Just called Lotus about Exige S2 Winter Tyres
Discussion
Just called Lotus to ask what is on their approved list for winter tyres for the Exige S2 (since my handbook says Pirelli Snowsport but these have been discontinued since printing). Although these have been replaced by Sottozero, I don't think these are actually on the approved list yet?
Well anyway Lotus service dept at Lipscomb told me the two on the Lotus Approved list are the Toyo T1-R and the Continental Supercontinents - has anyone any opinions on which is better of the two, or indeed if they know from their own dealership whether there are other makes also approved?...
Cheers lads...
Well anyway Lotus service dept at Lipscomb told me the two on the Lotus Approved list are the Toyo T1-R and the Continental Supercontinents - has anyone any opinions on which is better of the two, or indeed if they know from their own dealership whether there are other makes also approved?...
Cheers lads...
Neither of those are winter tyres. I agree with Scuffers - waste of a phone call.
I run Snowsports on the front and Sottozero on the back. Sottozero are Pirelli's new brand for Snowsport (i.e. their highest performance winter tyre).
They work perfectly. If you want proper winter tyres, go with the combination above as I do - and not some half-baked suggestion to run summer compound high-performance tyres with more tread (T1-R) which will be sodding useless in very cold / ice / snow. Idiots.
I run Snowsports on the front and Sottozero on the back. Sottozero are Pirelli's new brand for Snowsport (i.e. their highest performance winter tyre).
They work perfectly. If you want proper winter tyres, go with the combination above as I do - and not some half-baked suggestion to run summer compound high-performance tyres with more tread (T1-R) which will be sodding useless in very cold / ice / snow. Idiots.
cyberface said:
Neither of those are winter tyres. I agree with Scuffers - waste of a phone call.
I run Snowsports on the front and Sottozero on the back. Sottozero are Pirelli's new brand for Snowsport (i.e. their highest performance winter tyre).
They work perfectly. If you want proper winter tyres, go with the combination above as I do - and not some half-baked suggestion to run summer compound high-performance tyres with more tread (T1-R) which will be sodding useless in very cold / ice / snow. Idiots.
Harsh but true. I run Snowsports on the front and Sottozero on the back. Sottozero are Pirelli's new brand for Snowsport (i.e. their highest performance winter tyre).
They work perfectly. If you want proper winter tyres, go with the combination above as I do - and not some half-baked suggestion to run summer compound high-performance tyres with more tread (T1-R) which will be sodding useless in very cold / ice / snow. Idiots.
Trouble is that by 'winter' tyres people often mean a treaded tyre rather than the semi-slick typo AO48s or Toyo888s.
My personal view is that semi-slicks are a waste on the road.
When I called them I mentioned 'winter season' and not specifically for snow, but the general colder, wetter climate you get between Oct - March as TIPPER suggested.
From the replies I'm assuming the Toyo T1-Rs are't everyones favourite choice in replacing the Exige S2 A048s then right? I don't track the car and I wouldn't use the Exige in the snow this winter so wanted some tyres that can handle occasional spirited driving (not track) when it's dry but also in the frequent rain we'll have during winter?...
Apparently using other known brand tyres that are not on the approved list doesn't affect insurance anyway (in case you get into a pickle) as other posts have suggested, but I guess it's good to stick with Lotus's approved list right?
From the replies I'm assuming the Toyo T1-Rs are't everyones favourite choice in replacing the Exige S2 A048s then right? I don't track the car and I wouldn't use the Exige in the snow this winter so wanted some tyres that can handle occasional spirited driving (not track) when it's dry but also in the frequent rain we'll have during winter?...
Apparently using other known brand tyres that are not on the approved list doesn't affect insurance anyway (in case you get into a pickle) as other posts have suggested, but I guess it's good to stick with Lotus's approved list right?
ravz9 said:
When I called them I mentioned 'winter season' and not specifically for snow, but the general colder, wetter climate you get between Oct - March as TIPPER suggested.
