Elise S1 Need new rear tyres, P Zero, what's best?

[Garrick]

The rear tyres on my Elise S1 are now approaching the legal limit and need replacing.....

The question is what tyres are most suited to road driving? At the moment I have P Zero fitted front and rear. The fronts have lots of tread left +6mm. So I only really want to change the rears.

Can different manufactured tyres be fitted front to rear, without any upset to the handling?

I do tend to push the envelope of the car a bit, given safe road conditions. Good wet weather handling must also be a consideration, had a couple of side ways incidents coming off roundabouts (the GF covered her eyes!!).

Cost.....? I have been quoted 85 pounds each fitted for the P Zeros.

Your comments and advice would be appreciated.

[Gargamel]

p zeros possibly the worst tyres for the elise - when the let go they tend to really go

also not noted for their wet weather performance.

It is not recommended to have different front and backs... some dealers won't do it, most elise owners would likely advise against.

I fitted the A038's which I really liked - much quieter and better fuel economy too - also better for hooning around as much more controllable in a slide.

ask around a bit more - and look at www.bookatyre.com as they have tyre reviews

hth

[135sport]

I was advised not to mix tyres on the Elise, its too sensitive.

I was lucky and managed to go through two sets of rears to one set of fronts, and then switched all 4 to the Yoko Advan Noeuvra (sp?).

Either put P zeros on the back, or swap all 4 at the same time. Someone might buy the fronts off you for track day use.

Other people will probably suggest other tyres. I think generally tyre technology has moved on, and the feeling is that the P zero is not the best available for the Elise. But everyone has their own opinion.

[Bonce]

You can easily sell the fron P zeros to someone for thrashing on track. I got £90 for all four P-zeros when I swapped to the Yokohama Advans - which incidentally is the best upgrade I've ever done on the car.

[Garrick]

ok thanks for the help, sounds like i'll fit the P0's to the rear and wait for the fronts to die and then swop the entire set.......unless I can get a really good price for a whole set of Yoko's???

[joust]

If you can afford it - go for the Yoko's. The *totally* change the car, and not only give it more grip but make motorway driving an altogether better experience.

I couldn't believe the difference when I changed mine.

J

[adrianmugridge]

I had PZero's on my Esprit and let me tell you they are a sack of sh*te. They are terrible in the wet, the rear of the car was all over the road, as indeed was the front. I even changed them before I needed to, that's how bad I think they are. I've got Goodyear Eagle-F1 on now. I don't know if you can get them to fit an Elise but they are excellant ( and cheaper ).

Adrian Mugridge
www.adrianmugridge.co.uk

[smeagol]

In all fairness to the Pzero the reason they are sh*t on the Esprit/Elise is that the cars are very light. Hence the bad grip in the wet. I know someone very much into tyres (he sells them and owns a tyre garage) and I asked him about that and he said "good for heavy cars, not good on light ones" better tyres are definately Yokos.

[gfoz]

How much should you pay for the Yokos?

[davidy]

Not had an Elise, but I had a Prodrive Impreza with PZeros and they were stunning, and the boys at Prodrive should know what to fit, so maybe the heavier car thing stacks up, the Impreza was 1235kg.

I always find the tyre debate interesting as definitely certain tyres suit certain cars irrespective of size, so my advice is if most owners here recommend the Yoko's then go with them.

davidy

[Bonce]

Yokos are £420 for all four corners + fitting. If you're not doing the whole set (which I wouldn't recommend) then the rears are a bit more than the fronts.