240R wheels - at last

[cyberface]

After waiting all this time (and I've been lusting after the 240R wheels on a supercharged S2 Exige since I laid eyes on the yellow 240R car that Lotus rolled out at the motor show - what was that, 6 years ago??) I've *finally* acquired a set of the most beautiful wheels ever to be fitted to the S2 Exige, IMO…

Many, many, many thanks to Ishy (from SELOC) for travelling down to me with the wheels (which are perfection). A true gentleman.

As to my car - well I've just fitted the wheels - sweaty work in the heat - and I'm off for a drive to bed them in (will check wheelbolt torque on my return) and adjust pressures. The difference in weight between the OEM Y-spoke Exige rims fitted with Pirelli winter rubber and the 240R wheels fitted with A048R rubber is *very* noticeable - especially on the front wheels. This is going to be noticeable in on-road handling, IMO.

Pictures will follow, I need to drive it first!



And, at long last, I'll be booking myself in on trackdays!!!! WOO HOOO!!!!

[Bebee]

I think they are the same as mine, are yours painted black with a silver rim?

[cyberface]

I may get them painted black in the end. There's a trackday left in the tyres so I'll do that first.

What's the general opinion then - stick with the smoky silver or get them repainted black?

I absolutely LOVE these wheels

[Scuffers]

might be missing something here, but as they are worth something and you love them so much, why risk them on trackdays?

I would just buy a cheap set of rimms for that job and keep the nice ones for the road.

[Loudman]

Looks awesome, nice, although in my opinion black would be nicer still.

[Dift]

Lovely!

I would love a set of them! I would say get them smoked... Would look perfect against the paintwork.

[21TonyK]

Maybe a very, very dark gun metal colour. Black is too obvious. Or bare metal and blued like titanium.

[Bebee]

Black with orange rims?

[cyberface]

Scuffers said:

might be missing something here, but as they are worth something and you love them so much, why risk them on trackdays?

I would just buy a cheap set of rimms for that job and keep the nice ones for the road.

Given the roads round my way, the rims are safer on the track.

And no, I'm not joking.

Remember that I'm not as fast as you and the likelihood of me trashing the wheels on a trackday is lower than trashing them on the road (and yes, I was the one who bent an alloy at Llandow in my Noble a few years back, I remember). I don't ride the kerbs on trackdays - it's not a race - but I do like to drive hard. The potholes on our appalling roads in Kent are more likely to feck up the wheels than Brands Hatch, IMO.

Though I'm often wrong and I'm always open to your experience...

[justin220]

Prefer the originals if I'm honest. They just don't suit it IMO

[chevronb37]

Is that Ishy from near York? If so, he is a total gent. Well done on finally getting your wheels.

[CardShark]

Satin black, the same as the original wheels

[Esprit]

I've never been a fan of the look of these wheels on Exiges, the style just doesn't seem to suit. I much prefer the Lotus forged rims... but hey we're all different and good on you for getting what you want. Perhaps a dark bronze or gunmetal would suit best to my eyes... definitely need to be darker though to contrast with the brightness of the Orange

[Boggy]

Get them painted Black & quickly

Cracking wheel's thou, there's a taster session up at brands next Thursday if your around

Boggy

[tertius]

Definitely need to be a very dark colour - mine are either black or a very very dark charcoal. Silver doesn't look right on yellow or orange cars, IMO.

[Herman Toothrot]

I must admit I prefer the look of the ones that came on the car. They will look better darker, but they look dated in my opinion.

[andy_s]

For me, they're not as sharp as the new rims but good you managed to get hold of some - if they were mine I'd get them darker - maybe not completely black, but darker.

Enjoy!

[mwmackenzie]

Keep then as they are, you notice them in that colour, paint them black and on the move they could as well be the standard rims..

[Chapppers]

[may just be talking rubbish here]

But... The 240R was a fair bit lighter wasn't it? Does it not worry you that they might not be up to the job on the heavier exige? They look quite flimsy to me!

[braddo]

mwmackenzie said:

Keep then as they are, you notice them in that colour, paint them black and on the move they could as well be the standard rims..

I agree - no point having nice looking wheels painted black. Something like a gunmetal grey would be nice though, but I would leave them as is for now. There's plenty of time think about changing them when they're off the car in winter!