Owners of cars with A048s/888s - what do you do in winter?
Discussion
If it's your only car, or there's times you have to use it whether you like it or not then I'd put A039s (or anything else) on for winter.
Cold and wet is obviously not good for the A048/R888s, but the really problem is standing water. And you can find yourself on the motorway when you can't do more than 50-60mph in the outside lane, but then when you move to the inside lane the puddles are even worse thanks to the lorry ruts. Not a good feeling.
HTH
Simon
Cold and wet is obviously not good for the A048/R888s, but the really problem is standing water. And you can find yourself on the motorway when you can't do more than 50-60mph in the outside lane, but then when you move to the inside lane the puddles are even worse thanks to the lorry ruts. Not a good feeling.
HTH
Simon
I would get the extra set of wheels and tyres.
I keep yoko advans on the car winter and summer on the road and only use 888s on track (or on the way there or back). If you need the extra grip that you get from the 48s (over advans for example) on the road.... then I'd guess your taking the corners waaay too fast.
Its perfectly possible to use semi slicks over the winter, but you want be getting the best out of the tyres... and as they wear twice as quick as road tyres, you aren't getting great value out of them either.
I keep yoko advans on the car winter and summer on the road and only use 888s on track (or on the way there or back). If you need the extra grip that you get from the 48s (over advans for example) on the road.... then I'd guess your taking the corners waaay too fast.
Its perfectly possible to use semi slicks over the winter, but you want be getting the best out of the tyres... and as they wear twice as quick as road tyres, you aren't getting great value out of them either.
subaqua said:
I would get the extra set of wheels and tyres.
I keep yoko advans on the car winter and summer on the road and only use 888s on track (or on the way there or back). If you need the extra grip that you get from the 48s (over advans for example) on the road.... then I'd guess your taking the corners waaay too fast.
Its perfectly possible to use semi slicks over the winter, but you want be getting the best out of the tyres... and as they wear twice as quick as road tyres, you aren't getting great value out of them either.
Spot on. Much cheaper in the long run.I keep yoko advans on the car winter and summer on the road and only use 888s on track (or on the way there or back). If you need the extra grip that you get from the 48s (over advans for example) on the road.... then I'd guess your taking the corners waaay too fast.
Its perfectly possible to use semi slicks over the winter, but you want be getting the best out of the tyres... and as they wear twice as quick as road tyres, you aren't getting great value out of them either.
Try driving a really lightweight car on A048's. Even in summer, they're skittish in even slightly damp conditions until they have warmed up. In winter, they never get enough heat into them - even if it's bone dry, the dusting of salt and dried leaf mould on the roads is enough to give them the handling characteristics of a baby giraffe on rollerskates.
I'd agree with the others who say A0048's are best left for summer and dry trackdays, even on a relatively heavy car like the Elise.
I'd agree with the others who say A0048's are best left for summer and dry trackdays, even on a relatively heavy car like the Elise.
I tried it one winter, then before the next one, Id picked up another set of wheels n tyres which Id change over about now.
Then I ran A039s on the winter wheels and kept the A048s for trackdays and the summer...it was a revelation not having to drive at 40mph in the rain on the motorway etc and a damn site safer too
if you keep an eye out on ebay and classifieds on here and SELOC, there are often bargain wheels n tyres to be had...especially since now new wheels like Team Dynamics are £600 ish, originals seem to be real cheap - with some parts worn Bridgestones or something you may be kitted out for the winter, for just a few hundred quid...or the price of 2 rear A048s, that you would have worn out anyway !
Then I ran A039s on the winter wheels and kept the A048s for trackdays and the summer...it was a revelation not having to drive at 40mph in the rain on the motorway etc and a damn site safer too
if you keep an eye out on ebay and classifieds on here and SELOC, there are often bargain wheels n tyres to be had...especially since now new wheels like Team Dynamics are £600 ish, originals seem to be real cheap - with some parts worn Bridgestones or something you may be kitted out for the winter, for just a few hundred quid...or the price of 2 rear A048s, that you would have worn out anyway !
theturbs said:
Do you:
A) Keep the '48s/888s on and drive very slowly?
B) Change to a winter set of tyres and if so which ones?
C) Keep the car in the garage if it's wet/icy?
My car is on A048s and I am mulling over purchasing some winter wheels/tyres.
Thanks
D) Skid all over the placeA) Keep the '48s/888s on and drive very slowly?
B) Change to a winter set of tyres and if so which ones?
C) Keep the car in the garage if it's wet/icy?
My car is on A048s and I am mulling over purchasing some winter wheels/tyres.
Thanks
I have spoken to a couple of people who really rate A039s for wet use.
I think I may try some soon.
F.C.
I uase Goodyear F1s on my Europa 195/45R17 front 235/45R17 rear - awesome in the wet. There is a 195/45R16 F1 which theoretically should ho on the front of an Elise/Exige. I don't know if anyone has tried them?
On my S1 I used 195/50R15/225/45R16 Dunlop SP9000 all year round. A very good compromise. Maybe a half-second a lap slower than the Pirelli OE at Donington in the dry, but massively quicker in the wet.
On my S1 I used 195/50R15/225/45R16 Dunlop SP9000 all year round. A very good compromise. Maybe a half-second a lap slower than the Pirelli OE at Donington in the dry, but massively quicker in the wet.
Yep, if you have the space a second set of wheels is the way to go. When I had the 190 I had a set of 111S wheels with the OEM Bridgestones on for winter use. Now I have the Exige I'm after a set of spare wheels to put road tyres on. Been wondering what tyres to put on them. The Goodyears sound like adecent option as when I drove a car with T1Rs on it I didn't like how they numbed the responses.
Just need the wheels now as my rear AO48s are past their best anyway.
Just need the wheels now as my rear AO48s are past their best anyway.
I left the A048's on through last winter & didnt have any probs - just didnt push the car in the wet or over ice & car was fine plus tyres still did 2 track days this spring/summer without probs - just replaced the rears on Monday for another set of 48's & will happily drive the car over the winter but just take it easy 
I bought a second hand set of wheels with Toyo T1Rs on for the road. They only cost me £180, and mean that I can save my 48s for dry track days. The T1Rs are also the original, narrower sizes to reduce the chances of aqua planing. It doesn't take long to change them over, especially if you get rid of the annoying locking nuts.
Alexbturbo said:
I left the A048's on through last winter & didnt have any probs - just didnt push the car in the wet or over ice & car was fine plus tyres still did 2 track days this spring/summer without probs - just replaced the rears on Monday for another set of 48's & will happily drive the car over the winter but just take it easy
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