Tyres for Elise SC - road use only

[aea730]

Folks I’m looking for a bit of informed advice on this. I put a post on the lotus forum but it’s got lost in amongst track day stuff.
I’ve a 2011 SC on the original AD07’s still tread left but thinking it’s time to swap. As I understand it the 175 fronts are no longer available in a suitable tyre.

Has anyone been through this process and found a good tyre for just road use, the car has only done 12k from new and is never going near a track, I don’t want something that’s going to dump me into a hedge but equally I don’t really drive the car hard.

The car has the forged 6” front rims so will go above 175 but I don’t want to lose the front end feel

Any help would be appreciated

[itcaptainslow]

I did a similar swap to AD08R's with a 195 front. Steering is a bit weightier but there doesn't seem to be an appreciable loss of feel, just a slight lessening of the delicacy, maybe.

[Belle427]

Having just bought an Elise myself that isn't far off needing tyres this seems to be a bit of a headache for owners.
The Yokohama V105 seems to be the best choice for purely road use, switching to 195 fronts makes it easier for sizes as suggested.
Mine currently has the Toyo R888R fitted and yes they are a sexy looking tyre but I probably won't fit again.
I can't help thinking something like a better Michelin pilot sport or Goodyear Eagle F1 would be a better choice but most say to stick with a tyre designed for the Lotus which personally I'm not sure about.

[Baldchap]

I actually had a long chat with the Lotus tyre guy in Hethel, and he was very, very insistent that the best performing tyre for a car is the one they leave the factory with, as they develop the suspension and in some cases the tyre together. He actually namechecked PH and Facebook as sources of 'terrible advice from people who don't know what they're talking about' - his words not mine. Tyres are superceded, obviously, and in this case the answer is to look at the latest factory fit, for the same reasons.

AD08 was the last tyre fitted to the Elise, I believe.

[Belle427]

Problem is many cars now have different suspension etc to how it left the factory so its all a very grey area.

[kambites]

Baldchap said:

AD08 was the last tyre fitted to the Elise, I believe.

I'm pretty sure the last Elises were fitted with V105s. It's certainly the tyre Lotus recommend now.

Belle427 said:

I can't help thinking something like a better Michelin pilot sport or Goodyear Eagle F1 would be a better choice but most say to stick with a tyre designed for the Lotus which personally I'm not sure about.

The problem with the Elise is the lack of high-performance tyres which come in both of the sizes required.

[Belle427]

Yes the 175 are a bit of a problem, I think the 195 are much easier but again this is also deviating from what Lotus intended.

[Baldchap]

kambites said:

I'm pretty sure the last Elises were fitted with V105s. It's certainly the tyre Lotus recommend now.

Worth knowing, ours is getting ready. Thanks.

[otolith]

Baldchap said:

I actually had a long chat with the Lotus tyre guy in Hethel, and he was very, very insistent that the best performing tyre for a car is the one they leave the factory with, as they develop the suspension and in some cases the tyre together. He actually namechecked PH and Facebook as sources of 'terrible advice from people who don't know what they're talking about' - his words not mine. Tyres are superceded, obviously, and in this case the answer is to look at the latest factory fit, for the same reasons.

AD08 was the last tyre fitted to the Elise, I believe.

I think that was true, when the new cars were running on bespoke tyres developed with Bridgestone or Yokohama.

I think it's hard to continue that line of argument for the later cars which were sold running on a really rather mediocre off the shelf tyre which as far as I can see has never come better than halfway up the rankings in a tyre test. Even when it was new, which was a long time ago. I am sceptical that Lotus combed the ultra high performance tyres of the world and found that the V105 was the best possible performing tyre for the Elise.

Mine came with LTS RE040. I replaced them with LTS AD07. When I changed the front wheels and tyres to Exige sized, I went with AD08, then AD08R, currently AD08RS. Doesn't look like the AD09 will be sold here in the right size for the front wheels, which is irritating.

[snotrag]

I've been through all this myslelf, as I also have aging AD07's on my Elise. A road car, that sometimes goes out when its a bit cold and wet, and things like noise and ride comfort matter.

The answer is the Advan V105, in the correct sizes and versions (the reccomended rear is actually a Mercedes fitment).

Baldchap said:

I actually had a long chat with the Lotus tyre guy in Hethel, and he was very, very insistent that the best performing tyre for a car is the one they leave the factory with, as they develop the suspension and in some cases the tyre together. He actually namechecked PH and Facebook as sources of 'terrible advice from people who don't know what they're talking about' - his words not mine. Tyres are superceded, obviously, and in this case the answer is to look at the latest factory fit, for the same reasons.

AD08 was the last tyre fitted to the Elise, I believe.

I've quoted this becuase the Advan V105 isnt just 'something made up on the internet'.

Lotus themselves are well aware you cannot buy the tyres they left the factory with anymore - Lotus have literally written a service note telling owners they have done all the testing, and the Advan V105 is the official, factory, reccomended tyre for road cars, when used in the specific versions mentioned (see note about MO Mercedes fitment).


I'm struggling to google the Lotus service letter, but trust me, it exists.


(For what its worth, I have actually used the Advan V105 on track too on a much heavier car, and for the average joe doing a couple of days at Blyton or Bedford once a year, they are absolutely fine. Dont instantly melt, dont fall apart. You wont die if it rains. Sorted.)

Edited by snotrag on Thursday 27th April 12:47

[kambites]

Belle427 said:

Yes the 175 are a bit of a problem, I think the 195 are much easier but again this is also deviating from what Lotus intended.

I don't think any of the latest "sporty" tyres from the big brands are available in 16-inch sizes at all.

[Belle427]

Yes that’s correct, sort of narrows down the choices.

[snotrag]

Belle427 said:

Yes that’s correct, sort of narrows down the choices.

There’s no need to choose!

Advan V105
195/50/R16 84W
225/45/R17 91W MO (Mercedes fitment)

This is the factory spec for road use, including cars with the narrow front rims previously using 175mm AD07s.

They are about £470 fitted on black circles.

Edited by snotrag on Thursday 27th April 20:58

[kambites]

For now, but the V107 has replaced the V105 and isn't available in the right sizes... for how long will we be able to get the V105?

[Belle427]

let us know what you go with and how you find then OP as its a big help.

[aea730]

Belle427 said:

let us know what you go with and how you find then OP as its a big help.

Will do, I think I’m going to go for the V105 as the tyre seems to be the one prescribed for the car, I think anything more track biased might be just a bit hard to live with at normal road driving

[Belle427]

Mine currently has Toyo 888R fitted and I find they tram line quite badly but maybe that’s a trait of going up to a 195 on the front.

[otolith]

Belle427 said:

Mine currently has Toyo 888R fitted and I find they tram line quite badly but maybe that’s a trait of going up to a 195 on the front.

Mine has 205 section fronts, in AD08R, and doesn't.

[itcaptainslow]

Belle427 said:

Mine currently has Toyo 888R fitted and I find they tram line quite badly but maybe that’s a trait of going up to a 195 on the front.

Might be more down to the geometry setup?

[Belle427]

Certainly will need to be checked as sadly most previous owners overlook it.