Tyre pressures?

[Tommy Twist]

My manual recommends the following tyre pressures for my '07 Elise S:

26 PSI (front)
29 PSI (rear)

However, a few guys on one of the American forums recommend running the rears a little softer, as apparently the manufacturer-recommended pressures can encourage premature wear to the centre of the tyres (or maybe it's just that those yanks don't like turning corners? ).

I did notice that the car was supplied to me by the Lotus dealer with 26F/26R...

How hard are you guys inflating your tyres?

Cheers

[Shug]

One of the simplest ways to tune the ride and handling of the car, and the steering feel.

I've dropped Elaine's from book at both ends, which she prefers, but TBH, you're better off doing a bit of experimentation. Rears should always be around 2psi greater than fronts (IMO) but it's more about personal taste than "right" and "wrong". I wouldn't go under about 22psi on the standard fronts though, so that gives you a bracket to play in. I'd maybe start at book pressure on the front and 2psi higher on the back - that 29psi does sound really high (maybe an economy thing)

My S1 runs at 20/22, but that's on 048s and mega camber, so not really applicable.

[SAJ]

Although it is for the Europa, here is my contact with Toyo when I was trying to work out correct pressures for the car, which are working a peach for me.

Morning Saj,

From a calculation point of view you are about right

Front: 23psi
Rear: 27psi

but running at these pressures may effect the handling. I would suggest you try these pressures and see how the car feels.

Please give me a call and let me know how you get on.

Kind regards

Alan.


Alan Meaker
Technical and Motorsport Manager
Toyo Tyre UK
T +44 (0)1933 414537
F +44 (0)1933 410221
M +44 (0)7879 813915

alan@toyotyre.co.uk

http://www.toyo.co.uk


TOYO TIRES - United Kingdom - Technical enquiries - Contact form

Enquiry: Hi,

I have recently changed the tyres on my Lotus Europa S to Toyo R1-R tyres.

I have some questions regarding what my tyre pressures for the new tyres should be.

The stock tyres are:

Front: 175/55/17 81W Pressure: 26 psi
Rear: 225/45/17 90W Pressure: 30.5 psi

The new tyres are:

Front: 205/50/16 87V
Rear: 235/45/17 94W

Using the ETRTO "Standard" Tire Specification Load (Lbs) and Inflation (PSI) Table my new tyre pressures should be:

Front: Less than 26 psi but the table does not go below 26 psi so I am unsure what the front should be, currently I have them at 24 psi.
Rear: According to the table should be about 26.5 - 27 psi

Have I correctly worked this out? I have a feeling the pressure in the front is still too high and should probably be 23psi but I have no data to base this on.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

[Tommy Twist]

Cheers Shug.

I actually tried 26F/29R, which I guess is about the same as your suggested "book front and front+2 PSI at the rear". Usually find a car feels a little sharper on the throttle with more air in the driven tyres... didn't really notice that going up from 26F/26R, just a little harder over broken surfaces (as expected) and a little more skittish at the back.

I'd be scared to go lower than 26PSI on the front, TBH – especially after noticing a ding appearing on one of the wheels:
http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... =2&t=30537

Sodding knackered UK roads

How many miles do you tend to get out of your tyres with those low pressures and all that camber?

[Tommy Twist]

Thanks SAJ.

[campbell]

Have run most of my tyres 0.5psi below Lotus' std recommendation for S1 - hence 23 front, 27 rear.

Toyos have slightly softer sidewalls so if I want it "pointy", I tend to nudge these up a couple of PSI (or if I'm carrying a pax and full luggage).

Just have a play, especially with front-rear differences, and see what works for you The Elise is sensitive enough for this to be noticeable, although I bet most of us will drive round any deviations give or take...

Std camber on S1 and poss also S2 causes the inboard edges of front tyres to wear pretty fast, so I get mine swapped across the axle after a few thousand miles and this helps extend their life. Rears suffer this to a lesser degree and if you are ragging it round corners enough, I doubt you'll notice!

Campbell

[Dominic]

I have been running with 23 in the front and 25 in the rear. At Kames at the weekend I blew the rears up to 50PSi for some drifting fun .... but reckon that for normal purposes 25-26 in the rear is fine. I'm not sure if I'd want to drop the fronts much below 23, as the tyre deforms quite a bit under load (using Kumho's on track, which may not have the stiffest tyre wall);