Giving up (tires)
Discussion
Hi,
I am a major fan of the Dunlop SP Sport 8000 tire. It carries a Z rating and is an excellent tire reasonably priced.
The caveat is that it is not available in standard Esprit sizes. Instead, you must go with the 50 series in either a 195/50ZR 15 & 245/50ZR 15 or as I did the 205/50ZR 15 & 245/50ZR 15. The tires are great and there's no problem going to this aspect ratio. I highly recommend them after putting 5,000 mi. on mine in wet/dry expressway, twisties and track driving. Happy Motoring! Jim '85TE
I am a major fan of the Dunlop SP Sport 8000 tire. It carries a Z rating and is an excellent tire reasonably priced.
The caveat is that it is not available in standard Esprit sizes. Instead, you must go with the 50 series in either a 195/50ZR 15 & 245/50ZR 15 or as I did the 205/50ZR 15 & 245/50ZR 15. The tires are great and there's no problem going to this aspect ratio. I highly recommend them after putting 5,000 mi. on mine in wet/dry expressway, twisties and track driving. Happy Motoring! Jim '85TE
When going to 50's bump up a tire size.
They have charts on the rolling or outside dia. of the tire. As long as it is the same or about the same OEM tire size it should be in the deviation range for the speedo. Even a correct tire will be off as the tire wears and gets smaller. Jim can tell you how far off his speedo is. The ride might be a bit stiffer on a 50 as opposed to a 60.
Calvin
They have charts on the rolling or outside dia. of the tire. As long as it is the same or about the same OEM tire size it should be in the deviation range for the speedo. Even a correct tire will be off as the tire wears and gets smaller. Jim can tell you how far off his speedo is. The ride might be a bit stiffer on a 50 as opposed to a 60.
Calvin
As I said in my earlyer post I cant find any!!!
Dunlop only does very few in 15". Have a look www.dunloptyres.co.uk/site/tyres/car/searchResults/patterns/SP8000/
If any know of a site where I can order the 205 and 245
I would appriciate it.
Sode S3
Dunlop only does very few in 15". Have a look www.dunloptyres.co.uk/site/tyres/car/searchResults/patterns/SP8000/
If any know of a site where I can order the 205 and 245
I would appriciate it.
Sode S3
Pat,
The Dunlops do cause a slight speedo/odo difference...847 rev./mile vs 804 rev./mile on the 60 series, hardly significant. Add to that that about 90% of all Esprit speedos are 5-7 mph off anyway and it really doesn't make any difference.
Because the widths are wider 205 vs 195 and 245 vs 235, the sidewall is only very slightly lower, maybe 5mm. As far as ride quality, they are not in the least harsh, but because of the wider widths, the suspension works better. Lotus originally spec'd a 205 front tire, but in defference to lower steering wheel effort when parking, elected to shift to 195 in the front, the trade off was greater understeer. I have noticed no increase to the steering wheel effort at all, but the understeer is greatly reduced.
I realize that the 'universe' of available tires to choose from is small, but I have been extremely happy with mine. The Dunlops were recommended to me by an '88 owner who uses them. I have heard one owner praise them over the Michelins which he previously had, but have never heard them compared to Pirelli which is generally a very good brand. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
The Dunlops do cause a slight speedo/odo difference...847 rev./mile vs 804 rev./mile on the 60 series, hardly significant. Add to that that about 90% of all Esprit speedos are 5-7 mph off anyway and it really doesn't make any difference.
Because the widths are wider 205 vs 195 and 245 vs 235, the sidewall is only very slightly lower, maybe 5mm. As far as ride quality, they are not in the least harsh, but because of the wider widths, the suspension works better. Lotus originally spec'd a 205 front tire, but in defference to lower steering wheel effort when parking, elected to shift to 195 in the front, the trade off was greater understeer. I have noticed no increase to the steering wheel effort at all, but the understeer is greatly reduced.
