Winter tyres on an Elise 111R

[Mobile Chicane]

Anyone tried these?

The size and profile I need is available for the rears on the 111R. Question is, do these give meaningful traction in the snow, particularly uphill?

Snow socks have been tried, but don't have the longevity I need.

TVMIA.

[kambites]

I've never tried it but they ought to be pretty good, the Elise's layout is as good as you'll get for snow without driving all four wheels.

[alephnull]

kambites said:

I've never tried it but they ought to be pretty good, the Elise's layout is as good as you'll get for snow without driving all four wheels.

Really? I always thought heavy and engine over the wheels that do steering, braking and drive was a better combo...

I drove my mx5 on snow and it was hillariously oversteery...I wouldnt choose to drive anywhere serious in a lightweight sports car.

[kambites]

alephnull said:

Really? I always thought heavy and engine over the wheels that do steering, braking and drive was a better combo...

For accelerating up-hill in the snow? You want the rear wheels driven and as much weight over them as possible.

You might not be able to go around corners, but that wasn't the question asked.

[thegreenhell]

I've posted this more than once before, but I think it bears repeating.

I ran Nokian WR-G2 tyres on my S1 for a couple of winters, including some snow-bound winter trips overseas. The grade up to the top of the hill on which this photo was taken was very steep, and in places the snow on what was usually a rutted dirt track was deep enough to pack into the front grille. At no point did I worry that she wouldn't make it to the top. The handling in general in the snow was very good - entertaining and always sure-footed.

[Gh45]

alephnull said:

Really? I always thought heavy and engine over the wheels that do steering, braking and drive was a better combo...

I drove my mx5 on snow and it was hillariously oversteery...I wouldnt choose to drive anywhere serious in a lightweight sports car.

Fine with winter boots

[Mobile Chicane]

What about winters just on the rears?

a. Work fine
b. Not as good as winters on all wheels but will do
c. Useless

I say this because the rears will need replacing soon-ish, whereas the fronts are new. No space / funds for spare rims.

Incidentally I don't need these for doughnutting in snowy car parks - it's purely for getting on and off a hill to get to work.

TVMIA

[Gh45]

I did this. Not an issue except be careful when stopping

Car was just at 30mph as was through town during winter

[Renny]

Mobile Chicane said:

What about winters just on the rears?

a. Work fine
b. Not as good as winters on all wheels but will do
c. Useless

I say this because the rears will need replacing soon-ish, whereas the fronts are new. No space / funds for spare rims.

Incidentally I don't need these for doughnutting in snowy car parks - it's purely for getting on and off a hill to get to work.

TVMIA

NO.
Unless you want to fall off the road, or run into anything that stops in front of you. Having traction and reduced steering and brakes is a recipie for serious loss of control

[otolith]

kambites said:

For accelerating up-hill in the snow? You want the rear wheels driven and as much weight over them as possible.

You might not be able to go around corners, but that wasn't the question asked.

I once saw an old Beetle going up a hill that only four wheel drive cars were otherwise tackling.

[enioldjoe]

I always remember cyberface's postings on this topic, one of which can be found here :

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[bencollins]

recommend dont mix summer and winter tyres.
suggest buy an extra wheelset then swap over nov 1st and april 5th.

[Beachbum]

Did anyone ever try out the Yoko W tyres ?

Has anyone found winter tyres of the same make/type to fit a 111R ?

Reading Cyberfaces older thread, seems that you can get tyres to fit one axle, but not the other, unless you mix type.

[Beachbum]

He left PH. Got fed up with all of the trolling that went along with his posts.

[bencollins]

pity, i also enjoyed cyberfaces insightful posts, liked a bit of heartfelt ginger emotion and sense.
someone mentioned VW up have similar tyre sizes, wonder what they use for winter tyres?

[edo111s]

Beachbum said:

Did anyone ever try out the Yoko W tyres ?

Has anyone found winter tyres of the same make/type to fit a 111R ?

Reading Cyberfaces older thread, seems that you can get tyres to fit one axle, but not the other, unless you mix type.

I ran my Elise SC on Yoko W last winter
pretty happy with them.
steering feel much worse (on the 1st day I thought I had a servoassisted Elise!!!)
but grip very good.
I never actually drove on snow only on cold damp muddy winter roads.
I keep snowsocks in the boot which can transform the Elise in a 4x4 on proper snow - I once went up and downhill with them and it was hilarious except that I had to dodge other cars spinning down ....

[J2LOT]

I ran my Europa on Yoko W drive tyres last winter and was able to go up the steep hill at the end of our street when every other car got stuck, I was amazed at just how good it was. In general use the car feels softer and a wee bit wallowy compared to normal tyres but you quickly get used to the different feel.

[cjm]

I use winter tyres on my s2 111s and its great in the cold and wet never mind the snow. It also means the summer tyres last a bit longer as well.

[Sway]

Are you guys running a second set of wheels, or swapping tyres?

I'm looking at getting an Elise or VX220 as a daily driver pretty soon, to do a 45 mile e/w commute.

Was thinking a set of steels fitted with winter tyres, but I'm not sure what size wheels or what tyres!

Any advice?

[Thorburn]

Sway said:

Are you guys running a second set of wheels, or swapping tyres?

I'm looking at getting an Elise or VX220 as a daily driver pretty soon, to do a 45 mile e/w commute.

Was thinking a set of steels fitted with winter tyres, but I'm not sure what size wheels or what tyres!

Any advice?

Various different wheel and tyre sizes depending on the model - the S1, S2 (K-series), S2 (Toyota) and VX220 are all different, with smaller wheels and weird PCD on the S1, while the rear wheel offset varies on the different S2's types and I think VX220's are a 5-stud bolt pattern for the wheels.