Exige S2 Tyres

[Goldenballs92]

Need some new boots, and finding it a bit of a pickle choosing. Have been running A048 LTS' up until now as they came with the car, but it doesn't get tracked.

1) Yoko A052's being the "direct" replacement, but are very expensive and seem a little overkill. Not the exact size on the fronts either.
2) Yoko AD08RS - AD08R's get rave reviews online. The newer RS variant seems to have flopped, so little confidence in the performance.
3) Avon ZZS - Plenty of shouting about the ZZR, but is more track focused and the ZZS should be more road compliant, but little info online.

What is the 2020 choice of tyre?

[Goldenballs92]

kriggi said:

I'm in exactly the same position. S2 Exige S with Yokohama AD08 LTS on currently, but they are quite old and have gone hard which is making them a bit scary and unpredictable in the cold and wet.

Like you I don't track the car so need road tyres and have been looking recently at the alternatives. I'm thinking go going for the Yokohama V105 which seems to be more of a fast road tyre than a track tyre. Therefore slightly softer (better for road use) and not the outright grip of A048 or AD08 in the dry but much better wet grip. It also seems to be the tyre Lotus are recommending as a replacement.

I'm probably being shallow but the V105 don't look as good as the AD08 or A048 though!

Would be interested to hear about alternatives also.

This is the first I've heard of the V105 (and the fact its being recommended). Is this something you've been told first hand by Lotus?

EDIT: I've just seen that they come on the new Elise 220 - thanks for pointing me in their direction.

Composite Guru said:

I'm running AD08RS on my Elise Cup after running A048s.

Had to go up to 205/45/16 on the fronts but so for so good.

They are not as positive on the turn in as the 48s were but still pretty good grip levels. You don't get much tramlining either. 48s I found were really bad for that.

Yeah, I'm not too worried about having to upsize slightly on the front - it seems to be pretty common bar any lowered setups. Would you say the AD08RS' are as squealy and unimpressive as the internet suggests?

Edited by Goldenballs92 on Tuesday 15th September 13:59

[Goldenballs92]

Current quotes so far:

A052's fitted - £1300 (from Lotus)
ZZS's unfitted - £720 (direct from Avon)
AD08RS's unfitted ~£400 (widely available but in the 205 fronts)

The ZZS's seem to be a sensible middle ground given the comical price of the A052's, and the lack of confidence in the AD08RS's..