vredestein tires

[lotusdelta]

phil, you asked if anyone was using vredestein sprint + 155/13.

I am currently using these tires on my 65 Triumph Spitfire mk2. My experience to date has been excellent. They perform very well , ride nice and are very quiet. I havent had much expireance in the wet as I dont drive in the rain alot, but those times when I,ve been out in it they were predictable.
I am definately considering them for my 72 lotus elan sprint coupe !!

One thing I like about these tires is they have a rounded profile at the edge not like new tires which are flat and square.The Vredesteins have a more vintage look. Got mine from Universal Tire, which for me is local (Hershey Pa.) but they have a web site. Price was about $55-60 a tire...cant beat it !!
David

[mac5777]

Phil, I'm also looking at the vredestein tire that is quiet, taller and still fit our elan coupes. Thanks to David I was able to find them and they say that the 155x13 needs a 4.5" rim. I run the panasports with a 5" rim and a 165x13 is what is needed and is about the same width. It also is 23.46" tall compared to the 155 at 22.76. With the taller tire and a 3.55 diff, I hope to lower the Hwy revs. at 65 mph.
Some where there was a chart to convert this information to revs out put. Does anyone remember the location of that post?
Phil, I am thinking about having one of the tires sent out to try on our coupes. What do you think? If you are interested, send a private message and we can work out the details.
I'm planning on going to Colorado this Aug. for the lotus meet LOG27 and there were others that wanted to drive out together as a group. Interested??

Sarto

[RotoFlexible]

I am planning to fit Sprint+ 155R13s on my original steel wheels to replace the elderly Michelin RainForce tires.

Does anyone have experience with the Vredestein T-Trac model? It's a "summer" tire but billed as an all-rounder rather than ultimate dry performance. Sizes of interest include 165/65R13 and 165/70R13. (The Vredestein website says the 165/65R13 is "in preparation".) I have been unable to find a U.S. source for these tires but I haven't contacted Vredestein directly.

As a side note: I was able to fit 175/70R13's, mounted on 6" Cosmic wheels, on my S2 - but just barely. I don't think I would go that wide again, however.

[garyeanderson]

someone posted this link a while back on another forum. I have never delt with them but they have an 800 number 1 800 628-4737

http://www.tiresunlimited.com/vred_tires.htm

Gary

[264889socal]

While lurking on this forum for the past few months, I know tires have been kicked to death. However, I am in the need to replace the current tires on my S2, as the previous owner fitted oversize ones, which are more useful on a rice rocket that a period correct Elan. I have given some thought of trying to fit some of the vintage Dunlop racing tires, as I believe they would compliment the car. Haven't found an loose tires to mount as a trial fitment, but I believe the L 4.50 would work just fine. The 5.50 may be a bit wide in the section width, leading to rubbing under bump on the rear. Believe it or not, but the PO fitted 195/50 on the rear and 185/50 on the front. Would like to gain some diameter to make freeway travel a bit more relaxed.

Sumitomo offers a 185/70 for a very low price from Tire Rack, but I question fitment.

Any suggestions?

Rob Walker

[garyeanderson]

Hi Rob
A greater tire height is hard to get on an S2. Stock tires were 5.20 x 13 which is pretty small (approx 21 inch in diameter). 28 years ago I ran a 165 x 13 and it used to rub a bit. It had smaller diameter springs and the return lip of the wheel arches were mostly removed. To cut down on rpm on the "freeway" you will need to make some mechanical changes to either the gearbox or the ring and pinion. There is a 3.54 ring and pinion gears from the rs 2000 escorts that we never got in the U.S. That is good for a 10% drop in rpm in all gears over the stock 3.9 and is probably the most cost effective way. 5 speed gearboxs are available from Alan Voigts (see attachment) which will get you an 18% overdrive (.82) in 5th only but the other gears are not that sporting. Sporting gears are available for the type 9 but you need to add even more money.
The other alternative is to cut the wheel arches up higher and add 26r flairs to all 4 wheel archs so you can fit taller tires.
The last method is to stay off the freeway and keep the speeds under 70mph (not likely I know) but the Elan was designed before the freeway was part of our daily life. This is the least expensive way and freeways suck in an Elan anyhow.

