Frustrated - Where can I get Exige S2 size wheels?
Discussion
I probably posted a while back since I'm in the market for some 240R rims - I've loved the look of these wheels (and the car) since the first pictures of the 240R were shown in magazines. I said at the time that I'd have one eventually. Well I've got a reasonable facsimile of the car - I have a 2010 Exige S 240PP, burnt orange and black wheels. I love yellow cars with black wheels but the only accidents I've ever had in 18 years of motoring have been s
t-bad-luck incidents in yellow cars, so I'm starting to think yellow is an unlucky colour for me. Anyway that's irrelevant.
Today is a perfect hoonage day and yet I'm just about to go out for as many hours as my arse can manage on my little motorbike rather than my gorgeous Lotus - because the Lotus is still wearing its winter boots, and temperatures such as today's are *well* outside the winter tyres' comfort zone
They're so fantastic in the cold, damp and slippery conditions that it's no surprise that they're all at sea on dry, warm, sticky tarmac. It's the price you pay for having a very focused car, you have to either compromise it or have equally focused rubber for different sections of the climate.
I've always done this with two grades - focused winter rubber from November to April, and focused trackday rubber from April to November. I'm shifting the autumn switchover back to October after an accident in November, but apart from that, this regime works well. On previous cars I've also made do with only one set of rims, and swapped the tyres on and off the rims each season. The stickies are normally worn out when it's time to change, but the issue is that the winter tyres last many winters.
And my current winter tyres have been put on and taken off rims 4 times now. I've been warned of the dangers of repeatedly removing and re-fitting tyres (the tyre, and the bead in particular, is not designed to be repeatedly removed and re-installed, and too many swaps can weaken and damage the bead, apparently, leading to potential bead seal weakening and air loss) so now I want to fit each type of tyre to its own set of dedicated wheels. In other words, keep the OEM wheels fitted with winter rubber, and buy some nice new high-performance wheels for the summer rubber.
I've wanted the 240R wheels for so long that I've got an open order with Lotus for them, but the wheels are on back-order and they haven't got a clue when they'll get some in. I don't want to pay lots of money for an alternative wheel (like the current Exige Sport-pack forged wheel, which I don't like) if there's some chance that I'll be able to source some 240R wheels in the future, so instead, I'm looking for some reasonably priced wheels in the right sizes that I can use until I eventually acquire some 240R wheels.
The obvious choice is Team Dynamics. I had the TD Race Pro 1.2 (12 spoke) wheels on my old VX220 Turbo, and whilst they suited the VXT really well, they don't suit the Exige. But they're cheap (if the advertised price is anything to go by). Much nicer are Team Dynamics' 5-spoke Race Pro 2, which in black would look really good (and hold off my hunger for 240R wheels for a while!).
But even though I've got money sitting ready and waiting, nobody seems to want to sell me some wheels!!!! I've asked here, and on SELOC, where I can get Team Dynamics wheels in correct Exige S2 sizes, retail - and nobody seems to know. This is frustrating as hell - I can't do any trackdays, I have a fresh set of Yoko A048Rs sitting in Lipscomb's back shed waiting for wheels to mount them on, and a miserable looking Exige sitting in the car park with winter boots on in the blazing sun.
This is the TD wheel I want, but will settle for the 1.2 if it's not possible:
And I've tried emailing all the addresses on Team Dynamics' website - for retail sales they redirect to Rimstock, and those addresses are for people that don't work there any more (bounced). I've called but they don't do retail, and advise me to try a shop that specialises in Lotus. I've called Plans and a couple of other indies and they don't have them. Elise Parts don't have them. I've just done another search and it looks like Hangar 111 have the 1.2s, so this rant may be completely irrelevant if they can supply them... will call them shortly.
But I'd much prefer the 240R wheels - I'm resigned to having to wait a long time for Lotus 'back order' management to supply them. In the meantime, I'm not *that* keen on the idea of spending £620 on wheels that are just a 'stopgap' but I suppose it's only a bit more than a set of tyres. I could save a LOT of money by not bothering with the 240R wheels and instead getting the TD Race Pro 2 (above 5-spoke wheel)....