I realize that the 'universe' of available tires to choose from is small, but I have been extremely happy with mine. The Dunlops were recommended to me by an '88 owner who uses them. I have heard one owner praise them over the Michelins which he previously had, but have never heard them compared to Pirelli which is generally a very good brand. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
Try www.mytyres.net last time I looked they had the pirelli P600 in a 235x60x15 for about £90, I have not bought from them but they were recommended in a Motoring Magazine.
Hopes this helps, Jez UK.
Hopes this helps, Jez UK.
Phantom said: As I said in my earlyer post I cant find any!!!
Dunlop only does very few in 15". Have a look www.dunloptyres.co.uk/site/tyres/car/searchResults/patterns/SP8000/
If any know of a site where I can order the 205 and 245
I would appriciate it.
Sode S3
Phantom,
Try contacting the site directly, they can probably order it for you. Absent that, I see that they have the SP Sport 9000 which is an excellent tire. You'd still have to compromise, but this time going 205/50ZR 15 and 225/50ZR 15. I'm sure that the tire in this size will perform well, but the rears may look a little skinny, maybe not though. I'd try to find one and stand it up against your Esprit. It may be the best you can do. Also, check with a Yokohama dealer. They discontinued their excellent AVS Intermediate but are said to have one coming up to replace it. Perhaps it hit your side of the pond already. Hope this helps...Jim'85TE
try toyo's very good tyres they don't have exactly what you want but close www.toyo.com/tires/index_frame.html
I will also be getting some new rims for my S3 this year.
The PCD for the S3 is 120mm x 5.
The center hub bore diameter is 71mm.
But now the dificult bit.........
The offsets used on the Esprit are very unusual, front offset is fairly common at +E23 but the rears are -E20. The only thing you will find in a single piece rims with that kind of offset will be for offroaders.
I will be getting a set of Azev 'A' rims, 16 J7.5 for the front and 17 J8.5 for the rears. The nearest offset I can get for the rears is +E13.
If you do want new rims then you will need to get hubcentric spacers made, which is what I will be doing in the near future. If you are interested I can send you some drawings for the spacers.
Andy Hills
1981 S3
The PCD for the S3 is 120mm x 5.
The center hub bore diameter is 71mm.
But now the dificult bit.........
The offsets used on the Esprit are very unusual, front offset is fairly common at +E23 but the rears are -E20. The only thing you will find in a single piece rims with that kind of offset will be for offroaders.
I will be getting a set of Azev 'A' rims, 16 J7.5 for the front and 17 J8.5 for the rears. The nearest offset I can get for the rears is +E13.
If you do want new rims then you will need to get hubcentric spacers made, which is what I will be doing in the near future. If you are interested I can send you some drawings for the spacers.
Andy Hills
1981 S3
THis is great ... i am always saying "if i dont know ask"....
Also "why speak to the monkey when you can speak to the organ grinder"
YOU GUYS ARE THE ORGAN GRINDERS.
i AM LEARNING SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY
TYRES;
Pirelli can be bought no probs in UK
195/60VR15 £60+VAT 6000 Series
235/60VR15 £95=VAT 600 Series
Do mismatching of tyres affect the car .. in that different tyre patterns front and rear ?
As with the Pirelli ....they dont do 600 Series for the front anymore only 6000
Also "why speak to the monkey when you can speak to the organ grinder"
YOU GUYS ARE THE ORGAN GRINDERS.
i AM LEARNING SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY
TYRES;
Pirelli can be bought no probs in UK
195/60VR15 £60+VAT 6000 Series
235/60VR15 £95=VAT 600 Series
Do mismatching of tyres affect the car .. in that different tyre patterns front and rear ?
As with the Pirelli ....they dont do 600 Series for the front anymore only 6000
I'm a very big fan of Tire (or tyre for some of you...)Rack. They ship almost anywhere and the prices are right! Try 'em out...
www.tirerack.com
>> Edited by autocross7 on Saturday 21st June 06:27
www.tirerack.com
>> Edited by autocross7 on Saturday 21st June 06:27
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