New Esprit owner - need advice on tires
Discussion
I finally did it! Got my (almost) dream car - an 88 Esprit. Took possession Wed in NV, and drove it to my home in Utah. I'm now trying to find some tires, however I'm finding that there don't seem to be any available in the 215/60-15 and 235/60-15 sizes in a V rated tire. Was wondering what everyone else is doing. I have found H-rated Michelin XGT V4s in a 205 and 225 width.
Another question... last night when I was having emissions run, the front of the car was sitting in the service station, and the rear wheels were outside on the ground (there was a slight difference in pavement height)... when I opened the hatch to allow the mechanic to get to the engine, the hatch and sunroof would sometimes bind.... Is this because of the angle of the car (it wasn't jacked up) or could the sunroof not be pushed all the way in front. When it's sitting in my garage the hatch seems to open just fine.
Kevin
Another question... last night when I was having emissions run, the front of the car was sitting in the service station, and the rear wheels were outside on the ground (there was a slight difference in pavement height)... when I opened the hatch to allow the mechanic to get to the engine, the hatch and sunroof would sometimes bind.... Is this because of the angle of the car (it wasn't jacked up) or could the sunroof not be pushed all the way in front. When it's sitting in my garage the hatch seems to open just fine.
Kevin
Hello and welcome to Esprit ownership! Let the madness begin!
You don't want to get H rated tires. You want V, Y, or Z rated. Did you want an all-season tire or is a performance summer tire what you're looking for?
Currently on my Esprit I have the Bridgestone S-03 tire. Awesome tire, pricey but supposedly THE best performance tire. I have also used Sumitomo brand on my Eclipse as well as my Talon and am very pleased with them. I currently have the HTR+ on the Talon which are all season and had the HTRZ II on the Eclipse, which is performance tire. Excellent all around tires and very affordable. I highly recommend them. A friend has the top of the line Falkens on his modified Audi S4. Can't remember the name but they were excellent too. He raves about them. The new Evolution my brother got has some crazy performance tire on it. Can't remember off hand but it sticks that car to road nice.
Check out tire rack, go through the tires available and read all the reviews on them. That should help out quite a bit.
You don't want to get H rated tires. You want V, Y, or Z rated. Did you want an all-season tire or is a performance summer tire what you're looking for?
Currently on my Esprit I have the Bridgestone S-03 tire. Awesome tire, pricey but supposedly THE best performance tire. I have also used Sumitomo brand on my Eclipse as well as my Talon and am very pleased with them. I currently have the HTR+ on the Talon which are all season and had the HTRZ II on the Eclipse, which is performance tire. Excellent all around tires and very affordable. I highly recommend them. A friend has the top of the line Falkens on his modified Audi S4. Can't remember the name but they were excellent too. He raves about them. The new Evolution my brother got has some crazy performance tire on it. Can't remember off hand but it sticks that car to road nice.
Check out tire rack, go through the tires available and read all the reviews on them. That should help out quite a bit.
Mgb Driver - I think I know which Esprit you got. It is white and needs some interior dye on it am I right? I was thinking of looking at that one but had no way to get to Nevada. So how does she look? How does she run? Just curious since I inquired about it. Actually I still have all the pictures he sent me.
Congratulations on the purchase!
Paul
Congratulations on the purchase!
Paul
LotusACBC,
This is the one you were looking at. (I found your postings, and they did give me some additional info). The exterior of the car is is great shape. I drove it home from Carson City; about 500 miles. The interior is a little rough in areas; one small tear in the leather, the rest is mainly a little dirty. I think I'll be able to rectify most of that. The car did fail Utah emissions; however my mechanic took a look at the test results, and listened to it run... he seems to think all it will take is an adjustment to the air-fuel mixture on idle. I also need (want?) to replace the tires; the problem is I'm not finding matched brands/models of V-rated tires in the factory sizes. My options seem to be either drop to H-rated tires or possibly go to a 205 on front, and 225 in rear. I still have to do some more checking on that.
All in all, I feel I got a well maintained car at a great price.
Kevin
This is the one you were looking at. (I found your postings, and they did give me some additional info). The exterior of the car is is great shape. I drove it home from Carson City; about 500 miles. The interior is a little rough in areas; one small tear in the leather, the rest is mainly a little dirty. I think I'll be able to rectify most of that. The car did fail Utah emissions; however my mechanic took a look at the test results, and listened to it run... he seems to think all it will take is an adjustment to the air-fuel mixture on idle. I also need (want?) to replace the tires; the problem is I'm not finding matched brands/models of V-rated tires in the factory sizes. My options seem to be either drop to H-rated tires or possibly go to a 205 on front, and 225 in rear. I still have to do some more checking on that.
All in all, I feel I got a well maintained car at a great price.
Kevin
mgb driver said:
LotusACBC,
This is the one you were looking at. (I found your postings, and they did give me some additional info). The exterior of the car is is great shape. I drove it home from Carson City; about 500 miles. The interior is a little rough in areas; one small tear in the leather, the rest is mainly a little dirty. I think I'll be able to rectify most of that. The car did fail Utah emissions; however my mechanic took a look at the test results, and listened to it run... he seems to think all it will take is an adjustment to the air-fuel mixture on idle. I also need (want?) to replace the tires; the problem is I'm not finding matched brands/models of V-rated tires in the factory sizes. My options seem to be either drop to H-rated tires or possibly go to a 205 on front, and 225 in rear. I still have to do some more checking on that.