So does *anyone* know who may be able to supply the Race Pro 2 in Exige S2 sizes? Are these things expected to be available off-the-shelf, or are wheels like this only made in batches for retailers, and when they're gone, they're gone? Is there any way I can find out this? Calling Team Dynamics direct hasn't given me much joy.
t-bad-luck incidents in yellow cars, so I'm starting to think yellow is an unlucky colour for me. Anyway that's irrelevant.Today is a perfect hoonage day and yet I'm just about to go out for as many hours as my arse can manage on my little motorbike rather than my gorgeous Lotus - because the Lotus is still wearing its winter boots, and temperatures such as today's are *well* outside the winter tyres' comfort zone
They're so fantastic in the cold, damp and slippery conditions that it's no surprise that they're all at sea on dry, warm, sticky tarmac. It's the price you pay for having a very focused car, you have to either compromise it or have equally focused rubber for different sections of the climate.I've always done this with two grades - focused winter rubber from November to April, and focused trackday rubber from April to November. I'm shifting the autumn switchover back to October after an accident in November, but apart from that, this regime works well. On previous cars I've also made do with only one set of rims, and swapped the tyres on and off the rims each season. The stickies are normally worn out when it's time to change, but the issue is that the winter tyres last many winters.
And my current winter tyres have been put on and taken off rims 4 times now. I've been warned of the dangers of repeatedly removing and re-fitting tyres (the tyre, and the bead in particular, is not designed to be repeatedly removed and re-installed, and too many swaps can weaken and damage the bead, apparently, leading to potential bead seal weakening and air loss) so now I want to fit each type of tyre to its own set of dedicated wheels. In other words, keep the OEM wheels fitted with winter rubber, and buy some nice new high-performance wheels for the summer rubber.
I've wanted the 240R wheels for so long that I've got an open order with Lotus for them, but the wheels are on back-order and they haven't got a clue when they'll get some in. I don't want to pay lots of money for an alternative wheel (like the current Exige Sport-pack forged wheel, which I don't like) if there's some chance that I'll be able to source some 240R wheels in the future, so instead, I'm looking for some reasonably priced wheels in the right sizes that I can use until I eventually acquire some 240R wheels.
The obvious choice is Team Dynamics. I had the TD Race Pro 1.2 (12 spoke) wheels on my old VX220 Turbo, and whilst they suited the VXT really well, they don't suit the Exige. But they're cheap (if the advertised price is anything to go by). Much nicer are Team Dynamics' 5-spoke Race Pro 2, which in black would look really good (and hold off my hunger for 240R wheels for a while!).
But even though I've got money sitting ready and waiting, nobody seems to want to sell me some wheels!!!! I've asked here, and on SELOC, where I can get Team Dynamics wheels in correct Exige S2 sizes, retail - and nobody seems to know. This is frustrating as hell - I can't do any trackdays, I have a fresh set of Yoko A048Rs sitting in Lipscomb's back shed waiting for wheels to mount them on, and a miserable looking Exige sitting in the car park with winter boots on in the blazing sun.
This is the TD wheel I want, but will settle for the 1.2 if it's not possible:
And I've tried emailing all the addresses on Team Dynamics' website - for retail sales they redirect to Rimstock, and those addresses are for people that don't work there any more (bounced). I've called but they don't do retail, and advise me to try a shop that specialises in Lotus. I've called Plans and a couple of other indies and they don't have them. Elise Parts don't have them. I've just done another search and it looks like Hangar 111 have the 1.2s, so this rant may be completely irrelevant if they can supply them... will call them shortly.
But I'd much prefer the 240R wheels - I'm resigned to having to wait a long time for Lotus 'back order' management to supply them. In the meantime, I'm not *that* keen on the idea of spending £620 on wheels that are just a 'stopgap' but I suppose it's only a bit more than a set of tyres. I could save a LOT of money by not bothering with the 240R wheels and instead getting the TD Race Pro 2 (above 5-spoke wheel)....
So does *anyone* know who may be able to supply the Race Pro 2 in Exige S2 sizes? Are these things expected to be available off-the-shelf, or are wheels like this only made in batches for retailers, and when they're gone, they're gone? Is there any way I can find out this? Calling Team Dynamics direct hasn't given me much joy.
Must say they look pretty good. Quite tempted by a set myself. Do you know what they weigh?
I assume you've tried all the usual Lotus suspects - Bell & Colville; Elise Parts; Elise Shop; Hangar 111; etc.? Also Demon Tweaks supply Team Dynamics wheels so may be worth trying.
