Brakes & Tyres....opinions!?
Discussion
I realise this is a topic that gets brought up time and time again but...
Can anyone offer opinions, experience or advive on the best Tyres and Pad/disc setup for an S2 elise. I use my car day to day but would also like to track every now and then. so obviously something that can cope in the wet but also will fair well with fast road/track use. This is what I've been looking into so far.
There's so many options and I want to spend my money as wisely as possible, cause I don't have much of it!!
Tyres
Yoko A048 (no good day to day esp. not in the wet?)
Yoko A039 (favourite at the moment but a bit on the dear side)
Brakes
Eliseparts turbo grooved discs
Aluminium belled discs
Greenstuff EBCV4 pads
Pagis RS 14 or RS 42
These are all of eliseparts anyone know if there is better prices about on the net for the above esp. the tyres?
Can anyone offer opinions, experience or advive on the best Tyres and Pad/disc setup for an S2 elise. I use my car day to day but would also like to track every now and then. so obviously something that can cope in the wet but also will fair well with fast road/track use. This is what I've been looking into so far.
There's so many options and I want to spend my money as wisely as possible, cause I don't have much of it!!
Tyres
Yoko A048 (no good day to day esp. not in the wet?)
Yoko A039 (favourite at the moment but a bit on the dear side)
Brakes
Eliseparts turbo grooved discs
Aluminium belled discs
Greenstuff EBCV4 pads
Pagis RS 14 or RS 42
These are all of eliseparts anyone know if there is better prices about on the net for the above esp. the tyres?
Tyres
What's wrong with the Bridgestones? Particularly if you don't need a full set, this will keep you on the same rubber all round and be great for everyday use and the odd trackday. You don't need special tyres to do trackdays, for what you're using car for, they'd be wasted (no disrespect intended). I think Toyo do T1's in S2 sizes if you're budget concious.
Brakes
Turbogrooves should be fine from a disc perspective but it might be worth seeing if Hi-Spec do a disk that will fit - don't worry about fancy grooves and holes (I don't buy the whole idea), plain will be fine (and quieter). For pads, have a look at Mintex C-Tech or 1144 pads (I think they're the same thing), kind of a middle ground between Pagids - good but expensive and Greenstuff - mixed reputation, used to be scary when cold.
What's wrong with the Bridgestones? Particularly if you don't need a full set, this will keep you on the same rubber all round and be great for everyday use and the odd trackday. You don't need special tyres to do trackdays, for what you're using car for, they'd be wasted (no disrespect intended). I think Toyo do T1's in S2 sizes if you're budget concious.
Brakes
Turbogrooves should be fine from a disc perspective but it might be worth seeing if Hi-Spec do a disk that will fit - don't worry about fancy grooves and holes (I don't buy the whole idea), plain will be fine (and quieter). For pads, have a look at Mintex C-Tech or 1144 pads (I think they're the same thing), kind of a middle ground between Pagids - good but expensive and Greenstuff - mixed reputation, used to be scary when cold.
Bear in mind that with your useage needs, it would be better to go for a road-biased set up - as with anything it's all about managing the compromise:
Road: Bridgestones, Greenstuff/Mintex pads, EBC Turbogroove discs
Track: Yokos (+OZ wheels), SBS/Pagids, Ali-belled discs
I've heard a few saying that Pagids aren't too bad from cold but I'd be tempted to try and find out first before spending out - it's a lot of dosh, they can also eat EBC discs
Road: Bridgestones, Greenstuff/Mintex pads, EBC Turbogroove discs
Track: Yokos (+OZ wheels), SBS/Pagids, Ali-belled discs
I've heard a few saying that Pagids aren't too bad from cold but I'd be tempted to try and find out first before spending out - it's a lot of dosh, they can also eat EBC discs
Generally I only upgrade things when they need to be changed as it's more cost effective this way. Plus the Elise is good on track as is and you'll get plenty of fun out of a standard car.
When my discs and pads did wear out on the S2 I had motorsport discs and Pagids fitted. There's no doubt in my mind these stopped the car better, especially on the mountains, and I found the tendency I had to lock-up the fronts with the standard pads disappeared. Also, and this goes against received wisdom, the Pagids on mine had none of the loud squeeling noise around town that the others had.
