should understeer more if thats what you're looking for :up:
Move up to 235 rear?
I have a set of all-season Kumho ASX on my Sport pack Elise right now, they came with the car. I'm a complete street driver for now so they do the job until I decide to get to the track (probably next year) and they handle the rain great. My rears are worn down though so rather than plunge into buying a whole new set of a different tire, I'm just going to get new rears of the same type.
My question is:
Would it be an upgrade to go from the 225-45-17 to a 235-45-17? It's a bit wider, barely taller (hey, maybe the speedo would read a bit more accurate now).
I know wider is not always better but is it in this case? Cost is virtually the same between the 2.
I do still have fun in the turns, so if I can get some more traction, I'd like to.
My question is:
Would it be an upgrade to go from the 225-45-17 to a 235-45-17? It's a bit wider, barely taller (hey, maybe the speedo would read a bit more accurate now).
I know wider is not always better but is it in this case? Cost is virtually the same between the 2.
I do still have fun in the turns, so if I can get some more traction, I'd like to.
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I could live with understeer. That's a lot less scary than oversteer. Maybe if I remove the camber shims it all equals out???
Probably fine either way. All-season tires is too bad on a Lotus. My rain tire to race is full tread R888, so I am completey baffled as to why anyone would ever put anything but a max performance tire on something like an Elise
The car came with them and the rears are the only thing worn down so the rears are just getting replaced for now.
R888s cost more for 1 than 2 of the Kumho All-seasons ($87 a piece for the rear) and probably last 1/4 of the miles at best. My Elise is the only vehicle I have with a roof, so it will be driven in every rain and snow day we have here that I have to drive, so that's another reason. It is my daily driver because it is the most tame vehicle I have so it get's the all-seasons for now. I don't need it all-out performance done up, but then again I still enjoy going fast in the car. Would you go out in the rain/snow with a set of 10k mile old Max performance tires?
I have been considering getting a set of the T1Rs, but not until after I wear this set of tires down (after this winter hopefully).
R888s cost more for 1 than 2 of the Kumho All-seasons ($87 a piece for the rear) and probably last 1/4 of the miles at best. My Elise is the only vehicle I have with a roof, so it will be driven in every rain and snow day we have here that I have to drive, so that's another reason. It is my daily driver because it is the most tame vehicle I have so it get's the all-seasons for now. I don't need it all-out performance done up, but then again I still enjoy going fast in the car. Would you go out in the rain/snow with a set of 10k mile old Max performance tires?
I have been considering getting a set of the T1Rs, but not until after I wear this set of tires down (after this winter hopefully).
we have 205/235 Toyo R1R on our mostly street driven Exige
Great all around tire, fine in heavy rain and decent on the track
I wouldn't hesitate to get the same again
All season tires are probably better in snow and mud, but not rain
Great all around tire, fine in heavy rain and decent on the track
I wouldn't hesitate to get the same again
All season tires are probably better in snow and mud, but not rain
I ran for street the 205 front and 235 rear tires. Worked awesome.
Bridgstone RE 01R:
205 45 16 on the front
245 40 17 on the rear
Drives nice, I have removed camber shims
205 45 16 on the front
245 40 17 on the rear
Drives nice, I have removed camber shims
So you would take the shorter R1Rs over the stock sized T1Rs? I've been reading about those, they seem like great tires but they don't make them in the stock sizes. Can you correct the speedo in the Elise for the smaller tires?
It does only snow a couple times a year here. The trick would be that I'd probably be a work when that happened. I don't mind putting along at 10mph if I have to, but I remember my old Corvette with Goodyear high-perf. tires wouldn't make it out the driveway in the snow and for sure wouldn't make it up a hill. (Got stuck several times).
It does only snow a couple times a year here. The trick would be that I'd probably be a work when that happened. I don't mind putting along at 10mph if I have to, but I remember my old Corvette with Goodyear high-perf. tires wouldn't make it out the driveway in the snow and for sure wouldn't make it up a hill. (Got stuck several times).