As an alternative I was considering these decent weight and price I thought.
I assume you've tried all the usual Lotus suspects - Bell & Colville; Elise Parts; Elise Shop; Hangar 111; etc.? Also Demon Tweaks supply Team Dynamics wheels so may be worth trying.
As an alternative I was considering these decent weight and price I thought.
tertius said:
Must say they look pretty good. Quite tempted by a set myself. Do you know what they weigh?
I assume you've tried all the usual Lotus suspects - Bell & Colville; Elise Parts; Elise Shop; Hangar 111; etc.? Also Demon Tweaks supply Team Dynamics wheels so may be worth trying.
As an alternative I was considering these decent weight and price I thought.
That's part of the reason I was considering them - they're cheap, but they're competitively light as well. For what should be around £600-£700 quid a set (which is very cheap), the fronts at 16" weigh 7.0 kg, the rears at 17" weigh 7.5 kg. That's pretty good IMO for a cheap wheel. LinkyI assume you've tried all the usual Lotus suspects - Bell & Colville; Elise Parts; Elise Shop; Hangar 111; etc.? Also Demon Tweaks supply Team Dynamics wheels so may be worth trying.
As an alternative I was considering these decent weight and price I thought.
Will try all the firms you list - I'll need PCD and offset numbers for the 'generic' firms who may not have dedicated Lotus fitments, but I presume that's in the Lotus handbook anyway - and if not, on the SELOC wiki?
cyberface said:
tertius said:
Must say they look pretty good. Quite tempted by a set myself. Do you know what they weigh?
I assume you've tried all the usual Lotus suspects - Bell & Colville; Elise Parts; Elise Shop; Hangar 111; etc.? Also Demon Tweaks supply Team Dynamics wheels so may be worth trying.
As an alternative I was considering these decent weight and price I thought.
That's part of the reason I was considering them - they're cheap, but they're competitively light as well. For what should be around £600-£700 quid a set (which is very cheap), the fronts at 16" weigh 7.0 kg, the rears at 17" weigh 7.5 kg. That's pretty good IMO for a cheap wheel. LinkyI assume you've tried all the usual Lotus suspects - Bell & Colville; Elise Parts; Elise Shop; Hangar 111; etc.? Also Demon Tweaks supply Team Dynamics wheels so may be worth trying.
As an alternative I was considering these decent weight and price I thought.
Will try all the firms you list - I'll need PCD and offset numbers for the 'generic' firms who may not have dedicated Lotus fitments, but I presume that's in the Lotus handbook anyway - and if not, on the SELOC wiki?
ACT Performance Products have quite a good relationship with Rimstock and may be able to help. Give them a ring.
www.actproducts.co.uk
www.actproducts.co.uk
Don't think the pro race 2 are available for the Exige. I have the Pro race 1.2s on mine and IMHO they look superb so much better that the standard wheels and certainly not expensive. Bought them through A company called Billy Boy Tyres (Unit 25-26, Penistone Rd Trading Estate, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S6 2FL Tel: 0114 234 9081) they were by far the cheapest and service was perfect. As they are made to order they take about 3-4 weeks. Make sure you get them made with the correct centre bore of 56.6 so that you don't have to use plastic centre bore adapters.
tertius said:
Must say they look pretty good. Quite tempted by a set myself. Do you know what they weigh?
I assume you've tried all the usual Lotus suspects - Bell & Colville; Elise Parts; Elise Shop; Hangar 111; etc.? Also Demon Tweaks supply Team Dynamics wheels so may be worth trying.
As an alternative I was considering these decent weight and price I thought.
I've got those on my Titanium Storm S2 Elise, got them from Eliseparts a few months back. IMO they look great, on my GFs laptop at the mo and won't be on mine (where my photos are) for a good few days so can't post pics..... sorry!I assume you've tried all the usual Lotus suspects - Bell & Colville; Elise Parts; Elise Shop; Hangar 111; etc.? Also Demon Tweaks supply Team Dynamics wheels so may be worth trying.
As an alternative I was considering these decent weight and price I thought.
Try this seloc link, *might* work. The photos are at the bottom of the page, they were taken on Sunday on an Essex seloc run. Not the most flattering of photos and the car and wheels are a bit dusty but you should get the idea!
http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=258806&...
http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=258806&...
Edited by CardShark on Wednesday 26th May 08:07
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