From the replies I'm assuming the Toyo T1-Rs are't everyones favourite choice in replacing the Exige S2 A048s then right? I don't track the car and I wouldn't use the Exige in the snow this winter so wanted some tyres that can handle occasional spirited driving (not track) when it's dry but also in the frequent rain we'll have during winter?...
Apparently using other known brand tyres that are not on the approved list doesn't affect insurance anyway (in case you get into a pickle) as other posts have suggested, but I guess it's good to stick with Lotus's approved list right?
all well and good, but A039's are a Lotus specific tyre, be extremely silly is they are NOT on the approved list!From the replies I'm assuming the Toyo T1-Rs are't everyones favourite choice in replacing the Exige S2 A048s then right? I don't track the car and I wouldn't use the Exige in the snow this winter so wanted some tyres that can handle occasional spirited driving (not track) when it's dry but also in the frequent rain we'll have during winter?...
Apparently using other known brand tyres that are not on the approved list doesn't affect insurance anyway (in case you get into a pickle) as other posts have suggested, but I guess it's good to stick with Lotus's approved list right?
The Toyos are 'OK' and work very well in the wet.
The main reason people don't particularly like them is that they have fairly soft sidewalls and tall tread blocks. This has the effect of softening the steering feel (it feels as if someone has put a piece of elastic between the rack and wheels). Not a big effect and I reckon a lot of people would never notice.
I've used them on my S1 and found that they improve after about 1k miles as the tread blocks wear a little, settle down and stop squirming about so much. You also get used to them.
I'd certainly use them in preference to OA48s on wet roads.
The main reason people don't particularly like them is that they have fairly soft sidewalls and tall tread blocks. This has the effect of softening the steering feel (it feels as if someone has put a piece of elastic between the rack and wheels). Not a big effect and I reckon a lot of people would never notice.
I've used them on my S1 and found that they improve after about 1k miles as the tread blocks wear a little, settle down and stop squirming about so much. You also get used to them.
I'd certainly use them in preference to OA48s on wet roads.
Good tip.
I see Sottozero come in 225/45 R17 - which would match my SC AD07 rear tyres.
but on the front the AD07 come in 175/50, while the Snowsports do not seem to have that size,
what do you have ?
Are you using the standard wheels for your winter tyres ?
http://www.pirelli.co.uk/web/catalog/car-suv-van/c...
cheers
I see Sottozero come in 225/45 R17 - which would match my SC AD07 rear tyres.
but on the front the AD07 come in 175/50, while the Snowsports do not seem to have that size,
what do you have ?
Are you using the standard wheels for your winter tyres ?
http://www.pirelli.co.uk/web/catalog/car-suv-van/c...
cheers
cyberface said:
Neither of those are winter tyres. I agree with Scuffers - waste of a phone call.
I run Snowsports on the front and Sottozero on the back. Sottozero are Pirelli's new brand for Snowsport (i.e. their highest performance winter tyre).
They work perfectly. If you want proper winter tyres, go with the combination above as I do - and not some half-baked suggestion to run summer compound high-performance tyres with more tread (T1-R) which will be sodding useless in very cold / ice / snow. Idiots.
I run Snowsports on the front and Sottozero on the back. Sottozero are Pirelli's new brand for Snowsport (i.e. their highest performance winter tyre).
They work perfectly. If you want proper winter tyres, go with the combination above as I do - and not some half-baked suggestion to run summer compound high-performance tyres with more tread (T1-R) which will be sodding useless in very cold / ice / snow. Idiots.
Scuffers said:
TIPPER said:
My personal view is that semi-slicks are a waste on the road.
you not alone in that view...
its not just Elises though, on other brand forums, where its fashionable for the manufacturer to offer semi slicks as an option, some people still rave on about how awesome they are in the dry, and how "just fine " they are in the wet ...they wont be told...until they hit that big puddle one day and aquaplane off into the scenery and wonder why
Mr_C said:
you need 195 fronts on an Exige IIRC?
yup ...people have used 205s before and managed, but only on std ride height, road use etc and with a tyre thats not that wide e.g. check the manufacturers spec - some tyres are nominally different to the "195" bit - some are a few mmm wider, some are more narrow, you can actually get some brands of 195 and 205 that are only 1 ro 2mm apart....re. winter tyres - i've always assumed these were for use at well below zero ... are all you guys based in scotland ?
