Another Elise front tyre manufacturer Nankang

[saaby93]

The Elise front wheel lock up in damp conditions, you let go all the brakes and the wheels still dont want to begin turning to give you some steering. Pos not great, Ad07s any better?

What about these Nankang SV2s 175 55 R16 80H
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Nankang/SV2_2.ht...
The customer reviews with slightly increased pressure look good

Bridgestones
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Bridgestone/Pote...
Yokohamas
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Yokohama/Advan-N...

Edited by saaby93 on Monday 26th October 09:14

[kambites]

What tyres are you running at the moment that you're having these braking problems with?

[otolith]

That's a winter tyre?

[saaby93]

otolith said:

That's a winter tyre?

From those reviews it looks like its the summer end of winter so may be great for damp leafy roads but the reason for posting is the tyre size was pretty much obsolete, but looks like another manufacturer has come in.
H is 210mph?

[otolith]

saaby93 said:

From those reviews it looks like its the summer end of winter so may be great for damp leafy roads but the reason for posting is the tyre size was pretty much obsolete, but looks like another manufacturer has come in.
H is 210mph?

210km/h, 130mph.

Yes, unusual size, and unusual size to find properly high performance tyres in. At the moment, I think the AD07 is really the only game in town. I don't think these would get close to their dry performance, which is approaching track day tyres. Might be better in the wet, I suppose, and definitely better in winter conditions (assuming you had some on the back too).

Since I fitted Exige Y-spokes, I no longer have this problem - AD08R all round.

[kambites]

Interestingly that Nankang seems to be available in both of the standard S2 sizes. Is it the only winter tyre which is (I know Lotus recommend different sizes for winter tyres, but that has insurance complications)?

[saaby93]

kambites said:

Interestingly that Nankang seems to be available in both of the standard S2 sizes.

You mean front and rears?

I posted this review in the winter tyres forum asking if anyone had seen any reviews of winter tyres when not used in the summer i.e. now or spring
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/wet-conditions/120...
None yet
It doesnt look like it's the best winter tyre but we're not talking about use in snowdrifts.
Is it better than using the Yokos or bridgestones outside summer
The customer reviews linked earlier suggest increasing the pressures as otherwise the sidewalls are on the soft side.
Its a pity the magazine reviews hadnt considered this too

ETA other discussed tyre sizes 195 50 16, 225 45 17

Edited by saaby93 on Sunday 1st November 14:45

[otolith]

All of the OEM tyres for the S2 Elise are at the other end of the spectrum for sidewall stiffness, so that's unlikely to be ideal.

[kambites]

True, the Elise doesn't seem to react well to soft side-walls.

[saaby93]

Hence why it said increase pressure 2.5 bars
(that sounds a lot)
Whats best for winter grip - are we in winter yet

Before the Nankangs were available Someone on MLOC moved to the Hancook wider front tyre option

mloc said:

tyres i went for were Hancook ventus prime 2: F 195 50 16 R 225 45 17 . not been far but they are so much quieter and less of a harsh ride than the ADo7's should last better and they grip in the wet!
the AD 07's are forsale if you want some ; fronts ( 175 55 16)have about 5 to 6mm tread and rears (225 45 17)about 4 ish mm."

http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/topic/59230-what-is-the-best-tyre-for-an-s2-elise

Trouble is you never get much follow up feedback

Edited by saaby93 on Tuesday 27th October 07:52

[kambites]

I think they mean increase pressures to 2.5 BAR. 2.5 BAR is 36psi, if you increased your pressures by 2.5BAR from the norm, your tyres would probably explode.

[marshalla]

kambites said:

(I know Lotus recommend different sizes for winter tyres, but that has insurance complications)?

Not very often. https://www.abi.org.uk/Insurance-and-savings/Produ...

[saaby93]

marshalla said:

kambites said:

(I know Lotus recommend different sizes for winter tyres, but that has insurance complications)?

Not very often. https://www.abi.org.uk/Insurance-and-savings/Produ...

abi said:

Please note that this Commitment only applies to cars used for personal use that are insured under a private or personal use car insurance policy

Does that cut out everyone who has commuting or business included in their policy whether they use it or not?

[kambites]

marshalla said:

kambites said:

(I know Lotus recommend different sizes for winter tyres, but that has insurance complications)?

Not very often. https://www.abi.org.uk/Insurance-and-savings/Produ...

Read that again, the wording is so ambiguous as to be meaningless. The "in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions" for an Elise could easily be read to mean that it only applies when fitting Pirelli 210/240s which are no longer available.

Fitting non-OEM sizes would almost certainly not be covered, I suspect.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 27th October 09:56

[otolith]

kambites said:

I think they mean increase pressures to 2.5 BAR. 2.5 BAR is 36psi, if you increased your pressures by 2.5BAR from the norm, your tyres would probably explode.

I would not want to drive an Elise with 36psi in the tyres. Many people prefer to run slightly lower pressures than the handbook suggests.

Well, maybe I would, it could be fun in a large open space with nothing to hit

I'm not convinced though, that there are many situations in which a budget winter tyre pumped up to 36psi is going to outbrake an AD07 at 26psi or less.

[icepop]

Hi, can I jump onto this thread please and ask if I can use Yokohama Advan Neova AD07's on the front of my S2 Elise with Bridgestone Potenzas on the rear. Reason for asking is that the fronts are ready for replacement, and I have always used Bridgestones, but I notice that the Yokos get good feedback on here, and can be had for £64 vs £86 for the Bridgestones.

[kambites]

Where are you finding AD07s for £64?

In answer to your question, yes of course it's possible and you wont instantly die in a ball of molten lava but it'll ruin the handling which rather defeats the point of owning an Elise in the first place.

[saaby93]

kambites said:

Where are you finding AD07s for £64?

In answer to your question, yes of course it's possible and you wont instantly die in a ball of molten lava but it'll ruin the handling which rather defeats the point of owning an Elise in the first place.

Theyre only slightly more than those Nankangs - winters coming on

[otolith]

Pneus online have them for £75 delivered.

http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/car-tyres-175-...

They've got the Nankang for £57.

My perception is that the AD07s are much grippier than the old Bridgestones. I am not sure I would want them on the front and RE040 on the back, especially if the Bridgestones are getting on a bit. Might be a bit loose. Might cause a bit of looseness in the driver's bowels.

[icepop]

saaby93 said:

kambites said:

Where are you finding AD07s for £64?

In answer to your question, yes of course it's possible and you wont instantly die in a ball of molten lava but it'll ruin the handling which rather defeats the point of owning an Elise in the first place.

Theyre only slightly more than those Nankangs - winters coming on

Tyre Leaders......£128 FOR 2, 175/55/16, free delivery.......to avoid the potential lava death , I'll stick to Bridgestones as there's still a good amount of tread on the rears.