noob question - tyres

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:49 pm

Right-oh, need some new boots for me car, the Bridgestone Potenza's are getting a bit thin.

I hear a lot of talk on Seloc of Advans being the poodles plums - are they simply the best, or just good for track/dry use? Also, anywhere do better deals in our beloved country than others?

Cheerz

Greg

Post by **Shug** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:05 pm

Advans seem to get the nod - only just released in S2 sizes. Other options include Toyo T-1R (a bit vague in feeling for a lot of folk, but decently grippy, although they get punished on track)

If it's for a predominently road car with some track use (ie, you don't want semi-slicks) the Advan is probably the best choice. Not sure if they are available thru all Yoko dealers. I dunno if the same deal as S1's, but they had a special compound (marked 'LTS') which was only available through Lotus stealers.

Post by **simon** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:09 pm

Shug, Greg has an S1

mac · Post by **mac** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:24 pm

An S1?

Why is he running potenza's then?

Mac

jj · Post by jj » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:28 pm

Last owner put potenzas on the rear of my S1.

I want to know what toyos and in what size I should get them. T1S or T1R? Differences?

Post by **Shug** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:34 pm

T1R - supposedly stiffer in the sidewall than the rather floppy T1S...

As for sizes - 225/45 16 on the rear, with 195/50 15 on the front. If you've got 185's on the front (as the standard P0's were 185/205) then I'd probably whack both ends on. Not a great idea to mix tyre types in any case - the elise relies on the characteristics of it's tyres much more than an average family saloon.

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:58 pm

I ran T1R's on my S1. Good wet tyres and good for the road. Like Shug says, bit squirmy, and melt when pushed on a dry track. (there's a pic of a melted one on my photobucket site underneath). But i think everyone should go through a set of T1R's when learning the Elise, coz they give loads of warning and slide really smooth and progresively (sp?). But, i ran 185/205 on mine. Coz the tyres move about so much , giving the squirmy feeling. The bigger sizes might exaggerate this and make it worse.

I'm on Advan Neova LTS now and love them.

The car is way more direct and darty. Now thery're bedded right in, i do think the dry grip is a bit better, but they need to be warm/hot before this happens. They're a bit harder to control in the wet, as it seems more snappy, (also not as much grip) where as the Toyo's gradually move and lose grip so you kinda feel the slide comming.

I had Bridgestone S03's on the rear when i got the car. Terrible tyres. I could spin the rears in a straight line off the throttle in the wet. Not an easy task with 120brake

. Put the T1R'r on and it was 100% better.

jj · Post by jj » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:32 pm

I could spin the rears in a straight line off the throttle in the wet. Not an easy task with 120brake

I find this also in the wet, does it in 2nd as well.

*off to blackcircles.com to order tyres*

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:36 pm

Yeah, it was 2nd gear i was talking about.

Thought i'd said that.

Baggy · Post by **Baggy** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:56 pm

I've got bfgs. They're fine for road use & magic in the wet (compared to worn advans/P0s mix)n & they're about £250 fitted.

See seloc for reviews of bfgs.

Baggy

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:55 pm

Aye S1 with 'stones on - no idea why they're there, but the last owner spent £350 on rears alone before I got it.

As for these acronyms - spell them out for me (e.g. bfgs) remember, I'm a newbie!

Cheers,

Greg

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:14 pm

B F Goodrich. They're G force profiler or something like that. Baggy'll keep you right with these. Never tried them.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 11:42 pm

If you want Toyos get yourself on SELOC (Boo hiss!

) and look up Tim Stevens, great chap will get 4 delivered next day for £250. Easy-peasy He didn't even wait for my cheque to arrive (He did know where I live mind!) As above they are very squirmy (Esp when the tyre monkey fills them to 32 psi!

) to begin with but get used to them and they stiffen up a bit. I chose them cos I didn't want the expensive advans while I was still learning so might stick with them for a while!

Rich

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 11:43 pm

Baggy · Post by **Baggy** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:18 am

Yep

G-Force Profiler (NOT Profiler G's) See BF Goodrinch website.

A lot of the SELOCers who seem to know, rate them quite highly (as a budget tyre) & they are quite good in the wet.

The one time I tracked them, they started to shred pretty quickly.

I put 195x50xR15 on the fronts & 225x45xZR16 on the rears.

225s on standard rear rims is a bit of a squeeze but I've been told that it works.

They're £245 fitted at Costco (in Aberdeen). It's worth running through jacking points with the fitter guys just incase but I had no problems.

Would recommend 23psi at the front & 24 in the rears to start off with & see how you go.