Gary E. Anderson

[264889socal]

Gary,

Thanks for the advice. My first Lotus was a S7 I bought in Hong Kong while serving as a threat to agression in Southeast Asia in 1964. The agent set up the deal to get a kit shipped from the factory to Long Beach, CA and arrive about the time I was to get out. It had the close ration box, which I loved to death. This car and the middle close, which is probably better with the increase weight, the cars and mine. The Elan I bought was mostly complete and both the transmission and differential had been replace with new or rebuilt units. At this point I am not sure exactly what ratio is installed in the diff. Going to have to jack up one side, put the car in 4th and count the revolutions.

The body is slightly modified to take a slightly wider tire, but the 195 is way too wide and too square. Slight bumps cause some rubbing. The rear struts have been modified to take a smaller diameter spring and the perch is now a threaded coilover as are the fronts. Nice for adjusting ride height and corner weights. I have a spare wheel but no tire is fitted and I am going to need one if and when I start taking tours, the first of which is in April and is about a thousand miles. Don't think I will enjoy wincing every time the car hits a bump, or I wick up the speed in the twisty bits.

As far as freeway driving goes, pretty much stuck with it here in Souther California, if you want to get from here to there. Or at least from here to where the fun roads start.

Rob Walker

[scott]

Rob,
I'm re-doing an Elan in Ramona and am tire shopping. Lets talk. Scott

[264889socal]

Scott,

I PM'd you

Rob

[mopho]

There is a few of us up in LA too. I often take the Elan down to the Cars and Coffee meet (formally Crystal Cove) on Saturday mornings. I believe it is about half way between us, it would be fun to get together sometime

Link to the meet http://events.theexoticforum.com/



On topic of tires, I have a question that perhaps Gary Anderson could offer some opinion since his car is similar spec. I have been running Bridgestone RE92 165/65/13 on the Elan since I got it on the road. They are decent in that they are rather progressive at the limits and they have a nice feel, but they are really scary in the wet (not really a problem here though)
Now that I am in the midst of bringing the car up to around 160hp, I am a little concerned that level of grip these tires offer may not be safe for that kind of power (?)
At the moment, I am leaning towards sticking with the RE92's (since they are so cheap it is worth giving them a try), but any other recommendations for a high performance 13" tire that would fit an S3 with stock bodywork but smaller dia. springs?

I need a tire, not a tyre (i.e. need to be able to get it in the US)

[garyeanderson]

Hi Morgan

I haven't bought anything other than the RE92's in 8 years. I bought a set two years ago for the 66 Elan coupe (125, maybe 130 hp) that I sold. The tires on the coupe were new (0 miles but were 20 years old) and I could not sell it like that. My green S2 has the Pirelli P7's 175/50 13 that I put on when I rebuilt it 8 years ago. It needs some new rubber now and I was thinking of Avon ABC10 in 6.0/21 x13, as you have heard me say tall tires and early Elan's don't mix (unless you put the wide wings on). Not cheap at $140 each

http://www.rogerkrausracing.com/AVACB10.html

but the bridgestones probably arn't going to do the job with your new found Horsepower. I got 8 years out of the first set of pirelli's but the season is short in Massachusetts and my foot is a little lighter too.

Gary

[mopho]

Hmm, upon looking that tire up on the www, it opens up a bunch of questions

Those are bias ply right? They appear to be used for Formula Ford racing, are they going to be reasonable (safe) road tire, even on the highway? Is a tire like that going to be more susceptible to punctures?
That size is the equivalent to a 185/65/13, will that even fit under stock fenders? and on a 6" rim? (what size rims are on your S2?)
Also that size will wreak havoc with the rolling radius, causing the car to cruise at higher RPM's, not to mention the Speedo will be off by nearly 4mph (from the stock Elan's 165/70/13)

What about the CR500, which is a radial? Though it only comes in a 175/55/13 (which will cause the speedo to be off by 5mph)

I also found this Sumitomo HTR 200 which comes in a 175/50 and a 185/60

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Sumitomo&tireModel=HTR+200&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=75HR3HTR200&fromCompare1=yes&place=0


What about the Yokohama A032?