Tyre advice for uk car

[Apx]

I know that its been written before but i am seeking advice as what tyres to fit to my ?lan. Its a completely standard early series 4 se with KO wheels ( still with dunlop sp sports!) ,i want tyres suitable for spirited road driving that will run with the standard set up. anyone who has personal experience with makes and sizes whether positive or not would be appreciated. I need them to be available in the UK. Cheers

[Andy8421]

Apx,

The car originally was fitted with 155 width tyres, not easy to find now. Have a look at:

http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/lotus-elan

The Michelin 155HR13 XAS FF come recommended, but need tubes and are expensive. I will be using these when I have had my wheels restored.

Edit: Just checked my file. Apparently the tyre is a road legal competition tyre, (FF is 'Formule France') and has a relatively soft compound. Good for grip, but not for longevity. Probably not an issue for a car that does limited mileage.

[elanfan1]

I'm planning Dunlop SP Street Response (so far).

[bast0n]

Yokohama A Drive 165/70/13

Sticky, very comfortable, compliant and seem to last for ever. The Bees Knees for me.

[AHM]

Firestone F590

[Allison]

Hi, we used to have Uniroyals but they've become harder to get hold of so have now switched to Michelin E3B (145 size with inner tubes). So far they've been good but haven't been on for long. In many ways the more important question is what pressure to run at. My handbook says 18/23 but that's way too low for modern compounds and structures and we used to squeal and slide. We're now running at 28/32 and that seems to work.

Peter

[Apx]

Cheers for replies so far, can i ask exactly what sizes are you using and are there any fowling issues?

[Elanintheforest]

I have the XAS tyres fitted to my S4, and at 165x13, no signs of rubbing. The S4 wider arches will take 175x13 on some 70 profile tyres.

I haven't heard a bad word about the XAS tyres yet, apart from the cost, but I have no experience of them. My S4 has been off the road for 28 years, and the tyres were fitted a few years before that! What I can say is they are not cracked!!

But I am putting my S3 back on the road this year, and it will be treated to a new set of XAS tyres.

Mark

[richardcox_lotus]

On my '72 Sprint I have a new set of Firestone F590. Size of 155/80 with 79T rating.

?225 for 5.

They replaced my 10 year old (+) Dunlops. Car seems fine, though not driven in rain yet. Was going to fit Uniroyals but my supplier couldn't get them at the time.

Regards
Richard

[el-saturn]

the A539 are modern tyres whereas those michelin are for cars of the disabled - the next step up will be the A008 yoko - a 175 / 60 / 13 will do!

[bast0n]

Michelin XAS

at ?640 for a set of four I don't think I will switch from my Yokohama A drives that are fantastically grippy and comfortable at ?156 per set of four.............................

[Andy8421]

?640 ? Best I could find 4 (including tubes) was ?760.....

[tyasman]

For what it's worth, I had a set of 175 Pirelli tyres on my car when I bought it, and I was happy with the handling, but when I replaced them with 155/70/13 Firestones (on standard steel wheels), the handling has been transformed. There's less flexing round corners and the whole car feels more "complete". The 155's are of course what was originally fitted by Mr Chapman - and he knew best. It's a light car and it doesn't need huge tyres, unless you're racing of course.

[kstrutt11]

Yokohama A Drive 165/70/13

Sticky, very comfortable, compliant and seem to last for ever. The Bees Knees for me.

Got these in 175/70 on my plus +2 brilliant in both the wet and dry, absolutely transformed the car.

[Bruce Crowthorne]

Another vote for XAS's
They are expensive, and there are probably modern equivalents that are just as good.
And in my case, I really don't need the ultimate in grip. Seemed fine on a track day though.

Word of warning - watch out if you use one for the spare. Mine wouldn't fit in the boot! I ended up buying a cheapo modern tyre for the spare so I could get it in the boot.
So that probably saves ?100 then .......