Tyre thread from general

dpr59 · Post by **dpr59** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 17:43

Standard tyres are 215/50/15

I've 225/50/15 all round on mine.

215/50/15 can sometimes be prbematic to get or expensive.

Lotus recommendation is;

Front 205/50/15
Rear 225/50/15

texas2201 · Post by **texas2201** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 21:31

Hi Oz

I believe Toyo's are good tyres i have a set of toyo r888's on my M3 for track days and they are great.

I take the Excel on track days - I have done Brands, Elvington, Bruntingthorpe and Bedford. I am going to France in a couple of weeks to do the Abbeyville track. Like Markc I am a member of LOT and they run very efficient days.

Never take the wife to the track she hates it - being a passenger in a car going round a track can be scary for someone who doesnt like going round corners quickly. She is coming with me to france, but she will go shopping during the track day.

cheers

Martin

Ozzy_UK · Post by **Ozzy_UK** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:40

am i correct in believing that the Toyo T1-R is the one with the re-inforced side wall... and the T1-S is the re-inforced side wall & a higher speed rating?

i was told T1-S is the way to go for faster use, like light track...

Eagle F1'S are not that good apparently...

Road noise is not a consern for me as if im flat out its the last thing on my mind!

cheers!

Oz.

bodgitostrich · Post by **bodgitostrich** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 17:56

T1-r are superceeding the T1-s. The T1-r are the re-inforced versions with a slightly different tread pattern on the outer. See www.blackcircles.com or www.mytyres.co.uk.

Phil

ps for not replying Peter, been a little lately with college and other stuff...

tonycharente · Post by **tonycharente** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 20:54

dpr59 wrote:Standard tyres are 215/50/15

I've 225/50/15 all round on mine.

215/50/15 can sometimes be prbematic to get or expensive.

Lotus recommendation is;

Front 205/50/15
Rear 225/50/15

Please could dpr59 or anyone else tell me the source for the above Lotus recommendation.

Many thanks,
Tony

dpr59 · Post by **dpr59** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 21:09

If I remember correctly, and if I don't someone will tell me.

It was a post on the Forum v1.0 that someone had asked Lotus engineering to comment on.

tonycharente · Post by **tonycharente** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 21:33

Thanks for the very rapid reply, dpr59! I'm after something on paper from Lotus - this is because here in France they can be very difficult about keeping exactly to original spec. - both for the French version of an MOT and also the insurers come crash time. Does anyone have anything in writing from Lotus?

dpr59 · Post by **dpr59** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 21:49

Try Lotus Group contact url...

http://www.grouplotus.com/contact/gener ... ?section=9

I've asked advice on the steering rack. It took a few days for them to get back to me, which they did. With a very comprehensive answer and recommendation.

tonycharente · Post by **tonycharente** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 22:20

Thanks dpr59. I've just submitted the following question on the link to Lotus that you suggested:-

TYRES FOR 1989 LOTUS EXCEL SE It is becoming increasingly difficult to buy 215/50/15 tyres and/or they are very expensive. I have read on the Excel forum that the Lotus recommendation is Front 205/50/15, Rear 225/50/15. Please can you confirm this (or give your other recommendation for when there are no 215/50/15 tyres available). Many thanks, Tony PARFITT

I'll post their reply as and when.
Tony

graeme thompson · Post by **graeme thompson** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:44

Not wanting to appear thick or anything but if you run 205/50/15 fronts and 225/50/15 rears what size spare do you keep? I believe its illegal to run different size tyres on the same axle and so you could be forced to do this if you had a puncture on the front but had a larger size rear or vice versa.Would your insurance be valid if you were unfortunate enough to have an accident whilst running odd size tyres on the same axle?
I currently have 215/50/15 fronts and 225/50/15 rears with a 215 spare and so could be in this position.
Any thoughts?

Steve C · Post by **Steve C** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:48

graeme thompson wrote:Not wanting to appear thick or anything but if you run 205/50/15 fronts and 225/50/15 rears what size spare do you keep? I believe its illegal to run different size tyres on the same axle and so you could be forced to do this if you had a puncture on the front but had a larger size rear or vice versa.Would your insurance be valid if you were unfortunate enough to have an accident whilst running odd size tyres on the same axle?
I currently have 215/50/15 fronts and 225/50/15 rears with a 215 spare and so could be in this position.
Any thoughts?

Using that logic would make every car with a space saver spare illegal - you probably wouldn't pass an MOT but if it's illegal, at least half of cars in the UK are in the same position!

tonycharente · Post by **tonycharente** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:57

Don't know the legal position, but there are plenty of cars that came BRAND NEW with different size tyres front to rear and only one spare, the which spare is sometimes an entirely different size again. E.g; Lotus Esprit, Renault Alpine A310V6. I'd go with the 205 rather than the 225 as the spare, in case the 225 has clearance problems at the front end. I currently have 205 front and 215 rear and in driving the car I really can't tell any difference from 215/215 set up, except that the front is a fraction lower and so the rubber lip hits even more "obstacles" (like used match sticks.....). Tony

graeme thompson · Post by **graeme thompson** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 13:57

You definately wouldn't pass an MOT as I had a BMW that was sold to me with different size tyres on the rear axle and it promptly failed the next one.
I'm not sure whether the space saver wheel falls into the same argument as running different size tyres as these are standard equipment that is supplied with the car. However it may be that you would invalidate your insurance if you used a space saver for any length of time ie, not just to get you home and to the nearest tyre shop.
Maybe I'll ring Footman James and see what they say.

tonycharente · Post by **tonycharente** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 14:10

All this is why I'm keen to see what Lotus say...... Tony

tonycharente · Post by **tonycharente** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 19:46

tonycharente wrote:Thanks dpr59. I've just submitted the following question on the link to Lotus that you suggested:-

TYRES FOR 1989 LOTUS EXCEL SE It is becoming increasingly difficult to buy 215/50/15 tyres and/or they are very expensive. I have read on the Excel forum that the Lotus recommendation is Front 205/50/15, Rear 225/50/15. Please can you confirm this (or give your other recommendation for when there are no 215/50/15 tyres available). Many thanks, Tony PARFITT

I'll post their reply as and when.
Tony

I have a response from Lotus already, which I thought warrantied it's own post topic - please see
TYRE SIZES: I ASKED LOTUS

The Lotus Grand Tourers

Tyre thread from general

toyo's and track days