few times. If you do trackdays then ask around re these for other opinions in case I am being biased. Advantage however is a 185 front - less understeer, (though after a session at carlimits with said Andy, I can make the S2 111s oversteer at will with the standard bridgestones.)
I have heavily weighed up the tyre options and am having the bridgestones put back on tomorrow - incidentally £370 fitted for the set. The yokohama Ad07's are only available from lotus and are ~£460 fitted. Bear in mind that they are supposed to be the cheaper alternative to the bridgestones. They also do not last as long. I decided to use these as a road tyre especially through the winter. I then use the Yoko 048's for track. (they are too expensive to run on the road (4000 mile lifespan). This way I get 16000 miles from the road tyres and 2 years worth of trackdays out of the yokos.
I can't believe they mention the 195 as a winter tyre - if they are referring to the yoko 048, it is mainly a fair weather tyre. I use mine on trackday and sh*t myself every time I hit standing water. Then again I am pretty rubbish and scare easily. I(I have 2 sets of wheels) The 175 fronts (Bridgestones) will be better in the wet - better so than the yokohama advan AD07's that are 175 front in the US and standard on next years elise. They are supposed to not be as good as the bridgestones in the wet. The only guy I know who has used them is Andy walsh who said he didn't think they were grippier than the bridgestones and offered less braking feel.
The other options are the Toyo proxy's (don't have experience of dunlops) - good value tyre, but melt quickly on the track. This I have seen a few times. If you do trackdays then ask around re these for other opinions in case I am being biased. Advantage however is a 185 front - less understeer, (though after a session at carlimits with said Andy, I can make the S2 111s oversteer at will with the standard bridgestones.)
I have heavily weighed up the tyre options and am having the bridgestones put back on tomorrow - incidentally £370 fitted for the set. The yokohama Ad07's are only available from lotus and are ~£460 fitted. Bear in mind that they are supposed to be the cheaper alternative to the bridgestones. They also do not last as long. I decided to use these as a road tyre especially through the winter. I then use the Yoko 048's for track. (they are too expensive to run on the road (4000 mile lifespan). This way I get 16000 miles from the road tyres and 2 years worth of trackdays out of the yokos.
£371.54 with the premier service (ultrasonic cleaning of alloys) at MichelDever in Hampshire - 23 miles from where I live.
Fitted this morning - pouring rain on the way back. Turned onto the A303 at ~25mph and the back end decided to step out dramatically. Thank heavens for Walshy training. The new tyres were like slicks for the first few miles. I had to get to work though, so had to cope. Quick few wheelspins seem to help bed them in.
Fitted this morning - pouring rain on the way back. Turned onto the A303 at ~25mph and the back end decided to step out dramatically. Thank heavens for Walshy training. The new tyres were like slicks for the first few miles. I had to get to work though, so had to cope. Quick few wheelspins seem to help bed them in.
I have no idea what ultrasonic cleaning was/is - the premier service means that you get a book-in time and don't wait and they clean the alloys - mine have never looked better or cleaner actually. They are supposed to charge £5 per corner for the priviledge, but seem to have forgotten to add this to the bill which was the same as I was quoted for the tyres only.
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