What tyres are the best?

[gazzamuffin]

Hi all (again!),

I have an S3 Elan, and am wondering what tyres i should fit.

the car will do around 3,000 miles a year (just incase this has any affect on your reccomendations)

thanks

Gazza

[mark030358]

XAS... just Brill

[AHM]

Firestone F590

[abstamaria]

Gazza,

Having owned my Elan since 1977 and gone through so many tire and wheel combinations (I am now on Dunlop vintage racing tires, CR65s, a choice dictated by the 6"-wide 26R magnesium wheels on the car), I think the best tire for the Elan is one that most closely approximates the Dunlop 155R13 SP Sports that came on several of the later models. That tire size, skinny and with less grip than modern tires, preserves the delicacy and fun of driving the Elan and also the look and stance of the car.

I think the Michelin XAS is one of the few that comes in 155-13. My only hesitation there would be the steel belt, rather than the textile belt the SP Sports (Aquajet?) came with. Still the Michelins seem a good choice; if I had narrower wheels, I would get those. I am not familiar with the Firestone F590 AHM suggests.

Good luck,

Andy

[AHM]

My choice of the Firestone came from:
A survey of Elans in the car park at Donnington (Club Lotus event). To decide which tyres I thought suited the Elan (looks).
Reading reports on performance with particular attention to wet performance and noise.
Price.

This gave a choice of Avon, Firestone, Dunlop. - all period brands.

The tyre fitter couldn't get the Avon's so I went for Firestone.

[fjbm]

Hi

Did you look at the Falken SN-535 155/80 R13 79S?

They look fantastic and should be very good.

Thanks

[abstamaria]

Are those 80 series tires, AHM?

Andy

[jimj]

Bear in mind that 80s are not acceptable at scrutineering for competitive classic rallies.
Jim

[abstamaria]

I wonder why that is? What is acceptable, Jim?

[fjbm]

Bear in mind that 80s are not acceptable at scrutineering for competitive classic rallies.
Jim

Hi

I really didn't know that, but I don't intent to do any "competitive classic rallies". Just liked the looks of them.

I thought the 155/80R13 corresponded to the old 155R13...

Thanks

[jimj]

Andy, it`s in some small print somewhere, I think in the RAC blue book. I only know because a pal with a TR5 a couple of years ago was told at scutineering they weren`t "standard" but they`d let it go this time. Then at 9p.m. was told to change them or take some hundreds of penalties. He`s super competitive, never exceeding 100 pints over a whole rally so was very *%^*%*.
It`s nonsense when another pal has an XK120 with a Getrag `box, discs, and a highly speeced engine, for example, and that`s OK.
Jim

[simonknee]

Strange but I've not come across those Firestone before.
They look like a good replacement for my aging Dunlop SP10 145R13
And you get all four plus a spare in for the price of ONE Michelin XAS!!

[oldelanman]

Goodyear GT2 is another option ... they do a 155/80R13 79T tyre which is very reasonably priced.

[elansprint71]

"What tyres are the best?"

Which; Shirley?

May I refer you to the archives? I am reasonably sure that this subject has been covered before.

[simonknee]

What post had the answer then, Pete?