Elan plus 2 alloy wheels

[Elan4James]

Hi everyone
I'm renovating my Plus 2 which has been off road for 30 years. Does anyone know what tyres will go onto Lotus Alloys. Blockley Tyres can't get theirs over the rim,and my local tyre supplier has tried Falken,Maxxis and Michelin and none will go on.
Any suggestions? Thanks

[alan.barker]

You fit the Tyres from the opposite side to normal so the bead goes down into reduced Dia. The reduced Dia is offset.
If there are no safety bead on wheels you need Tubes.
Alan

[checkrail]

I had a set of 165 Kumhos fitted with no problems at my local fitters

John

[Elan4James]

Thanks Alan this was what they tried and still couldn't get the tyres over the rim

[alan.barker]

Good luck James,
Don't break a Rim
Alan

[Steve Brooks]

Hello, I have Falken 165/80/13 sincera sn 832 ecorun on my +2 alloys ( alloys bought from PM years ago)

[Hawksfield]

Hi
+1 Steve Brooks

[seniorchristo]

Has anyone had an issue mounting 165 X13 Blockleys on Plus 2 standard steel wheels? I will be using these on my Plus 2.
Thanks

[Elan4James]

Can anyone give me the name and address of a company that has actually fitted tyres to Lotus Alloys please

[rgh0]

The well in the wheel is shallow and fitting and removing tyres, especially modern tyres with stiff sidewalls, difficult.

The local race tyre supplier who I use to change tyres on my Plus 2 alloy wheels hates me every time I come in. He cuts the beads off the old tyres to remove them.

Tyre fitters turn up the air pressure on their machines to try to get the bead over the wheel. This increases the pressure also on the clamping lugs that hold the wheel on the machine and this can damage the rim as the original Lotus alloy wheels are very soft compared to modern wheels.

Find a race tyre supplier who appreciates a Lotus as they tend to have more competnt people than the average local tyre shop.

cheers
Rohan

[Elan4James]

Who do you suggest Rohan

[h20hamelan]

On my modern tyre machine, not a centre clamp unfortunately but 4 arms which spread to clamp the rim. I have found on the standard steel wheels that mounting upside-down, or so the outside or face of the rim is down gives a much stiffer clamp/hold. More important it puts the reduced diameter area up-top.
Wish i had a centre clamp, but some of my Volvo rims would be ruined.
My machine does work well, it has 4 arms that wrap around tyre so you can have pressure up or down, hold a tyre iron with one, forward backwards and etc.

I understand most/all of this does not pertain re original post…but. A warm tyre, with a thin bit removed from inside so it fits over the rim should be fine. I and other tyre shops tear this area often, not good, and, often one doesnt know until tyre comes off. And using a buffer (patch work) to remove a thin bit shouldn’t hurt. Of course you wont need to remove from the entire tyre, only just over 1/2.

[alanr]

Have you talked to Blockley themselves about this problem you are having? Or is it that you have purchased the tyres from them and are now getting a local tyre fitter top fit them?
I see you are based in Warwickshire not far from where Blockley are based in Moreton-in-Marsh so I wouldn't have thought getting them to do the job wouId be difficult and I am sure they have done it many times before.

Alan

[rgh0]

Who do you suggest Rohan

Sorry but being based in Melbourne Australia I am not familiar with race tyre suppliers and fitters in the UK near you but I am sure with a bit of internet research you will find them.

cheers
Rohan

[alan.barker]

+1 Rohan,
Sometimes they do need some "Wet Nursing" lol
Alan