tyres

[661]

Hi all.
S4 owner here thinking about tyres soon....
The previous owner rebuilt the car and put new Minilite knock offs on which look great but he purchased 6.5J instead of 5.5J wheels. So the car is wearing 165 tyres and cannot go down to 155 on these wheels. So I am stuck with 165 tyres and XAS do not come in that size?
The car drives very well and my only critisism is fairly heavy steering at parking speeds and a tyre that rubs the body everytime I turn into my driveway but no other time. It's a turn and drop at the same time.
So any recomendations? I also understand some modern tyres can be too "broad" regardless of their size?
It would be great to hear from an S4 owner using 6.5J wheels and 165 tyres with no complaints???

You'll see from my post above that the XAS does come in 165, but that I considered it too wide for the arches.
The 155 would seem to fit the 5.5J according to:
https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/michel ... as-ff.html
....but oddly the data sheet misses out 5"J , which makes me suspicious that that may be an error.

[Sinbad007]

Yes I think that data is not correct? Longstone state this but everyone else states differently. I have looked at this extensively and the minimum for a 5.5J wheel is 165, that I am now sure. If I can get XAS in 165 that is what I shall do but I am struggling to find them?

[Sinbad007]

The aspect ratio is 80 on the 165's. That is the issue. I need no more than 70's

[dougal cawley]

Yes I think that data is not correct? Longstone state this but everyone else states differently. I have looked at this extensively and the minimum for a 5.5J wheel is 165, that I am now sure. If I can get XAS in 165 that is what I shall do but I am struggling to find them?

Teehee it did worry me when i read this. Have we got it wrong? So i checked with the manufacturer

But still you might say, they have missed out the 5" rim. Well they are just saying it fits between 4" and 5.5" rim. because it is a nice tall tyre, the range of rim it fits is wide. the lower profile they get the more specific about rim with.

There is a govening body called ERTO. They have recomended rim widths for tyres. I will post that in another post because i dont seem to be able to get it to work here

[Sinbad007]

Ho Dougal. Now I don't know what to think? Everywhere else I have looked it is stated the MINIMUM tyre size for a 5.5J 13" wheel is 165 aspect ratio. A 155 tyre would surely "balloon out?" But if it is safe to do so I would look at it?

[dougal cawley]

Lets see if this works

oo i think that worked that worked

But as you can see 5.5" is no problemo.

It is currently trendy to stretch a tyre onto a rim. In UK we are very slap dash about what tyre goes on what rim. i don't think there is a law against it (There laws against stretching tyres some other countries. specially Germany they are very specific).

As a rule of thumb with tall profile tyres you want a tyre that is wider than the rim. In my understanding, the reason you want this extra width is so it will protect you wheel rim from a curb. the width of a 155R13 XAS is 157mm. that is 6.2"

[dougal cawley]

165 isnt the aspect ratio. 165 is the section width.

80 is the aspect ratio. that means that the height of the side wall is 80% of the with of the tyre.

fit the 155. our freind earliuer on sent some ace pictures showing what tyres fit. 155 is right. 165 is for the +2

70 profile tyres are wrong for the car.

wide wheels are a mistake made by people who think wider tyres are a good idea on these cars

(Or wide wheels are fitted by racers who have also made all number of other modifications that compromise the car as a road car, but return more grip on a perfectly smooth race track.)

[Sinbad007]

But...

https://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/ty ... dvice.html

There are others on google saying the same.
FYI I am in Sweden but they are pretty relaxed here about most driving laws so I can't see the legal question being an issue. I just want it to work and be safe.

[661]

As the earlier pictures show, I just don't think the 165 /80 XAS will fit the arches.
The 155 XAS is a superb tyre. The 155 Pirelli must be in the mix too. If you just potter to the shops and back and equally don't worry about the original aesthetics , then there are plenty of budget tyres. Personally, I think there is a flawed economy of budgeting on the only thing in contact with the black stuff.

[dougal cawley]

Fit a 155.
It will fit.
it is fine on that rim.
it is the correct size an Elan SE.

[MACCA.GLM]

Hi All

As I started this forum I need to just say a few words about this topic

I stated earlier the tyres I went for which were Nangkang 155/70/13. These are in the budget sector as you probably know. I was recommended to buy these by a reputable source and can confirm they are excellent and hold on tight.For around £65 quid a corner £260 including the dreaded fitted are a great buy . So I'm not sure why people pay £200 a corner but you pays your money and takes your choice.

( I maybe wrong.I'm no racing driver and do not track the car) but know what Elans Plus 2s ,and Excels can do.For me there's not that much of a performance difference on the road. Maybe the more expensive tyres give you better mileage ,but as I do no more than 3000 miles a year it's not a factor for me. I also do not drive the sprint in the wet unless caught out so carnt give a view on that.

cheers

G

[Sinbad007]

Hej Macca.

That is a very helpful post. I never drive in the wet, only in the summer with no roof and less than 600 miles a year. A good non expensive tyre that looks right is all I really need. I shall look into those. Many thanks.

[dougal cawley]

Oo before i write this post i am going to apologise to Macca because he isn't going to like what i write. but it would be wrong to let this pass.

Hi All

As I started this forum I need to just say a few words about this topic

I stated earlier the tyres I went for which were Nangkang 155/70/13. These are in the budget sector as you probably know. I was recommended to buy these by a reputable source and can confirm they are excellent and hold on tight.For around £65 quid a corner £260 including the dreaded fitted are a great buy . So I'm not sure why people pay £200 a corner but you pays your money and takes your choice.

I realise there is a budget side to the Lotus Elan, historically an Elan did end up being a massive bargain, and though it is difficult to justify putting an expensive tyre on a car that didnt cost you much; What a suitable tyre costs, has absolutely nothing to do with the actual current or historic value of a car. I freely admit to flogging an XJ12 Jag that i had paid £2.5K for, because at the time i didn't have a spare £ 1.5K to fit a set of tyres to it.

People pay for a quality tyre because they want their car to drive at its best. With some people tyre choice is driven by making a car as good as they can rather than how cheap they can do it.

Who ever recomended fitting a 155/70R13 Nankang to your car was saying that this is a cheap way of keeping your rims off the road. They are not an excellent option. It is a budget tyre in the wrong size and wrong style of carcass structure built for a wholey different style of car.They do compromise the handling and ride of your vehicle. how subtle that difference is in question, and weather you are prepared to make that sacrefice to save some money is up to you, but they are not excellent and you will only know that if you fit some good proper tyres again. We have had loads of people move onto the XAS or Cinturato on an Elan and all we have had is people saying how great they are and how much more enjoyable their car is to drive.

( I maybe wrong.I'm no racing driver and do not track the car) but know what Elans Plus 2s ,and Excels can do.For me there's not that much of a performance difference on the road. Maybe the more expensive tyres give you better mileage ,but as I do no more than 3000 miles a year it's not a factor for me. I also do not drive the sprint in the wet unless caught out so carnt give a view on that.

cheers

G

Apologies again MACCA but they are not as good as a proper tyre. However it is up to you if you want to make that sacrefice, but i cannot sit by and not answer that. better tyres are better, but if you want to save a few quid and still enjoy driving you car that is great, but they aren't as good.

[MACCA.GLM]

Dougal

You don't have to apologise, and you haven't upset me.I except your views and comments as you have excepted mine for reasons given.Its important that people can talk about problems and topics without being biased ,confrontational or downright insulting.This is how we all learn.

This is what this forum is about.

Cheers

Macca

[661]

Very well said.
Viva la forum