205/60x13 tires on the Elan

[Davidb]

Hi all, I am in the process of getting my Elan ready for next years classic rally season and I am trying to figure out what tires to use. My car is an old race car and has narrower rear springs and small flairs and runs six inch rims.

I looked at the Avon CRZZ but the price is a bit stiff and they seem to have quite a short life.
Does anybody use the Vredestein Sprint Classic 205/60x13 on a baby Elan? I have Vredestiens on the car I have been rallying for the past few years (not a Lotus) and I am very impressed.

Any other suggestions?

[ecamiel]

They should fit subject to wheel offset. I use different offsets from and rear.
There are many high performance tires available in that size which are not listed on the manufacture's sites or on Tire rack. Call them and others and talk to the racing tire dept. for Toyo and Yohahama tires.

Eric
64 S1Hart

[Davidb]

Many thanks for the response Eric. I am not against using racing tires but I need something that will work in wet weather-we get a lot of rain in this area and the Spring Thaw rally is run in streaming wet conditions often.
I am not even sure I need to go as wide as 205. 185 would probably be enough but I noticed that Vredestein make a tire in the 205 width.

[ecamiel]

Call tire rack or look here - scroll down - for many choices and tire reviews

http://tires.tirerack.com/tires/205%2060%2013

[awatkins]

Avon CR6ZZs are poular in the GT40 and Cobra replica world but do not have a good reputation for wet adhesion.

[Davidb]

awatkins-many thanks for that-first post as well! That is the sort of feedback I want

Eric, thanks again for the info--I would like to talk to you sometime about the "Hart" mentioned in your signature. I used to race an Elan with a Hart 416B-wonderful engine.

To really stir the pot, I found this type of tire used in the "Legends" series of racing. Made by Federal and only available from dealers in the "Legends" racing series. From the little I have been able to learn they are not expensive and quite good-anybody know more? They look big on these Legend cars but they have only a 73" wheelbase:

http://www.uslegendcars.com/cars/legend/

[Davidb]

In the last five minutes I have made contact with a dealer in these tires-he will sell to anybody-even Elan owners he says! The tires cost US$109 each and are of a softer compound than a street tire. However, since last year they no longer have the DOT stamp on them. The reason being that the racers would only buy the very latest dated tires he said-so the manufacturer deleted the date stamps!
These might be a good cheaper alternative for some people.

[Galwaylotus]

I really like Uniroyal Rain Experts on wet roads. The wet grip is brilliant.

[bill308]

Hi Davidb.

Can you post contact information for the dealer of these tires?

Bill

[Davidb]

Galwaylotus: Thanks for the suggestion-I will look into those

Bill308: This is the list of dealers worldwide:
http://www.uslegendcars.com/start_racing/find_a_dealer/

The price for most seems to be US$99 per tire despite my being quoted $109 by the Oregon dealer.

I found mention of these tires being used on BMWs, Capris and Datsuns online-with favorable comments.

[Davidb]

If you are looking for 205/60x13 tires for racing, slalom or fast road these would seem to be the best deal out there-at $99 each:
http://northeastlegendstore.com/uncuttires-pertire.aspx