Tyre choice?

[richard sprint]

Alex

Any luck with your suppliers as I need to commit in the next couple of weeks...

Richard

[elanfan1]

I had a brief conversation with Pat Thomas of Kelvedon Motors regarding tyres (now there's a guy who knows a thing or two about handling in an Elan) and he reckons he has found a tyre which is ideal for Elan road use and that they are something like ?40 odd a corner which if correct must be the bargain of the century. He wouldn't tell me what they are as obviously he wants the sale and you can't blame him for that - (otherwise I could source them direct).

What he was saying though was the surface of the tyre in contact with the road has a soft curved 'U' shaped profile which is what he says you are looking for great handling in an Elan - this against the more rigid 'box' shape profile of other tyres.

Anyone care to guess what these tyres are and offer opinions on them. Crystal balls out!

[richard sprint]

I will try giving Pat Thomas a call on monday

[Bahamayellow]

I had a brief conversation with Pat Thomas of Kelvedon Motors regarding tyres (now there's a guy who knows a thing or two about handling in an Elan) and he reckons he has found a tyre which is ideal for Elan road use and that they are something like ?40 odd a corner which if correct must be the bargain of the century. He wouldn't tell me what they are as obviously he wants the sale and you can't blame him for that - (otherwise I could source them direct).

What he was saying though was the surface of the tyre in contact with the road has a soft curved 'U' shaped profile which is what he says you are looking for great handling in an Elan - this against the more rigid 'box' shape profile of other tyres.

Anyone care to guess what these tyres are and offer opinions on them. Crystal balls out!

Bet they are the Bridgestone EVO 330 I don't like them the tyre walls are flimsy and tuck in on hard cornering they cost around ?40 a corner which I have wasted Michelins at ?150 a corner now I guess

[freddy22112211]

I have Michelin MXV 165/70 on 5" Panasports. The roadholding is very good, they are now nearly slicks. But the steering is quite heavy. The roadholding with my old (original type) Michelin XASs was hopeless, but the steering was fantastic. I wonder if you can get the best of both worlds with the new XASs (155/80 on 4.5 wheels)? Would probably have to use the steel wheels again.
I've seen Toyo 350 - 165/70s for 38 Euros (40 GBP) here, but not tried them yet.
Gordon

[richard sprint]

Spoke with Pat at Kelvedon motors today, the tyres are 165 x 70 x 13 U shaped Yoko's.

He explained they work well with the Lotus suspension geometry.

Possibly not so good in the wet.

Would the 10mm width oversize be a problem on clearance/steering lock?

[elanfan1]

So what does anyone know about these Yoko's - are they any good, (do they squeal for instance as I find that embarrassing particularly at low speed when you get some agressive looks off pedestrains who think you are being a hooligan) will they fit a standard car with std suspension set up? Can anyone confirm a spec/pattern no.of the tyres and a confirmed price.

Is there any likelyhood they would be available in 155 size? and being 10mm narrower would they be as good?

[steveww]

The only Yokos I found with those dimensions is an economy T speed rated tyre. Most likely hard compound and soft sidewalls.

[umbyfer]

I have just bought and not yet installed 4 new Dunlop SP10 155-80x13. I use the car for road only.

Thank you for any comments....

Umberto
Sprint 7108000193K
Modena - Italy

[Roy Gillett]

Not sure, but I am going to ask my local (V good) supplier. I will be surprised if he can't get them.

I will keep you all posted.

AB...

I have XAS FF's on my steel wheels and agree with everything everyone else has said about them. They really are fantastic. I am not sure how well they will last, however. I got mine from Longstone after my very good local tyre supplier (who gets all sorts of exotic tyres for my Ducati) said he couldn't even find a wholesaler who listed the XAS FFs . Finally Longstone waived the delivery charge for me but that is as far as they were prepared to go.

You do need to be a bit careful BTW as there is a [i]standard[i] XAS that is only a little cheaper than the FF but much harder and not as grippy.

You won't regret it once you have forgotten the price. Even the newly re-available Dunlop Aquajets (which don't get a good press) are expensive now, exchange rates being blamed in part.

Roy

[Bruce Crowthorne]

Just bear in mind that the Mitchelin XAS is too big to fit in the spare wheel well!
So buy 4 and get something that fits the spare wheel well as a spare.
Funnily enough, I have an extra XAS....
Bruce

[cliveyboy]

I use Dunlop SP10 tyres and I like them.
Squeal a bit round corners ( which I like). Grip is reasonable and they give you a bit of warning when they are on the limit
Clive

[alexblack13]

Sorry about late getting back on this. I drew a blank. Local company D&G Autocare could not get a price on them without going thro a specialist. As we do! He was offered minimal resale % which resulted in a more expensive tyre to us.

I ended up buying 1 Bridgestone (391?) to replace something on a rear wheel resembling a tyre with a name I have never seen b4. That then will have the car fully Bridgestone shod. Car feels fine as is but I don't like oddball mixes.

Alex B....

[Bahamayellow]

I had a brief conversation with Pat Thomas of Kelvedon Motors regarding tyres (now there's a guy who knows a thing or two about handling in an Elan) and he reckons he has found a tyre which is ideal for Elan road use and that they are something like ?40 odd a corner which if correct must be the bargain of the century. He wouldn't tell me what they are as obviously he wants the sale and you can't blame him for that - (otherwise I could source them direct).

What he was saying though was the surface of the tyre in contact with the road has a soft curved 'U' shaped profile which is what he says you are looking for great handling in an Elan - this against the more rigid 'box' shape profile of other tyres.

Anyone care to guess what these tyres are and offer opinions on them. Crystal balls out!

Bet they are the Bridgestone EVO 330 I don't like them the tyre walls are flimsy and tuck in on hard cornering they cost around ?40 a corner which I have wasted Michelins at ?150 a corner now I guess

I bought the EVO 330 on a reccomendation and they are appaling. I had CEAT remoulds on before which came on the car and when I inspected them off the car I found they were cracking, presumably with age, but these gave far superior handling to the Bridgestones. Waste of ?200

[bast0n]

I spoke to Pat Thomas also and on his recomendation have fitted Yokohama A Drive (or A001) They are fabulous. I had Bridgestones previously that I thought were the bees knees but no longer made, and these Yokos are far superior in every way. Turn is so sharp I have had to adjust my driving style a bit! Not expensive either. I fit 165/70/13s by bashing the side of the rear spring carrier with a mallet!