Elise Tires, insurance

[Spekdah-S2K]

Hello all

Does anyone know where to get the cheapest P-Zeros R16 for a 1999 type111. I know you can also use the TOYOs? What are they like on the road?

I have seen quotes for around $450 (pzero) from newmarket ekk! But I didn't try real hard.

Also while heading down to mates garage in Drury months back I ran into a guy at the BP garage in a red Elise who mentioned track insurance. Soprry matey, but I have forgotten both yr name and the company you mentioned

Back in England, I used to get it free after you did the Driver training at Norfolk.. AMI don't seem as interested Anyone know some?

Thanks
Scot
TYP111

[Esprit]

Long time no see Scott

Dont' bother with the Pirellis, they're CRAP, basically the worst tyre you can run.

Most of us here in NZ run the Toyo tyre (the T1-S and more recently the T1-R). While they're probably not the BEST tyre you can run on the Elise, they're probably the best price performer. They grip well but do have a bit of sidewall flex, but that's not a bad thing, they're a great allround tyre... the other two options are the BF Goodrich G-Froce Profiler (I'm not sure if you can get this in NZ) and the Yokohama Advan Neova LTS, which is now available in S1 sizes, but may be a special order. The Neovas are meant to be the best road-tyre you can get for the Elise.

As for trackday insurance,, I'm not sure, but think there's a company in Hamilton that offers it, I think some guys in the TVR club are using these? I'll ask Jim Gamsby next time I see him.

Edited by Esprit on Thursday 10th August 04:09

[roger A]

So, would those tyre recommendations apply to my car, too, George?
BTW, there's a blue Elise at the car sales yard down the bottom of the Bullock Track driven by a young Asian guy who works there-known to you?

[Esprit]

roger A said:

So, would those tyre recommendations apply to my car, too, George?
BTW, there's a blue Elise at the car sales yard down the bottom of the Bullock Track driven by a young Asian guy who works there-known to you?

Bullock track?

Roger, probably. The Toyos are really a great tyre, let down only by sidewall flex, which can take away a little steering feel... this is less significant on light cars and hence why they're such a popular choice on Elises etc because a bit of sidewall flex is essential to generate good grip.

I've used my T1-Ss on track a fair bit (the T1-S has been superseded by the T1-R, which is widely regarded to be better) and I've managed to keep pace with Elises/Exiges that have been running track-tyres in some cases. Not saying they're as good as a dedicated track tyre, but they're a good compromise between decent wear on the road and decent grip on the track.

On here I know that Kiwikid and Kiwi LE as well as myself use the Toyo T1 tyre and are happy with them.

As for your car Roger, you're running Bridgestone S-series tyres aren't you ? (from memory). If you are then the Toyos will be a HUGE step up from what you have.

[kylie]

The RA1's arent too shabby either for a track/street tyre if you dont mind the rapid wear rate from soft sticky rubber Also drivable in the wet if your real careful, but a bit scary for me!

[Kiwi XTR2]

Anyone use Avon's on a real Lotus ? CR500's or ACB10's ??

[Esprit]

kylie said:

The RA1's arent too shabby either for a track/street tyre if you dont mind the rapid wear rate from soft sticky rubber Also drivable in the wet if your real careful, but a bit scary for me!

People seem to be moving more towards the R888 these days for track... asmittedly, the RA-1s are probably better in the wet (they're recommended as a wet-race tyre) than the R888s, but the R888s are superior in the dry.

But yes, if you could only choose one type of tyre, the RA1 would be a good compromise for a track tyre that's useable on the road. I'll probably be going for R888s at some point as my car hardly ever gets used in the rain anyway so I don't really need a tyre that can deal with standing water as I'm usually VERY tippy-toes on the controls when I get caught in the wet.

[kylie]

I know of the racing Lotus Europa owned by the McCarthy family used to run Avons slicks, but I wouldn't have clue what they used for wet.

[Spekdah-S2K]

Thank you all, I'll look into the proxes TR1 and those R888, um gotta love the semi slick, reminded me of those Yokohamas that first came out of the 340.

