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Yokohama Advan A052; Front Tires for Elise, Sport Pkg

1017 Views 21 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  rcollum
I am looking to replace all 4 tires on my Elise. I have the Sport Package, so I need 195/50 R16 fronts, and 225/45R17 rears. Of course, these sizes are tough to find in anything I want. I currently have Dunlop Direzza DZ101's in proper sizes, and they are OK, but they have manufacture dates of 2015. I do not track the car, and I am careful driving in cold weather.

What I'd like are Yokohama Advan A052's. They (theoretically) come in correct sizes, but both Tire Rack, and Yokohama themselves cannot say when the front sizes will be available. Tire Rack claims not to have had them in stock since 2022. The rears are readily available.

Any advice? (I'm really hoping somebody has a warehouse with these tires, in recent manuf. date...)

Thanks!

--Bob Collum

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Falken RT660 all day long.
I'd go with the RE71RS over the Falken. I have them on my car.
I am looking to replace all 4 tires on my Elise. I have the Sport Package, so I need 195/50 R16 fronts, and 225/45R17 rears. Of course, these sizes are tough to find in anything I want. I currently have Dunlop Direzza DZ101's in proper sizes, and they are OK, but they have manufacture dates of 2015. I do not track the car, and I am careful driving in cold weather.

What I'd like are Yokohama Advan A052's. They (theoretically) come in correct sizes, but both Tire Rack, and Yokohama themselves cannot say when the front sizes will be available. Tire Rack claims not to have had them in stock since 2022. The rears are readily available.

Any advice? (I'm really hoping somebody has a warehouse with these tires, in recent manuf. date...)

Thanks!

--Bob Collum

Pic for attention...

View attachment 1341137
AO52 are what I use on the track but would be a poor choice as some other brands mentioned.
200 treadwear tires are for tracking and will quickly wear out on the street.
I really like the A052s as a street/track tire. They are great on the street as long as it's not cold or rainy, which are the only times I take the Elise out. If longevity and cold and wet are part of your Elise driving though I'd pass on them. Both Tire Rack and Discount Tire definitely had 195/50R16 fronts, and 245/40R17 rears in stock at the beginning of the year.
Why not move up to 205/45/16’s for more options and grip?
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You're not tracking the car, Id be inclined to get a performance tire thats got great wet performance in addition to a little more longevity. Conti Extreme Contact Sports come in 205/45/16 and either 225/45/17 or 245/40/17, which would fit your wheels.
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While the Bridgestones look like what I want, is the upsize of the fronts to 205/45 16's a problem interfering with the fender liners? I originally chose the Dunlops I have now, because they had the proper OE sizes. (Of course, these Dunlops are no longer available!) I don't put on that many miles on my tires, so a UTQG of 200 does not worry me.

Thanks!
While the Bridgestones look like what I want, is the upsize of the fronts to 205/45 16's a problem interfering with the fender liners? I originally chose the Dunlops I have now, because they had the proper OE sizes. (Of course, these Dunlops are no longer available!) I don't put on that many miles on my tires, so a UTQG of 200 does not worry me.

Thanks!
I’ve had 205/45/16’s for years and have no trouble rubbing. The key is to get a 45 sidewall instead of a 50 sidewall if you move up to 205’s.
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While the Bridgestones look like what I want, is the upsize of the fronts to 205/45 16's a problem interfering with the fender liners? I originally chose the Dunlops I have now, because they had the proper OE sizes. (Of course, these Dunlops are no longer available!) I don't put on that many miles on my tires, so a UTQG of 200 does not worry me.

Thanks!
They have 195 and 205 in multiple sidewalls
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I really like the A052s as a street/track tire. They are great on the street as long as it's not cold or rainy, which are the only times I take the Elise out. If longevity and cold and wet are part of your Elise driving though I'd pass on them. Both Tire Rack and Discount Tire definitely had 195/50R16 fronts, and 245/40R17 rears in stock at the beginning of the year.
I just bought tires a week or so ago, and neither place has the A052 in stock with no ETA on availability again. I ended up buying RE71RS, which are more or less Bridgestone's same level of tire.
One extra wrinkle - I didn't think about this before. I have Cup 260 wheels on my Elise. Are these different in width or offset from LSS wheels?
I believe the Cup 260 wheels have the same offsets as LSS, but are 1/2" wider front and rear.
you're thinking about this way too much. You won't have any issues with a 205/45/16 + 225/45/17 OR 245/40/17 OR 235/40/17. Many before you have done it and we could see what wheels you had in the pictures. Unless your car has something very abnormal about it you haven't disclosed you'll be fine. Its a bigger deal to choose a tire and some good ones have been thrown out.
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you're thinking about this way too much. You won't have any issues with a 205/45/16 + 225/45/17 OR 245/40/17 OR 235/40/17. Many before you have done it and we could see what wheels you had in the pictures. Unless your car has something very abnormal about it you haven't disclosed you'll be fine. Its a bigger deal to choose a tire and some good ones have been thrown out.
Thanks! Yep.... too much time on my hands this week!

In using those sizes, I found the Toyo Proxes R1R, in 205/45 16 F and 235/40 17 R, and just might go with that!
If you plan on driving in cooler weather under 40 degrees and aren't tracking your car then you might want to think about all season tires. Use G search and end with lotustalk and looks at the suggestions for Elise tires in 2022 and 2023. There have been new releases of old favorites.
Many of us run DWS-06 and they now have updated version. I run this on my LSS wheels as a cool weather tire.

Here's one of many threads of you search "best tires for elise street lotustalk" Street Tires
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I'd go with the RE71RS over the Falken. I have them on my car.
me too!!!

best performance for the price and easily sourced unlike yoko unobtanium
While the Bridgestones look like what I want, is the upsize of the fronts to 205/45 16's a problem interfering with the fender liners?
I have 205/50/16 on LSS wheels and 215/45/16 on TE37 wheels. Absolutely no rubbing on the liners from either. Both were used by a previous Elise owner for a few years with no issues.
I've read good things about the 2023 Nankang CR-S tires, as well. On pace with RE71RS and A052.
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