Mixing Tyres for S1/True Winter tyres/different wheels

[M030ef00]

I have read everything I can find on the message boards about tyre choice. A lot of it goes back a long way discussing tyre types that have been improved upon or no longer made/available.

It would seem at first glance there are almost as many opinions as tyres on what is best to use to keep the Elise from aquaplaning etc. I use mine as a daily driver and do motorway miles mostly. SOme of the recent rain scared me Sh*tless. AD08s are a summer tyre, as are Toyo R1R/T1R. These are the first choices mentioned, or R888s if you want to spend loads and have grip vary excuisitely and inversely with moisture.

If there are so many opinions that would also suggest nobody knows for sure. Someone mentioned a different wheel-set for winter. Where is the best place to get some? How does wheel size change affect the handling and braking, and is it a good idea for road use?

I have looked around and it seems near impossible to get a pair of 195/50r15 and a pair of 225/45r16 in the same make as a winter tyre! If I put winters on the back, say Avon or Uniroyal or Toyo (Snowprox)
what happens if I put winters from a different maker on the front? Do I want Front winters for aquaplaning and summers for the back as most of the aquaplaning will be done by the fronts? Do I want more grip at the front, meaning the back will slide first and unite me with the scenery, or do I want more grip at back, meaning I will at least see the scenery coming as I aquaplane into it?

I don't want a shed. I love driving the Elise and beside the fact that it is great fun to mess about in, it's also light on petrol, easy to park and comfortable as hell for long journeys(I know, I'm weird that way!)

[Captain Muppet]

For winter tyres Lotus recommend 185/55R15 front tyres and then 15" wheels on the back with 195/60R15 tyres. You'll need a new pair of 15" Elise front wheels for this, which you can get at Elise Parts or eBay or the internet. If you get a pair of hub PCD converters you can fit 4x100 wheels, which are common enough that you can pick up a set of useable winter wheels for under £100.

I use my S1 Elise all year, including commuting in snow. I use Toyo T1Rs and while they don't give the grip that winter tyres do (I have used winter tyres on other cars and am a big fan) the T1Rs keep me moving and so far haven't left me stranded. I don't have any big hills to climb though, and winters in the south of England aren't that harsh.

I wouldn't mix winter and summer tyres on the same car for road use on an Elise. Winters have much less grip in the dry, and summer tyres much less grip in the cold and wet. Unless you want you car to swap between massive oversteer and massive understeer depending on the season I'd stick either having winters or summers on. I have used winters on the rear of my MX5 on track for drifting, and they made it hilariously oversteery.

With regard to your aquaplaning problem - I have no problems with aquaplaning on T1Rs as long as they still have a decent amount of tread left. Also if I see huge sheets of standing water ahead I slow down.