Re: Tyres for S3 Elan
Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 2:17 am
niceolcars wrote:nota optime : For the experienced racers among us of course the opposite is true (10sec/lap @ Spa)
IOW horses for courses, right Niels?
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niceolcars wrote:nota optime : For the experienced racers among us of course the opposite is true (10sec/lap @ Spa)
SprinTango wrote:When I bought my wheels I was told the tyres were fitted on them "about 5 years ago" but I will now check for for a date code as shown in Jim's photo. Thanks.
vintrace wrote:Well I assume that the scolding from Mr Anderson is all part of the Newbie induction to the Elan forum.
vintrace wrote:Hi Jim,
Thanks for the reply? I have a fairly thick skin so not too offended? just thought the post a bit rude and over the top. I do like to sift through the archives time permitting? this time however I knew the narrow tires were an issue for the Elan so just got straight to it.
Regarding you question about tire widths for 5? wheels? it has always been rule of thumb that the best size is a 185 on a 5-1/2? rim. So working back I would say a 165 on a 5?.. perhaps a 175. I say this because all the race Elans we used to run would be on 185?s as that was the best tire available. The more you stretch a tire onto the rim the more instant the feedback will generally be. A 195 on a 5? rim is really pushing your luck I would have said, and will probably feel very mushy and could well bit you on the limit. All this of course is less relevant on a street cars as you don?t really work them as hard on the rims..a track day however may find a problem with oversize tires.
Cheers, Tony
vintrace wrote:Its amazing how times change, 20 years ago a Tii was a donor car for a Chevron B8? that Tii motor was always the one to get if you wanted a great 230hp BMW motor in your B8? And before that the Anglia was always a donor for a Ginetta G4? but now are both great classics in their own right. The Anglia it seems is now giving the Lotus Cortina?s a hard time in FIA racing in Europe, and the Tii gives the Cortina a bit of a spanking more often than not.
So tell me are you running 195?s on 5? rims on your Tii?? ?
Will your Elan be a street car, track day or vintage race car? ?
Cheers, Tony
niceolcars wrote:spot on Jim
I am not a friend of sticky tyires on old machinery. We had a large discussion over here when the Yoko's where allowed on the Cat. G [1966-71] cars by FIA. Everyone had to reinforce the old metal, because it just broke under these new G forces.
That was the point when i got very happy with my other '65 car, as the Dunlop CR 65 are sticky enuff when new and on dry track.
Imho as long as one is not tracking his tub, one should be quite fast with even the original small size. For trackdays i agree those abovementioned solutions to be the compromise of choice.
Furthermore i'd like to support Gary's move: it woke me up after years of sleeping on this forum elanum.
And i can not support enough what you said Jim: this is one of the least neurotic forums i ever came across.
Cheers lads
(pouring-a-glass-of-spirit smiley missing)