The last episode of top gear showed the new Noble, very nice. For those like me that download them an hour after they screen in England

Edited by Spekdah-S2K on Friday 11th August 06:38

[Esprit]

No worries Scott,

Just watch out for the R888s as you'll be pushing the limit of your standard suspension and front wheel widths (can only get 195 fronts which wil juuuuust fit on your 111S front wheels)

My pick would be the T1-R.... will be a hell of a step up from your Pirellis and will be a good tyre if you wanna get back into trackdaying.... good grip, but progressive breakaway I've put my car round several times on the T1-Rs... usually because I'm just being a silly bugger

[Richard Gee]

The Advan Neovas are fantastic tyres on the Elise. Superb in the wet and clever enugh to give plenty of grip on dry days - really a great all round tyre for track days and road use. Great tyre, can thoroughly recommend.

[Kiwi XTR2]

Esprit said:

. . . the Yokohama Advan Neova LTS, which is now available in S1 sizes, but may be a special order. The Neovas are meant to be the best road-tyre you can get for the Elise . . .

www.pistonheads.com/lotus/default.asp?storyId=14825

How long before someone suggests a group-buy. Must be cheaper by the container load.

[Esprit]

If I can track down some Neovas, they'll probably be my next tyre... will be better than the T1-Ss I'm on now without killing my suspension/brakes like track tyres will.

[roger A]

Spoke to John Steiner today-selling his almost- identical Fraser on trade-me; and he warned me off toyo r888s on the grounds that they "grip a bit but then let go" -but I imagine that I'm not going to be driving near as fast as Dean-and if he's happy with them.... hmmm.... JS recommends Dunlops.

[Kiwi le]

Esprit said:

If I can track down some Neovas, they'll probably be my next tyre... will be better than the T1-Ss I'm on now without killing my suspension/brakes like track tyres will.

George - the Neovas are very similar to the R888, maybe a bit harder so you get higher mileage.

Scott that was me (Dean) in the Red Elise that had the chat to the garage.
Joblin Insurnace, Hamilton- track insurnace I'm not sure they will do ?? but you can only ask......normal insurnace get classic cover, has limited miles but just top it once you go over, $ 450 for full comprehensive cover, top up was around $ 200.

Tyres - I find the new T1-R's to be a better tyre over all than the T1-S, better in the dry and and bit better in the wet, they still over heat on the track after about 5 laps at a track like Manfield. BUT the R888's are excellent but have there limits, get the pressure right and there very good, will over heat if pushed hard but thats just a pressure thing and learning the limits of the tyre. they are softer than the Neovas but a third of the price....

You can't get the Profilers in NZ as of two months ago when I rang, they had no plans of bringing them in.
Not sure who'e bring in the Neovas - but bet you they are expensive.
I put Richard onto the Tire Rack in the USA, website place for good cheap tyres - all models & sizes, ship them down - he would know the landed cost ????

Edited by Kiwi le on Wednesday 6th December 08:15

[Esprit]

I'm currently importing (from Bell and Colvill, via Ken) some Neovas (this is the AD06LTS in the 195/225 S1 Sizes)... don't expect them to be as grippy as the R888, but should be much better in the wet (smaller treadblocks) and last longer with a slight decrease in track performance (they're still a road tyre).

Cost will be about $1100 or so per set.

[kylie]

Great stuff when are you expected to get them?

[Esprit]

kylie said:

Great stuff when are you expected to get them?

Waiting on a reply from Ken, but hopefully by mid-jan in time for trackday, otherwise I'll be bolting on the down-to-the-cords Toyos for one last hurrah

[kylie]

www.toyo.co.nz/
I must have been in a cave for the last so many months or this has been put up recently on the front page.

Dean what times are you getting around Puke now??? Your famous

[Esprit]

Don't believe Dean's been timed around Puke yet on his new boots... expect to see 65 seconds or so I'd say or maybe a bit less. Us mere-mortals will have to do with being much, much slower