Sorry, another tyre thread.......

[Mike Scib]

Option 5 - No point whatsover on a road car, and even an occasional track car. road tyres will do everything you need.

I would also avoid cut slicks for a mainly road biased car as IMO the side walls are to stiff. Therefore making the car feel skitch on anything but smooth roads. Also IMO cut slicks only really work properly once up to temp.

If it was not for Mckeann's recommendation on the Kuhmo's (If there good enough for him.......) I would be using the AD07's

[Neil72]

Also IMO cut slicks only really work properly once up to temp.

Don't they get up to temperature far quicker though, due to the softer compound of rubber ?

Kumho have e-mailed to say that the 195 KU31 Ecsta Sport should not be used on a 5.5 rim under any circumstances. I know that it's fairly common practice for folk to fit 195's to 5.5 rims with other brands of tyres but I've got that nagging doubt in my mind now

[Tom]

If you buy them and dont like them, i'll buy them off you.

Is there a time limit on that offer ? If not then I can drop them off for you in a couple of years time

Well after finally deciding to give the Kumhos a try, I've now discovered that the smallest 16" tyre they do is a 195 and they only recommend fitment of these to a 6.0 rim. Hey ho I have the skinny 5.5's.

Yokohama and Toyo say the A048/R888 is OK on a 5.5 wheel so I don't see why these should be any different but maybe the sidewalls are completely different, who knows. I'm sure they would actually be OK but I'm now a bit reluctant to try the Kumhos.

You'll be fine with a 195 on that width of rim. The S1 front rim is that width and prob 95% of people have 195s on the front... (I've got Kumhos on the standard rims).

HTH

[tut]

I was one of the first to fit 225's on the rear of an S1, and that was not recommended by Lotus or the tyre companies, but I have been doing it for ten years with no problems.

tut

[SaffronStu]

Sorry to hijack your thread Neil but I am in the same situation at the moment as I will need to replace my tires soon and was wondering if there was a big difference in handling by putting on wider fronts? I do feel the front of the car slightly understeers when pushed, however this could be as much down to the nature of the tyres as I also still have the original Bridgestone’s on. Also is the expense of buying a set of the lightweight forged wheels worth it, ignoring cosmetic reasons I know that the reduced unsprung weight in theory should improve all aspects of performance and handling but in the real world for mainly road use is there a difference?

If I’m going to keep my standard wheels I was thinking to replace all 4 with Yoko AD07’s.

Stu.

[Trixster]

Posted this on seloc a while back:

I have a set on my S2 and here's a summary of my experience with them so far:

1) They were absolutely appalling for at least the first 500 miles, to the point where they felt dangerous.

2) The amount of 'squirm' you got during this 500 miles through the corners was not in the slightest bit funny.

3) They do seem to 'flex' a bit more than the Bridgestones when you're pushing it but once they're loaded up they feel quite good.

4) There's (surprisingly) less cabin noise than the Bridgestones.

5) They feel fine in the wet but no more so than the Bridgestones.

6) Steering feel isn't "destroyed" as many Toyo-naysayers will have you believe but it's noticeably not as sharp as the Bridgestones.

7) For the price they're a good all round road tyre, imo.

I won't be buying them again; my money will be going on Bridgestones or Yokohamas.


/btw tut, who's the camel-toe babe in your avatar!??!

[Andy A]

Mckeann ,
do you think the kumho ku31 ecsta jobbies could handle and last a french frolic?

andy

[mckeann]

Yeh, easily.

[tut]

Wish I knew Andy.

If I did I would not be sitting here chatting to you.

tut

[Andy A]

Cool
Think I might give them a go on my exige for the frenchy frolic
wont matter if they are cooked after it at that price either.

Go on Tut you know you want to your only young once

Andy