S1 Tyres

[Victor Meldrew]

Rear profiles shouldn’t change other than if you go 225 vs 205 section.

Fronts only need to if you fit 195 instead of 185. Goes down by 5 I think.

Get on the SELOC TechWiki to check.

https://wiki.seloc.org/a/S1_Wheel_Options

Yoko 195/50 fit a stock S1 front wheel with no issues.

Even the Khumho V70 195/50's went on ok and they which around a half inch wider than a set of Toyo 888s 195/50's.. Khumho's had a squared off shoulder profile giving a bigger contact patch.

[111Robin]

I know the other recommended tyres will fit the rims, but why wouldn't I just go for the original sizes, ie. 185/55 x 15 & 205/50 x 16 ?. The OEM setup may be a compromise but I don't want to alter it too much by fitting stiffer tyres. However as the P-Zero was designed for the Elise (I think) with the desired stiffness, perhaps any other current tyre of the same size wouldn't be the same anyway as the walls will be designed for heavier vehicles. Maybe I'm just looking for problems and should just go for ADO8Rs in the recommended sizes.

[campbell]

The P Zero was sh*t. Don’t think it was LTS bespoke either.

Those in the know put Bridgestone SO2 on ASAP. Then when they ran out we went Toyo, Maxsport or Kumho. Or the Yoko Advan Neovas.

The popular reason people put 195 and 225 section tyres on was simple availability. 185 became harder to get and 225 for the rear was just, well, why wouldn’t you

If you can get em, great.

If you can’t. Don’t get hung up on it. 195 and 225 give lovely balance.

Just avoid 195 & 205 together unless you want a nice pointy front end and a snappy rear

[111Robin]

Thanks Campbell, it's as if I'm new to the S1 despite owning it from new, I've just never strayed from OEM spec' so being a bit too cautious.

[mckeann]

Didn’t the 195/225 thing come about when they fitted that size to the 111S and everyone else copied ?

[campbell]

Don’t think so. Always listed as an option for S1 from the start. I believe. Fits the original 2 rim types.

[campbell]

Thanks Campbell, it's as if I'm new to the S1 despite owning it from new, I've just never strayed from OEM spec' so being a bit too cautious.

Yep I really get that Robin. Very exciting !!

Just a wee challenge that S1 owners are rarer now and the knowledge bank is fading

[111Robin]

I'm just glad there are still so many helpful, knowledgeable folk on here and appreciate all of the comments. I've been guilty of ignoring the S1 the past few years, being out of work meant I was cutting spending on anything "unnecessary" but now I'm back working it's time to give it the TLC it deserves.

[campbell]

Bravo.

Looking forward to the Great Unveil !!

[woody]

Didn’t the 195/225 thing come about when they fitted that size to the 111S and everyone else copied ?

Not sure, but 160s always had those sizes as victories are an inch wider all round. The rest 111S wheels are half an inch wider I think?

Anyway, I loved the AD08Rs in the wet, I thought they were excellent. Also the only tyres I got more than 6k from the rears.

[mckeann]

https://flic.kr/p/2dXvC8N

https://wiki.seloc.org/a/Tyres


From this page says 195 came about with the 135/111s and 160’s. Also says you shouldn’t use a 195 front as you need an extension lip to cover the wheel. There’s a link to a lotus page in there with official guidance but I can’t get it to open

[campbell]

Extension lips were fitted to the rear of 111s models, IIRC.

The front ones, I had never heard of. Anyone fitted them?

Usual nanny state minefield.

Didn’t you have Kumhos of some sort? I seem to remember looking into them at one point on your recommendation.

That’s a pretty comprehensive table of tyre data in there, Neil. Well spotted. I reckon Robin has all he needs to make an informed decision now.

[woody]

https://flic.kr/p/2dXvC8N

https://wiki.seloc.org/a/Tyres


From this page says 195 came about with the 135/111s and 160’s. Also says you shouldn’t use a 195 front as you need an extension lip to cover the wheel. There’s a link to a lotus page in there with official guidance but I can’t get it to open

Which is weird as I've never seen an S1 with an extension lip, even the ones that came with 195s from new. S1s with wider 225 rears came with extension lips on the rear arches.

S2s like the 135R with wider fronts came with a front extension lip though.

Someone's getting confused somewhere with that techwiki piece.

[Dominic]

Thanks folks, looks like the ADO8R may be the way to go. I'll give Craig a call.

Best give Ronnie at wheels around a call

[111Robin]

AD08Rs ordered. Took me twenty years to decide, no point in rushing