All in all, I feel I got a well maintained car at a great price.
Kevin
Good for you man! Im glad the car is well sorted and your happy with it. 13 grand is an amazing price for it even if you do have to do some re-finishing on the interior and get new tires.
By the way, whats the deal with the switch that needed replacing?
I cant wait to see updated pictures of the car!
Skerd,
Thanks for the info. My goal is to keep the stock wheels... therein lies the tire size dilema. I went to the SLC auto show today and was talking w/one of the parts & service guys from the local Ferrari (formerly Lotus) dealer about the tires. He seemed to think H rated tires would be fine unless I planned on extended runs over 130.
LotusACBC,
The switch issue is the fuel overboost switch that is believed to be the culpret. Apparently the fuel pump occasionally stopped working, so the previous owner, on a whim, installed a manual switch to by-pass the fuel overboost switch. I haven't had to turn it on yet, and haven't experienced any problems either. I was reading in the factory service manual that there is a fuel cutoff switch that is to shut the fuel off when you are coasting to improve economy. I haven't had a chance to dig into it yet, but I'm wondering if that could be the problem (unless it and the fuel overboost switch are one and the same). The roads here haven't been the best due to recent snow storms, so I haven't had the car out very much...... that plus I need to get it registered (as soon as I can get it thru emissions and inspection). I'm also having problems w/the right headlight working intermittently.... the former owner told me it was a common thing and I just need to pull the headlight and clean the contacts.
Kevin
Thanks for the info. My goal is to keep the stock wheels... therein lies the tire size dilema. I went to the SLC auto show today and was talking w/one of the parts & service guys from the local Ferrari (formerly Lotus) dealer about the tires. He seemed to think H rated tires would be fine unless I planned on extended runs over 130.
LotusACBC,
The switch issue is the fuel overboost switch that is believed to be the culpret. Apparently the fuel pump occasionally stopped working, so the previous owner, on a whim, installed a manual switch to by-pass the fuel overboost switch. I haven't had to turn it on yet, and haven't experienced any problems either. I was reading in the factory service manual that there is a fuel cutoff switch that is to shut the fuel off when you are coasting to improve economy. I haven't had a chance to dig into it yet, but I'm wondering if that could be the problem (unless it and the fuel overboost switch are one and the same). The roads here haven't been the best due to recent snow storms, so I haven't had the car out very much...... that plus I need to get it registered (as soon as I can get it thru emissions and inspection). I'm also having problems w/the right headlight working intermittently.... the former owner told me it was a common thing and I just need to pull the headlight and clean the contacts.
Kevin
GT radials do the 215/60R15 which is V rated.
Reasonable price too. For 225/50 R15 on my car the price is $NZ189 , approx $US100.
GT radials tyre range
www.tyres4u.co.nz/gtradials/gt_range.asp?brand=GT&catid=0&from=consumer
Reasonable price too. For 225/50 R15 on my car the price is $NZ189 , approx $US100.
GT radials tyre range
www.tyres4u.co.nz/gtradials/gt_range.asp?brand=GT&catid=0&from=consumer
mgb driver said:
LotusACBC,
The switch issue is the fuel overboost switch that is believed to be the culpret. Apparently the fuel pump occasionally stopped working, so the previous owner, on a whim, installed a manual switch to by-pass the fuel overboost switch. I haven't had to turn it on yet, and haven't experienced any problems either. I was reading in the factory service manual that there is a fuel cutoff switch that is to shut the fuel off when you are coasting to improve economy. I haven't had a chance to dig into it yet, but I'm wondering if that could be the problem (unless it and the fuel overboost switch are one and the same). The roads here haven't been the best due to recent snow storms, so I haven't had the car out very much...... that plus I need to get it registered (as soon as I can get it thru emissions and inspection). I'm also having problems w/the right headlight working intermittently.... the former owner told me it was a common thing and I just need to pull the headlight and clean the contacts.
Kevin
Seems easy enough to fix! I bet your eager as heck to be driving it.
I did take it out for a short spin today.... had the engine die on me.... got out and pushed the button on the overboost bypass switch and it started right up! When I got home I went to turn it off, and accidently pulled the wiring out. Now I have a real incentive to get that fixed.
It also looks like I have a few small oil leaks.... two from the engine area, and some larger puddles up front.... have no idea what they are, so that will take a little investigating.
Got the tires on order today.... ended up going with the Yokahama V-rated tires. They should be here in a week or so.
Hopefully it won't be long till I'm licensed and street legal!
It also looks like I have a few small oil leaks.... two from the engine area, and some larger puddles up front.... have no idea what they are, so that will take a little investigating.
Got the tires on order today.... ended up going with the Yokahama V-rated tires. They should be here in a week or so.
Hopefully it won't be long till I'm licensed and street legal!
mgb driver said:
I did take it out for a short spin today.... had the engine die on me.... got out and pushed the button on the overboost bypass switch and it started right up! When I got home I went to turn it off, and accidently pulled the wiring out. Now I have a real incentive to get that fixed.
It also looks like I have a few small oil leaks.... two from the engine area, and some larger puddles up front.... have no idea what they are, so that will take a little investigating.
Got the tires on order today.... ended up going with the Yokahama V-rated tires. They should be here in a week or so.
Hopefully it won't be long till I'm licensed and street legal!
Good luck! Let us know what happens!
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