TYRE SIZES: I ASKED LOTUS

amarshall · Post by **amarshall** » Fri May 18, 2007 13:04

Check the load index too.

Lotus-e-Clan · Post by **Lotus-e-Clan** » Fri May 18, 2007 13:31

correction...Excel top speed is 140 mph...

....you need a tune-up...

Peter

Lotus-e-Clan · Post by **Lotus-e-Clan** » Fri May 18, 2007 13:37

Seriously tho ...It might be that the 215/50/15 have been rated higher to safely cover a specific application eg something like an Audi Quatttro FWD ?

Steve C · Post by **Steve C** » Fri May 18, 2007 14:27

The 215/50 15 price differential is mainly due to quantity .. only a few cars used them, these being the Excel, front of Esprits, front of early TVR Griffiths/Chimaeras (in SO-1 form) and Audi Quattros that I know of.

The 205/55 15 ZR's are used on a much wider range of cars, including the front of TVRs when they started using Bridgestone SO-2's and SO-3's.

225/50 15 are also more commonly used / available / cheaper.

Ozzy_UK · Post by **Ozzy_UK** » Fri May 18, 2007 14:59

anyone any idea why are the Toyo R888's so cheap in 215/50/15 then?
mine where less than £55 a corner, my smart car is £75 a corner...

Steve C · Post by **Steve C** » Fri May 18, 2007 15:15

R888's aren't that cheap anymore! Don't wear them out too quickly!

Lotus-e-Clan · Post by **Lotus-e-Clan** » Fri May 18, 2007 18:37

Well we already know from posts above that the 215s are w rated and the 205/55 are z rated so the carcass/side walls are different and cost more to produce I would assume...not so much quantity then but quality perhaps

Steve C · Post by **Steve C** » Fri May 18, 2007 21:08

Most of the 215/50 15's were ZR .. including the original Goodyear Eagles, the Bridgestone SO-1's and the Pirelli P7000's. Even 8/10 years ago, a 215/50 ZR15 was about 50% more expensive than a 205/55 ZR15, both bridgestone SO-1s.

The 215/50 15 SP9000's also used to be ZR rated tyre too .. I wonder if they changed anything other than the letter on the sidewall?

I would be slightly concerned at dropping from a ZR to a VR .. This is a problem for the front of TVR's in that 205/55 15 is pretty hard to find in ZR, especially with matching tread/rating for the rears in 245/45 16. This prompted a change of wheels on my TVR Griffith from 15s & 16s to 17s and 18s so that I could future proof tyre supply!

Redexcel · Post by **Redexcel** » Sat May 19, 2007 00:18

Steve C wrote:
The 215/50 15 SP9000's also used to be ZR rated tyre too .. I wonder if they changed anything other than the letter on the sidewall?

They still are, Steve. I bought two last week.

johnf · Post by **johnf** » Sat May 19, 2007 15:53

Been out to the garage and checked on the SP900s on my car, they are 215/50/15 and are Z rated not W I'm gong to presume that BlackCircles have made a mistake in their online catalogue when they put a rating of W on the 215s. The Dunlop site has only a Z rating against the 215/50/15, no sign of a W there.

The load index on the 215 is 560 Kg.

So, presuming that the 205 and 215 have the same load rating as they have the same speed rating, both Z, is the price differential due to volume of sales.

John