Why do the S4s & Sport 300 have RADICALLY bigger..

[karmavore]

tires than the S4 and SE models they are based off of? They don't have *that* much more power, so it just doesn't make sense to me that Lotus would have supplied them with 335mm and 315mm vs. 245mm rear skins, respectively. I'm still trying to come up with tire choices if I buy new rims, and I don't want to buy any bigger (slower, heavier) tires than I need.

Luke.

[Skerd]

The ones with the huge tires were all non-USA cars unfortunately. They all had the wheel flares also. I wish the USA versions were the same. The rear 245's do look almost lost in the huge wheelwell.

[karmavore]

Yes but why? And with out those extensions 18x10s with 335mm tires looks ridiculous on the Esprit ..in my opinion.

Luke.

[Lotusacbc]

It makes for a better looking Esprit in my opinion. Look at this S300 pic, you can tell they are thick:

[img]www.juststuff.freehosting.net/images/300.jpg[/img]

[karmavore]

That's what I'm getting to: are they just for looks?

[benfell100]

I think the Sport 300 had 315 rear tyres and the S4s had 285 rear tyres. Not 335 and 315 respectively, however, they do look more in keeping with a car of this kind of performance. I am currently seeking V8 size rims at the mo for my S4 because the present ones are just too skinny for my liking.

[dictys]

The sport 300 had much improved handling, different suspension set up, limited slip etc. It was a direct ddevelopement of the Esprit race car. The larger tyres giving more traction,braking etc than the standard set up.

Rgds
Dictys