traction control/exige s220
Discussion
hi,
I would really appreciate any comments advice on traction control or lack of it on a s2 exige 220.
I will be using the car as a daily drive,and need to establish from peoples experiences whether its worth having or not.I presently own a s2 exige na and have had to change the yoko's to T1r for daily use,will soon be puchasing a new set of alloys so i will have the best of both worlds,but if i had traction control would i be any run yoko's AO48 through the winter.
Also how intrusive is the traction control/how exactly does it work compared to bog standard car??
Finally where is the switch located for traction control
Thanks
I would really appreciate any comments advice on traction control or lack of it on a s2 exige 220.
I will be using the car as a daily drive,and need to establish from peoples experiences whether its worth having or not.I presently own a s2 exige na and have had to change the yoko's to T1r for daily use,will soon be puchasing a new set of alloys so i will have the best of both worlds,but if i had traction control would i be any run yoko's AO48 through the winter.
Also how intrusive is the traction control/how exactly does it work compared to bog standard car??
Finally where is the switch located for traction control
Thanks
I have an 06 S (218) and the traction control button is located on the gear shift housing, at the front on the right.
I don't find it very intrusive (on the road anyway) and if going some in the wet, it reigns things in nicely, with me feeling like I have supreme car balance and control before I notice the light flashing !
One thing on mine - if I really go for it around a roundabout in the dry, by the time I exit, the traction light is illuminated and so is the button, indicating that it is switched off? I think the side of my leg may be activating the switch due to the g-force, but failing that, it is just turning itself off when getting really abused (which doesn't seem right to me?).
I don't find it very intrusive (on the road anyway) and if going some in the wet, it reigns things in nicely, with me feeling like I have supreme car balance and control before I notice the light flashing !
One thing on mine - if I really go for it around a roundabout in the dry, by the time I exit, the traction light is illuminated and so is the button, indicating that it is switched off? I think the side of my leg may be activating the switch due to the g-force, but failing that, it is just turning itself off when getting really abused (which doesn't seem right to me?).
I think its quite simple compared to most cars. It looks for slip on the wheel sensors and when the slip starts getting large it cuts fuel injection/spark to reign things in.
I think it is meant to prevent slides coming out of corners with too much power. Makes it ideal for roundabouts or wet weather.
I think it is meant to prevent slides coming out of corners with too much power. Makes it ideal for roundabouts or wet weather.
I have traction control on my 2005 CUP car, but its based on the 2006my cars...so assume from this it must be on cars from that age onwards. Not sure if its on all supercharged cars or not. It amy only be on the "s" cars which have the supersports pack?
I have mostly driven the car in the dry and not noticed it cutting in. I did drive it in the pouring rain about a week ago and also then, it did not cut it. I think a lot is due to how you drive it, if you plant your foot to the floor viciously you can normally expect the rear to move in rear wheel drive cars with a fair amount of power.... when the dealler took me out in it before I bought it, he switched it off to show me the difference and the back end did wiggle under power - but it was on a very uneven surface which was also a bit loose. Its also got a bit more power than the standard s as the cup has 243bhp, which may make a difference.
If you are looking for one with it, try mine! :
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/676727.htm
I have mostly driven the car in the dry and not noticed it cutting in. I did drive it in the pouring rain about a week ago and also then, it did not cut it. I think a lot is due to how you drive it, if you plant your foot to the floor viciously you can normally expect the rear to move in rear wheel drive cars with a fair amount of power.... when the dealler took me out in it before I bought it, he switched it off to show me the difference and the back end did wiggle under power - but it was on a very uneven surface which was also a bit loose. Its also got a bit more power than the standard s as the cup has 243bhp, which may make a difference.
If you are looking for one with it, try mine! :
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/676727.htm
Mine (06 S) has traction contorl - it was an option, I believe, but standard on the sports pack (mine's only got touring pack).
Anyhow, in the dry I've never activated it without intently trying to.
In the wet, it does have it's work cut out sometimes but only because you know it's therre. I find that I accelerate a lot better, a lot more progressively when I turn it off in the wet.
I'm glad I've got it though -for those occasions I get stuck in the rain or for those times when it's far more slippery than I thought it was.
Anyhow, in the dry I've never activated it without intently trying to.
In the wet, it does have it's work cut out sometimes but only because you know it's therre. I find that I accelerate a lot better, a lot more progressively when I turn it off in the wet.
I'm glad I've got it though -for those occasions I get stuck in the rain or for those times when it's far more slippery than I thought it was.
claypole 7 said:
hi,
I would really appreciate any comments advice on traction control or lack of it on a s2 exige 220.
I will be using the car as a daily drive,and need to establish from peoples experiences whether its worth having or not.I presently own a s2 exige na and have had to change the yoko's to T1r for daily use,will soon be puchasing a new set of alloys so i will have the best of both worlds,but if i had traction control would i be any run yoko's AO48 through the winter.
