Tires: US Source for RE92's and any other tire suggestions

[pamitchell]

Lotusdelta

Any variance in the speedo readings using the Sprint+?
TIA
Phil

[spanner]

My '65 Elan has a set of 155 x 13 Vresdestein Sprint STs, that I purchased in 1981. Interesting note: they have the "classic" tread, not the Sprint + style.

Every couple of years, I think it's time to buy a new set.... maybe this spring! I'm tempted to go 145 x 13, anyone running these, comments please?

[steveww]

If you want a road legal performance tyre in the correct size for the Elan the only choice is the Michelin XAS FF 155x80x13. This is a special tyre for historic motorsport but road legal. Period look with modern soft compound. Expensive but the best. I love 'em.

Not sure where you get them in the US Try contacting Michelin US direct for a list of suppliers. Here in the UK http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/ supply them. I got mine mail order and had my local chap fit them.[/b]

[lotusdelta]

Phil,

No adverse changes to speedometer that im adware of but to be honest I dont look that often., Im having too much fun driving.
The last poster mentioned Michelin xas tires, they are a terrific tire no questions, but they cost like $200.00 a piece !!. I bought a set of 4 Vredestines for about the same price. Like I said evryones looking for different results and to each his own.
Me...I bought the Vredesteins and havent looked back

David
72 elan sprint coupe

[cabc26b]

Mopho -

On the Avons, I would not run the ACB9's on the road - they are not DOT and will last about 1000 miles ( at $200/each) . The ACB10's are available in a harder compound and will last longer ( I think they are DOT) but cant recall if they are available in the 5x22x13 which by the way , you should run with a 5.5 rim. these are also bias tires which may/should require you to change your set up.

It has not come up but i will give tarmac rally tires a go for my narrow arch car - thinking about the Dunlop or Avon tires -they come in 165 and 175 sections and Avon list theirs as DOT - they are pricey - so hoping you will buy a set and let me know how long they last -

george

[mopho]

Mopho -

On the Avons, I would not run the ACB9's on the road - they are not DOT and will last about 1000 miles ( at $200/each) . The ACB10's are available in a harder compound and will last longer ( I think they are DOT) but cant recall if they are available in the 5x22x13 which by the way , you should run with a 5.5 rim. these are also bias tires which may/should require you to change your set up.

It has not come up but i will give tarmac rally tires a go for my narrow arch car - thinking about the Dunlop or Avon tires -they come in 165 and 175 sections and Avon list theirs as DOT - they are pricey - so hoping you will buy a set and let me know how long they last -

george

A 1000 miles?! That would last me about a month
Yeah, I was trying to avoid racing tires for that reason, but I would think that Rally tires would be just as bad, not to mention that they are really only good for a couple of heat cycles, no?

I did finally find a set of the RE92's (the last set they had), so hopefully this bought me another year or so before I need tires.
I found them at www.rogerkrousetires.com

I have been eyeballing the Toyo RA1's http://www.rogerkraustires.com/Toyo/RA1.shtml which come in a 185/60/13 but I would have to do some fender flares and perhaps wider/different offset wheels. Hmm, perhaps 26r style flares might not be so bad

[bcmc33]

Morgan,

You don?t say what size wheels you?re using.

The 165/65/13 tires will work with wheels from 4.5? to 6? wide, but will only give you a circumference of 1711mm, or a speedo/odometer error of 5.8% when compared to the original tire size of 155/80/13 (circumference of 1816mm). I?m interested to know what you did about that.

I?m thinking of getting a set of 5? Minilites and 165/75/13 tires (circumference of 1815mm) to maintain the speedo/odometer ?accuracy? without the need to consider changing the speedo drive gearing. The other option is to go to 14? wheels with 165/65/14 tires which will have a small error of 1.4%. I have not really considered a specific tire apart from the expensive XAS FF, but I know the RE92 was considered a reasonable option in the US as being good value for money (cheap, in other words). I contacted someone at Bridgestone EU to find what they recommend for the Elan but had no response as yet.

As I see it, a 65 profile tire will give less side wall deflection when cornering, but a generally stiffer ride ? which maybe is the downside of the 14? wheel option. I wonder how many people have gone down this route.

I?m really interested in what you would expect to get from going to 185/60/13 tires ? apart from a very hard ride.

[mopho]

I am currently running 13x5 Panasports on the car. I am not particularly concerned about speedometer accuracy, if it is telling me I am going faster than I really am, that's not such a bad thing. Also, despite all the money I have thrown at it my speedometer still doesn't work (I have replaced everything).
I am not concerned about ride quality as the car is set up for carving the wonderful Southern California canyon roads here and track day type stuff, it is lowered, stiffer sprung, around 170hp and quite loud (need ear plugs), so comfort is pretty low on my priority.
But I am trying not to reduce the circumference of the tires anymore than I already have because of the gearing change, I do have to take the freeway every now and then.

Actually, the RE92's were quite a good balance between performance and keeping that vintage feel (and the price was good too), so I am quite disappointed. I don't necessarily want to go wider, but given the power of my car, I don't want to go narrower (or less performance orientated) either and my options are very limited it seems