This is purely based on my experience. get rid of those god forsaken ASX's. My car had them when I purchased it...then a friend gave me a great deal on some GSD3's. massive improvement. If you ever get near the limit of grip, your car is going to spin out. trust me....I was @ an AUtox...weather got warm enough for the fronts to heat up. those horrid ASX's just let go.
I did a skidpad with the combo, and it was insane, the rear would step out way too early...which could be held (to a point).
NOW, life is good, fronts and rears are much more evenly matched...and no more issues.
Per the friend (who had GSD3's on his Elise and DD's it) these tires are fine in rain and snow, and tolerable in the ice.
I can say they are fine in rain, haven't seen any snow. My fronts (non sport package Neova's can't handle ice. the front of the car slides Left and Right while going straight. I think its a combo of light car, and high perf. tires. I drive the truck when weather is less than optimal.
I did a skidpad with the combo, and it was insane, the rear would step out way too early...which could be held (to a point).
NOW, life is good, fronts and rears are much more evenly matched...and no more issues.
Per the friend (who had GSD3's on his Elise and DD's it) these tires are fine in rain and snow, and tolerable in the ice.
I can say they are fine in rain, haven't seen any snow. My fronts (non sport package Neova's can't handle ice. the front of the car slides Left and Right while going straight. I think its a combo of light car, and high perf. tires. I drive the truck when weather is less than optimal.
So you would take the shorter R1Rs over the stock sized T1Rs? I've been reading about those, they seem like great tires but they don't make them in the stock sizes. Can you correct the speedo in the Elise for the smaller tires?
It does only snow a couple times a year here. The trick would be that I'd probably be a work when that happened. I don't mind putting along at 10mph if I have to, but I remember my old Corvette with Goodyear high-perf. tires wouldn't make it out the driveway in the snow and for sure wouldn't make it up a hill. (Got stuck several times).
The R1R are just better tires IMO, I haven't noticed a speedo problem but sometimes you have to make little compromises, and for me these are great all around tires and actually better on the track for my wife than the sometimes unpredictable AO48
Tires are such an important part of a performance car I would go with the stickiest set that will do the job you need - living in Dallas I can't comment on driving in the snow, but I suspect these would be ok in a few inches, much more and I'd walk
What kind of mileage do you get out of a tire like the R1R? Rough #'s are ok. 5k, 10k,15k, 20k, 30k?
If you're only doing a rear set anyway, you could try a set of Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s. They're awesome in the wet, good in the dry, and "usable" in the muck.
+1I ran for street the 205 front and 235 rear tires. Worked awesome.
Ok, in a last minute reverse decision...I ordered a set of 205 and 235 Dunlop Z1 Star Specs. $500 shipped for all 4 from Tire Rack and Dunlop has a $60 rebate when you buy 4 right now. So, $440 shipped really for a full set of Extreme Performance tires (So not quite into the Competition range of things). This should be fun going from all-seasons to Ext. Perf. tires...at least for the summer.
I read a ton of great info on these tires and they sound like a pretty nice setup for the street where you don't spend the extended time in the corners to get the tires heated up, although not for the snow...but hopefully it'll be another light year this year. If not, I guess there's always a cab. These were the best rated tires by Tire Rack in their category, although they didn't have the Toyo's on the list.
I read a ton of great info on these tires and they sound like a pretty nice setup for the street where you don't spend the extended time in the corners to get the tires heated up, although not for the snow...but hopefully it'll be another light year this year. If not, I guess there's always a cab. These were the best rated tires by Tire Rack in their category, although they didn't have the Toyo's on the list.
They wouldn't have the Toyo's in the same list anyway as they'd be in a different category, still by all accounts the Z1 Star Spec is a great street tire and you should be happy with them.Ok, in a last minute reverse decision...I ordered a set of 205 and 235 Dunlop Z1 Star Specs. [...] These were the best rated tires by Tire Rack in their category, although they didn't have the Toyo's on the list.
I have 205/245 Toyo R1R for my Elise. Mostly street
So far so good in normal driving and heavy rain.
So far so good in normal driving and heavy rain.
I have been running 235 on the rear for the last 3 years and regularly track my car. No probs at all. Go for it.
Also loving my R1R's for the street... Excellent tire and great in the rain and dry.
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