Also how intrusive is the traction control/how exactly does it work compared to bog standard car??
Finally where is the switch located for traction control
Thanks
Can i ask why you changed tyres as i have the same car with the tyres that you changed from. I am concerned about driving it in the wet and if there is a better tyre out there for every day use in the winter then i will buy some. What i dont want is to have my car stuck in the garage all winter.I would really appreciate any comments advice on traction control or lack of it on a s2 exige 220.
I will be using the car as a daily drive,and need to establish from peoples experiences whether its worth having or not.I presently own a s2 exige na and have had to change the yoko's to T1r for daily use,will soon be puchasing a new set of alloys so i will have the best of both worlds,but if i had traction control would i be any run yoko's AO48 through the winter.
Also how intrusive is the traction control/how exactly does it work compared to bog standard car??
Finally where is the switch located for traction control
Thanks
hueandcry71 said:
claypole 7 said:
hi,
I would really appreciate any comments advice on traction control or lack of it on a s2 exige 220.
I will be using the car as a daily drive,and need to establish from peoples experiences whether its worth having or not.I presently own a s2 exige na and have had to change the yoko's to T1r for daily use,will soon be puchasing a new set of alloys so i will have the best of both worlds,but if i had traction control would i be any run yoko's AO48 through the winter.
Also how intrusive is the traction control/how exactly does it work compared to bog standard car??
Finally where is the switch located for traction control
Thanks
Can i ask why you changed tyres as i have the same car with the tyres that you changed from. I am concerned about driving it in the wet and if there is a better tyre out there for every day use in the winter then i will buy some. What i dont want is to have my car stuck in the garage all winter.I would really appreciate any comments advice on traction control or lack of it on a s2 exige 220.
I will be using the car as a daily drive,and need to establish from peoples experiences whether its worth having or not.I presently own a s2 exige na and have had to change the yoko's to T1r for daily use,will soon be puchasing a new set of alloys so i will have the best of both worlds,but if i had traction control would i be any run yoko's AO48 through the winter.
Also how intrusive is the traction control/how exactly does it work compared to bog standard car??
Finally where is the switch located for traction control
Thanks
okay, its only an Elise R... but my 06 doesnt have traction control, and i can honestly say Ive never been in a position when i've needed it.
Even driving in heavy rain, the back end seems planted - im sure if you take lead-footed liberties mid corner you might benifit from it - but as a reasonable driver i cant imagine you needing it!
Even driving in heavy rain, the back end seems planted - im sure if you take lead-footed liberties mid corner you might benifit from it - but as a reasonable driver i cant imagine you needing it!
I wouldn't worry too much - I drove mine all last winter on 48's, in everything but snow and it was fine - so long as you appreciate it is a relatively light car and go easy on the inputs (maybe easier for me to appreciate as I ride a sportsbike with no sidewall tread?).
I don't believe changing tyres will make much difference unless you are hell bent on blasting through standing water at 80-90 mph?
I don't believe changing tyres will make much difference unless you are hell bent on blasting through standing water at 80-90 mph?
nsm3 said:
I wouldn't worry too much - I drove mine all last winter on 48's, in everything but snow and it was fine - so long as you appreciate it is a relatively light car and go easy on the inputs (maybe easier for me to appreciate as I ride a sportsbike with no sidewall tread?).
I don't believe changing tyres will make much difference unless you are hell bent on blasting through standing water at 80-90 mph?
My problem was on the motorway each time, not A roads etc,for some reason motorways always tend suffer that much for excess surface water.The difference the t1r's have made on the motorway is quite significant.I don't believe changing tyres will make much difference unless you are hell bent on blasting through standing water at 80-90 mph?
Claypole, do you feel that the dry conditions handling/grip is impaired by not having the 48's on?
If no, then it makes a case for just swapping to Toyo's permanently - can't see the point in having 2 sets of tyres (unless heavily tracking of course), which is what I think Hueandcry was thinking of?
BTW - A little off topic, but this made me laugh. Searching on the Toyo site and looking at the 888's as a possible replacement for the 48's, Toyo confidently make this statement;
"Some road legal track tyres have to provide warnings about their use in the wet. Whilst not designed as a wet tyre, the proxes R888 out performs other track tyres here too. If there is a deluge after a day's track action, drivers can rely on it's performance to get home on public roads".
Then, after the table of available tyre sizes, they less confidently say;
"Caution: Careful attention is required in wet conditions due to limited aquaplaning capabilities. As this tyre is designed and produced with competition compounds, no warranty is implied or given".
If no, then it makes a case for just swapping to Toyo's permanently - can't see the point in having 2 sets of tyres (unless heavily tracking of course), which is what I think Hueandcry was thinking of?
