+2 Tyres?

[Grizzly]

Hi all.

Can anyone suggest a tyre place that can supply and fit some tyres for my Elan +2s with alloys fitted to it, i have been to two places now and they have destroyed 3 tyres trying to get them on the rims. I don't know if i'm just unlucky with my choice of tyre fitters or they are really that hard to fit but they have taken the old tyres off now so i am stuck with the car on stands

I am in the North west (Macclesfield Sk10 Cheshire).

Any help would be appreciated.

[tcsoar]

Hi Grizzly,

The places that ruined your tyres, were they fitting the tyre from the rear of the wheel? I seem to remember something on here before stating that the tyres have to be fitted this way and not over the front for alloy wheels. If I am wrong I am sure someone will let us know.

Chris.

[Grizzly]

Its a bit of a can of worms, we left the Wheels with the first Tyre guys to swap at there discretion, two weeks later they say they can't put the new tyres on the rims and the Old tyres have been picked up by the scrap man..... So i don't even have the old tyres to put back on or compare with.

So the thing is now they have been to two places now and the second place said they have spent a couple of hours reading up about them before they even attempted the job and where confident they could do it. I didn't go into to much detail with the guy but i believe they tried them face up, face down, loads of Soap with no joy.

TBh i don't see what?s so hard? i know the well of the wheels are smaller and further in but I?ve had tyres put on these rims before without any issues and they haven?t changed?

I'm left not knowing what to do? i really need somewhere that has done them before and knows how to handle them because i can see if i go and explain what?s happening to a tyre place they won't want to touch them unless i pay for any damaged Tyres

[Craig Elliott]

As Chris has said, the visible side of the wheel (when the wheel is in the car) has a large lip on the rim that makes it very difficult to fit tyres normally because the tyre has to stretch further than normally and the lip also has a square edge that tends to catch on the tyre. As a result you generally have to fit them from the back of the wheel if you're to avoid tearing the new tyre - seems odd if they are also having problems doing this though...

[pauljones]

May I suggest giving Miles a call, I had all new tyres on 3 old rims and 1 brand new one.all lotus alloys. Fitted with Hancock optima and they are fine. I know he is in the south but he may be able to advise,also any lotus specialist should be able to help you.

[DavidLB]

I've had new tyres fitted by Hereford tyres with no problems

[rgh0]

The wells in the Lotus brand alloys for the plus 2 are very shallow and it is extremely hard to get the bead over the rim as it does not drop very deeply into the well on the opposite site of the wheel during fitting.

I take mine to the racing tyre supplier I use as they understand the issue and can deal with it. They hate the job and moan each time i have bought the wheels in but they do a good job for me. When removing old tyres they normally just cut the bead wire as they are just as hard to take off. Low profile tyres are harder to fit than the orginal 80% profile tyres also.

I suggest you try to find a similar shop who will take the effort to figure out how to do it and take the needed care and patience. its not a job for the average kid at the local chain tyre store

cheers
Rohan

[Grizzly]

This is crazy, i got a call last night from the second place that tried to get tyres on these rims. They said there Owner who is an Old school guy who's been fitting tyres all his life was going to come in and show them how its done. Anyway i got a call this morning saying he's failed too and thats with me telling him what you guys have said as well.

So, i'm kinda stuck.

I can't belive its this hard to get tyres on. The guy said its like the Rims are 1/2" to big.

Anyone know where i can buy some Knock on Mini Lites from

[Grizzly]

Just tried Christopher Neils and they sugested some where in Devon

[Grizzly]

Does anyone know if there is a make or model of tyre that i stand more of a chance with? this guy today was so close to getting them on but just as they flicked over the edge it ripped a chunk out of the bead, it just made me think if there was a little more give in the tyre he proberly would have got it on.

Also am i correct in saying the Tyres should be 165/70/13 or 165r13

[stugilmour]

Also am i correct in saying the Tyres should be 165/70/13 or 165r13

I think the general consensus is 165R13 (Plus 2 stock 'vintage' size with about 80 profile) or 175/70/13 as the more readily available alternative with a closer rolling circumference to stock.

[Grizzly]

Do you think i'd stand a better chance with more side wall? i just noticed the first place that tried where attempting to get 165/60/13's on (i asked for 165R13's) so i'm guessing thats where they fell down. But the last place took all the cars details and ordered the tyres they thought where correct which i assume where 165R13's.

So might try again but maybe use a bigger aspect ratio like 165/80/13 its not like i'm going to be doing track days and if they look ok it shouldn't be an issue.

[Baggy2]

IMHO it is a complete waste of time going to a mainstream or high street tyre supplier - for a start they probably can't balance our funny peg drive wheels properly. For this reason I go to www.classictyres.com but as they are near Southampton and you are 'up north' I didn't bother to suggest them. But ,I just remembered there is Longstone Tyres near Doncaster. Never used them but I bet they would understand your problems and be able to solve them - and they're nearer than Southampton
All the best
Baggy

[pauljones]

Mine are 165/80/13. They look right,drive fine and give good road holding. Now im not a racing driver and dont drive my car like it,so ill say for normal use they are fine. They are also fairly quite too,but then the induction roar does drown out most things.

if you want a picture of how it looks drop me an email and ill send some to you.

Paul

[rgh0]

Over the years I have fitted 165/80 x 13 then 165/70 x 13 and now 175/60 x 13. They all fitted with effort with the challenge getting greater as the profile got lower.

Keep looking for the best tyre fitter you can find - it is possible to do. if you have to travel to find someone who has done it before, its probably worth the trip

The other thing to be careful of is the alloy in the wheels is very soft and the tire machine clamps can take a chunk out of the rim if the air pressure that drives the clamps is turned up to high!

cheers
Rohan