i've been to places like finland in winter and realise that winter tyres are must there, but always thought they'd be overkill in more temperate areas.
i used my a048's all last winter - we only got a couple of really harsh weeks around dublin but i have to admit it was pretty lairy. i wound up buying a skip at short notice which paid for itself by absorbing a rear-ender on ice, but it died of floodwater inhalation the following week.
trying to decide whether to get another skip for this winter, or go with a more sensible tyre option. the yokos will have expired following two track days i plan to attend in mid-november so could put winter tyres on all round.
opinions on this ?
i've been to places like finland in winter and realise that winter tyres are must there, but always thought they'd be overkill in more temperate areas.
i used my a048's all last winter - we only got a couple of really harsh weeks around dublin but i have to admit it was pretty lairy. i wound up buying a skip at short notice which paid for itself by absorbing a rear-ender on ice, but it died of floodwater inhalation the following week.
trying to decide whether to get another skip for this winter, or go with a more sensible tyre option. the yokos will have expired following two track days i plan to attend in mid-november so could put winter tyres on all round.
opinions on this ?
ive never found the need for real winter tyres on an a car in the UK yet, if we get 6" of snow overnight, Id just not go out, as the rest of the country will have ground to a halt anyway LOL 
...seriously, id just fit some tyres that clear standing water and drive to the conditions....Yoko A039R ....I doubt that in the dry, for road use you will tell much difference from the A048s other than the ride is a little more compliant (more give in the sidewalls) ..and when its wet they are much better ...in fact Im sure if Lotus had kept them as OEM fitment on the S2 Exige, like they were on the S1 Exige, then they would be a higher volume tyre and cheaper .......
...seriously, id just fit some tyres that clear standing water and drive to the conditions....Yoko A039R ....I doubt that in the dry, for road use you will tell much difference from the A048s other than the ride is a little more compliant (more give in the sidewalls) ..and when its wet they are much better ...in fact Im sure if Lotus had kept them as OEM fitment on the S2 Exige, like they were on the S1 Exige, then they would be a higher volume tyre and cheaper .......
aceofspades said:
re. winter tyres - i've always assumed these were for use at well below zero ... are all you guys based in scotland ?
i've been to places like finland in winter and realise that winter tyres are must there, but always thought they'd be overkill in more temperate areas.
i used my a048's all last winter - we only got a couple of really harsh weeks around dublin but i have to admit it was pretty lairy. i wound up buying a skip at short notice which paid for itself by absorbing a rear-ender on ice, but it died of floodwater inhalation the following week.
trying to decide whether to get another skip for this winter, or go with a more sensible tyre option. the yokos will have expired following two track days i plan to attend in mid-november so could put winter tyres on all round.
opinions on this ?
Without checking I think winter tyres perform best below 8 degrees when the performance of 'summer' tyres falls off.i've been to places like finland in winter and realise that winter tyres are must there, but always thought they'd be overkill in more temperate areas.
i used my a048's all last winter - we only got a couple of really harsh weeks around dublin but i have to admit it was pretty lairy. i wound up buying a skip at short notice which paid for itself by absorbing a rear-ender on ice, but it died of floodwater inhalation the following week.
trying to decide whether to get another skip for this winter, or go with a more sensible tyre option. the yokos will have expired following two track days i plan to attend in mid-november so could put winter tyres on all round.
opinions on this ?
I live in south Devon and normally its only very occasionally that daytime temperatures fall below 8 degrees although last winter was an exception to that rule. Its normally pretty wet down here though and for that reason I'll soon be fitting some properly treaded tyres to my car. The only reason it runs on 888s is the car is mainly used as a track toy now anyway and I needed them for some Sprints I had planned.
Complete waste of good rubber on the road - I almost object to using the car on the road with 888s on it (given their wear rate!).
If you plan on using the car as your daily driver then I'd fit some properly treaded road rubber.
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