Tyres 185/60 R14

PostPost by: NYK » Thu Jan 25, 2018 3:44 pm

Hi, I?m restoring my Plus 2, still a long way to go but have seen some wheels/tyres for sale, price might be OK. However they are 185/60 R14, from a brief forum search I?m gathering that these may not be a good idea. Any comments?
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PostPost by: msd1107 » Thu Jan 25, 2018 7:47 pm

1875/60-14 has almost the same rev/mile figure (915) as the S4 Elan 155-13 (912). It is thus slightly smaller than the standard 165-13 (887) (96.94%) on a +2.

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PostPost by: NYK » Thu Jan 25, 2018 7:51 pm

Thanks David, I also read that the extra width, 12% I think, resulted in poor handling particularly at the front end. I wonder if anyone has experience of this.
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PostPost by: msd1107 » Thu Jan 25, 2018 9:51 pm

Rather doubtful.

In years previous, I have run both 185/70-13 and 185/60-13 in addition to 165-13 on my S4 Elan and felt the handling improved. I used 27/32 tire pressures and the handling felt more precise and sensitive.

Others may have different ideas.

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PostPost by: rgh0 » Thu Jan 25, 2018 10:22 pm

You may find a problem with them hitting the front of the wheel well in certain circumstances of lock and wheel travel
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PostPost by: msd1107 » Thu Jan 25, 2018 10:29 pm

Not only that, but interference with rear springs and the inner rear wheel well.

Many people run small diameter rear springs. And, I had to carefully take away material in the inside of the fender well to keep the tires from interfering.

But, all cars are different. Some may have no problem. Others may have a problem on only one side. Still others cannot make it happen.
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PostPost by: NYK » Thu Jan 25, 2018 10:33 pm

Hmmn, having read these replies and spent the last hour or so trawling the forum, I think I?ll just stick with the standard Lotus alloys. Thanks all for comments
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