The one thing I did upgrade sharpish was the brake hoses having had braided on my S1. A lot of people will tell you the difference is in the new fluid that goes in, but I changed mine when the car was only three weeks old. I took delivery in August and on hot days the feel was atrociously spongy compared to the old car. Put the braideds on and she was sharp as anything.
The next job on the Exige is to get braideds fitted, sadly it's not such an easy job as on the Elise.
When my discs and pads did wear out on the S2 I had motorsport discs and Pagids fitted. There's no doubt in my mind these stopped the car better, especially on the mountains, and I found the tendency I had to lock-up the fronts with the standard pads disappeared. Also, and this goes against received wisdom, the Pagids on mine had none of the loud squeeling noise around town that the others had.
The one thing I did upgrade sharpish was the brake hoses having had braided on my S1. A lot of people will tell you the difference is in the new fluid that goes in, but I changed mine when the car was only three weeks old. I took delivery in August and on hot days the feel was atrociously spongy compared to the old car. Put the braideds on and she was sharp as anything.
The next job on the Exige is to get braideds fitted, sadly it's not such an easy job as on the Elise.
Good road/track: Standard xdrill disks, Mintex 1144, Braided Hoses, change brake fluid anually £200
Track Bias: Standard xdrill disks, Pagid RS42, Braided Hoses, change brake fluid anually, harness bar & harness, Change Slikolene Pro S oil when it goes black £ 600
Total Track: Ally bell disks, Pagid RS14, Braided Hoses, change brake fluid often, harness bar & harness, change Slikolene Pro S oil when it goes black, Adjustable suspension (e.g. Nitron), 6.5x16 front rims and A048 tryres, Close ration gearbox £5k
Track Bias: Standard xdrill disks, Pagid RS42, Braided Hoses, change brake fluid anually, harness bar & harness, Change Slikolene Pro S oil when it goes black £ 600
Total Track: Ally bell disks, Pagid RS14, Braided Hoses, change brake fluid often, harness bar & harness, change Slikolene Pro S oil when it goes black, Adjustable suspension (e.g. Nitron), 6.5x16 front rims and A048 tryres, Close ration gearbox £5k
as above - EBC are fine for road use
ally bells come in a number of different flavours and all are not equal, you can get Hi-spec or AP rotors...if you get through a lot due to trackdays, or high mileage road use then they can pay for themself after a year or 2. I dont think they are worth it for the avg road driver
AP5000 rotors on ally bells are over £1K...but last 4-5x longer than the Hi-Spec so pay for themselves in the long run and work well with RS42s or RS14s
ally bells come in a number of different flavours and all are not equal, you can get Hi-spec or AP rotors...if you get through a lot due to trackdays, or high mileage road use then they can pay for themself after a year or 2. I dont think they are worth it for the avg road driver
AP5000 rotors on ally bells are over £1K...but last 4-5x longer than the Hi-Spec so pay for themselves in the long run and work well with RS42s or RS14s
hbaumhardt said:
Good road/track: Standard xdrill disks, Mintex 1144, Braided Hoses, change brake fluid anually £200
Track Bias: Standard xdrill disks, Pagid RS42, Braided Hoses, change brake fluid anually, harness bar & harness, Change Slikolene Pro S oil when it goes black £ 600
Total Track: Ally bell disks, Pagid RS14, Braided Hoses, change brake fluid often, harness bar & harness, change Slikolene Pro S oil when it goes black, Adjustable suspension (e.g. Nitron), 6.5x16 front rims and A048 tryres, Close ration gearbox £5k
Thanks, EXCELLENT revue. 
Just rims, rubber and cr gearbox to go ! Once aqain, thanks for your help people! Another qusetion!!
When on full lock the front of the car is 'wobbly', the steering wheel vibrates...it feels like a buckled wheel on a bike?? any ideas?
Also, the alcantra on the dash bubbles up when it is cold. I've read somewhere this was a problem with some of the early S2's due to the wrong type of adhesive being used. has anyone experienced this and how did you resolve it? will Lotus fix for free? the cars well out of warranty!
When on full lock the front of the car is 'wobbly', the steering wheel vibrates...it feels like a buckled wheel on a bike?? any ideas?
Also, the alcantra on the dash bubbles up when it is cold. I've read somewhere this was a problem with some of the early S2's due to the wrong type of adhesive being used. has anyone experienced this and how did you resolve it? will Lotus fix for free? the cars well out of warranty!
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