BTW - A little off topic, but this made me laugh. Searching on the Toyo site and looking at the 888's as a possible replacement for the 48's, Toyo confidently make this statement;
"Some road legal track tyres have to provide warnings about their use in the wet. Whilst not designed as a wet tyre, the proxes R888 out performs other track tyres here too. If there is a deluge after a day's track action, drivers can rely on it's performance to get home on public roads".
Then, after the table of available tyre sizes, they less confidently say;
"Caution: Careful attention is required in wet conditions due to limited aquaplaning capabilities. As this tyre is designed and produced with competition compounds, no warranty is implied or given".
Edited by nsm3 on Thursday 28th August 15:02
nsm3 said:
Claypole, do you feel that the dry conditions handling/grip is impaired by not having the 48's on?
If no, then it makes a case for just swapping to Toyo's permanently - can't see the point in having 2 sets of tyres (unless heavily tracking of course), which is what I think Hueandcry was thinking of?
Your steering defo feels a lot lighter and to me feels more like an elise than an exige,so its compromise really,if you can afford it,have two sets,if use the exige as a 2nd car i would keep the 48's on all the time,if its your daily car and you do a lot of motorway driving i would give the t1r's a go for the winter months and summer months if our summers carry on like this!If no, then it makes a case for just swapping to Toyo's permanently - can't see the point in having 2 sets of tyres (unless heavily tracking of course), which is what I think Hueandcry was thinking of?
nsm3 said:
I wouldn't worry too much - I drove mine all last winter on 48's, in everything but snow and it was fine - so long as you appreciate it is a relatively light car and go easy on the inputs (maybe easier for me to appreciate as I ride a sportsbike with no sidewall tread?).
I don't believe changing tyres will make much difference unless you are hell bent on blasting through standing water at 80-90 mph?
riding a bike helps you be smoother in the wet for sure, more careful putting the power down, and more aware of the road surface I don't believe changing tyres will make much difference unless you are hell bent on blasting through standing water at 80-90 mph?
but dont get too overconfident with A048s, I survived a couple of winters on them just fine like yourself....many didnt, a search on here or SELOC through the last 5 or 6 years and youre into double figures for the number of A048 equipped cars that aquaplaned and spun off, some on the motorway into the central reservation etc so granted, they were at motorway speeds, but others at 50-60mph have been just as bad
Basically if a regular 1.5ton car, with good tyres, is aquaplaning on the motorway at 70-80mph, then an Elise in the same conditions will limited to 50-60mph on Bridgestones, maybe 50mph or less on 888 or 48s ...they only come with 60% of the tread depth of a regular tyre, and thats from new, coupled with a car thats half the weight...well...just watch out for big puddles and clinch your arse cheeks together when you hit it....but dont touch any other control !
Fidgits said:
why not get a racelogic traction control system - surely much better for an exige than the OEM one?
basically works the same, except that you can adjust it infinitely with a knob if you pay for the digital adjuster...oh and you get launch control 
..about £800 the lot + fittingThe 2-eleven system works the same as the Racelogic one, except theres no digital display.
how much is it as an option from Lotus? ..its their own software in the ECU, rigged up to the ABS wheel speed sensors rather than aftermarket so no extra moving parts/boxes on the car
I'm agreeing with Tony and Bogie on this. The traction control option will benefit you by limiting wheelspin when you supply too much throttle.
There's no stats on this, but on road in the winter, its aquaplaning and lift-off oversteer (when you realise you went in too hot) that are most likely to catch you out.. and I don't see TC helping in either circumstance.
Many people run 48s/888s over the winter but personally, I think its safer (and cheaper) to use road tyres all year round and say the stickies for the track.
There's no stats on this, but on road in the winter, its aquaplaning and lift-off oversteer (when you realise you went in too hot) that are most likely to catch you out.. and I don't see TC helping in either circumstance.
Many people run 48s/888s over the winter but personally, I think its safer (and cheaper) to use road tyres all year round and say the stickies for the track.
Edited by subaqua on Thursday 28th August 17:06
I can't see the point of using a tyre like the OA48 on the road. If you are driving at the limits of a road tyre like the T1-R in any Exige/Elise varient on the road then you really are (IMO) going too fast. I know we all overcook it occasionally so I'm not trying to be smug - just pointing out that I doubt anyone needs the ability of a tyre like the OA48 on the road.
Toyo are bringing out a new tyre which is supposed to be a half way house between the T1-R and 888. It's the R1-R and should have been available by now but isn't, I've a set on order and checked today. I'm not sure that you'll be able to get them to fit an Exige though but I'm promised S1 sizes are coming
Toyo are bringing out a new tyre which is supposed to be a half way house between the T1-R and 888. It's the R1-R and should have been available by now but isn't, I've a set on order and checked today. I'm not sure that you'll be able to get them to fit an Exige though but I'm promised S1 sizes are coming
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