Discussion
Hi all, I know there has been a few threads on tyres but I need some advice. Firstly my rear drivers side tyre has worn out way to quick for my liking......it looked fairly new when I bought the car (the rear left was new). Yet in only 4000 miles is now slick in the middle of the tyre! Is this likely to be due to something (suspension, geo??) set up incorrectly or is it normal? I haven't driven it hard, mainly long motorway journeys.
Next thing I need help with is replacing it. Currently I have Pirelli P-Zero's on all corners but reading some old posts I see the Yokohama was highly rated (my car is an S1 111S). I can't remember the exact tyre model tho...can anyone jog my memory or suggest other good tyres? Also can I replace just the one rear tyre or will this affect the handling of the car?
Finally where do people recommend getting tyres changed (and purchased)? Is it a (Argh) Kwik-fit/local tyre place job or should I take it somewhere special? People recommended Sinclair's in Romford to me for my exhaust but not sure if they supply/fit tyres???
Sorry for my list of, probably silly, questions but being new to Elise ownership I want to make sure I know the facts!
Rich
Next thing I need help with is replacing it. Currently I have Pirelli P-Zero's on all corners but reading some old posts I see the Yokohama was highly rated (my car is an S1 111S). I can't remember the exact tyre model tho...can anyone jog my memory or suggest other good tyres? Also can I replace just the one rear tyre or will this affect the handling of the car?
Finally where do people recommend getting tyres changed (and purchased)? Is it a (Argh) Kwik-fit/local tyre place job or should I take it somewhere special? People recommended Sinclair's in Romford to me for my exhaust but not sure if they supply/fit tyres???
Sorry for my list of, probably silly, questions but being new to Elise ownership I want to make sure I know the facts!
Rich
Hi Rich. Not silly questions at all, don't worry!
If your tyre is worn down the middle but not the edges, it's more likely to be due to tyre pressures being too high than your suspension geometry. Does the car feel a skittish at all at the rear end? It should feel totally planted on corners. Are both rears set the the exact same pressure when cold? Don't forget that as tyres warm up the pressure increases, so I always set my cold pressures 1psi lower than the book value (which I can't remember for those crappy P-Zero things).
Which leads me neatly on to your next question - ditch the P-Zeros and get some Yokohama Advan Neova LTS tyres. Sinclaires supplied and fitted my last two sets for around £420 for all four corners, but they will also be able to recommend cheaper alternatives to the Yokos (Toyo Proxes are getting good reviews from Elise owners, I think).
Me? I'm sticking with the Yoko Advans thank you very much - worth every penny!
If your tyre is worn down the middle but not the edges, it's more likely to be due to tyre pressures being too high than your suspension geometry. Does the car feel a skittish at all at the rear end? It should feel totally planted on corners. Are both rears set the the exact same pressure when cold? Don't forget that as tyres warm up the pressure increases, so I always set my cold pressures 1psi lower than the book value (which I can't remember for those crappy P-Zero things).
Which leads me neatly on to your next question - ditch the P-Zeros and get some Yokohama Advan Neova LTS tyres. Sinclaires supplied and fitted my last two sets for around £420 for all four corners, but they will also be able to recommend cheaper alternatives to the Yokos (Toyo Proxes are getting good reviews from Elise owners, I think).
Me? I'm sticking with the Yoko Advans thank you very much - worth every penny!
Cheers for the reply. Yes I have noticed that the rear doesn't seem anywhere like as planted to the road in the dry as people suggested Elises were. Thats why I had good look at the tyres.....in the wet it is appalling and makes me a bit nervous even at low speeds in a straight line!
I will book it into Sinclaires and get the four corners all replaced. Looks like the exhaust and induction kit will have to wait a few months.....
Just one other thing....can I replace just the one rear tyre with one of a different make or is it best to take the hit now and have 4 brand new ones? (I was thinking maybe get two Yoko's on rear and leave the Pirelli's on front then can still get other bits mentioned)?
I will book it into Sinclaires and get the four corners all replaced. Looks like the exhaust and induction kit will have to wait a few months.....
Just one other thing....can I replace just the one rear tyre with one of a different make or is it best to take the hit now and have 4 brand new ones? (I was thinking maybe get two Yoko's on rear and leave the Pirelli's on front then can still get other bits mentioned)?
Toyo's are the best VFM try Tim Stevens who sells 195/50 and 225/45 combo in Toyo T1-S delivered to you for around £240
tstevens@wimtimber.freeserve.co.uk
Yoko Advan are through Lotus dealers only £425-450 you can get A048 in S1 sizes now but they are even more money and even less life. Both Yoko's only come with 6mm of tread as new....
tstevens@wimtimber.freeserve.co.uk
Yoko Advan are through Lotus dealers only £425-450 you can get A048 in S1 sizes now but they are even more money and even less life. Both Yoko's only come with 6mm of tread as new....
).Try to get the Toyos as soon as you can so you can get some road miles and heat cycles on them. Otherwise they take a real pounding the first time they're on track. (Though N Weald won't be as bad) I got less than 4,000 miles out of my last set of rears mainly because they were less than 500 miles old when I did the Brands Indy circuit.
Advans are the dobermans danglies and worth every penny - the difference between them and P Zeros is huge.
Slap some on, get 'em scrubbed in and enjoy!
...and as the bogieman says - keep an eye on the pressures and inflate to 1psi below book recommendation, you won't believe how great the car feels!
Slap some on, get 'em scrubbed in and enjoy!
...and as the bogieman says - keep an eye on the pressures and inflate to 1psi below book recommendation, you won't believe how great the car feels!
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