What is the original tyre size front and back

[freerange7]

S1 Elise 1999
front are 195/50/15
rear are 225/45/16
Are these the original size for the car?
If I went back to original size what would the car feel like, more under steer?

[Gad-Westy]

Originals were 185 front and 205 rear. The sizes you have now are becoming the new 'standard'. Even Lotus recommend those sizes for retro fit.

[Lawrence5]

s1 111s bought you 225 rear tyres which should have spats to stop them sticking out to far from the arches and being illegal. (was marginal so not many have them!)

[Grinnders]

freerange7. Have you found the SELOC TechWiki yet.... here let me help you

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Category:S1

Section on Tyres

Edited by Grinnders on Thursday 1st October 17:06

[TIPPER]

The S1 was originally fitted with 185/55 and 205/45 Pirelli P-Zero Assymetrico.
In the dry you could chuck the car around, kick the arse out etc. In the wet they didn't have the grip of more modern tyres and the snappiness of the mid engine, rearward weight bias of the Elise would out.
Lotus have two recommendations for the S1: the Yokohama C-drive in original sizes (I've never heard of anyone with any experience of these) and the Yokohama Advan Neova LTS in the 195/225 sizes which are commonly regarded as the road tyre of choice for the S1. Quite a few run with the more commonly available Kuhmo KU31 or Toyo T1-R.
Handling issues are better sorted by changing the suspension geo: an Elise can be made understeery, oversteery, neutral, whatever. HTH.
Do find your way over to SELOC: its a mine of info (tread warily though).

[freerange7]

Tipper, Thanks, the kind of reply I was looking for.
I may be leaning towards a new set of Toyos at present as I can get them cheap, will try to find a price on other makes sticking to the 195/225 set up.
Thanks Phil

[TIPPER]

Phil, you'll find the Toyos take a while (about 1k miles I found) to settle down. The tread blocks are tall and the sidewalls softish. The steering will gain a layer of 'elasticity' but I've found them fine for road use and they work well in the wet on track too.

[Lawrence5]

Hated the toyo t1r's - would say Kuhmo KU31 if I were in the market for sensible tyres....

[Scuffers]

also worth mentioning that 225 rears only really work on 7.5 or 8" wide rimms, early Elise's only had 7" rimms, and whist you can fit 225's on them, they don't really work well like that.

this does vary tyre to tyre, ie. Toyo's are really floppy on a 7" rim, Yoko Advans are somewhat stiffer and able to deal with this better (still not great though)

[freerange7]

I have the twelve spoke wheels but I do not know what the "J" is on these.

[Scuffers]

freerange7 said:

I have the twelve spoke wheels but I do not know what the "J" is on these.

5.5J15 and 7J16

[TIPPER]

If you can get hold of a set of S1 111S, 340R delivery wheels or the Victory alloys as fitted to the Sport 160, they are all a little wider.