Brand preferences for tires and why?

[Martin]

Ok, call me what you will but I have no real preference when it comes to a certain brand of tire. Can I tell between on or the other and how it acts on the road, yes. But do I think Bridgestone makes the best or Hoosier....no.

Anyone care to share their opinion?

[SuperTrooper]

Michelin makes the best tires period. No need to question it.

[Esprit2]

The real question is "street" rubber, or "DOT Road Race" rubber. Once you go sticky, you'll never go back.

Pick the street or sticky category, then the players change accordingly. I'll take a DOT sticky tire over any manufacturer's civilian street tire. I'm using DOT's as daily rubber on two Eclats, an Esprit and a Europa. Some un-memorable street tire on the Subaru SVX.

Regards,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North

[slipstream]

I liked the Yoko A048's that came on my Elise and Exige in terms of grip.

But there was not enough grip to be competitive in autocross (need Hoosiers), and while very grippy on the street, their longevity wasn't so good.

So they are really a tire withotu a mission...too much performance and not enough durability for the street, not enough performance for the track.

I now run Bridgestone RE 01R's on the Exige, and while not quite as much grip as the A048's, they are still very sticky and provide much better longevity and ride quality.

[Al B]

Sometimes, as in the case of my 89 Esprit, it's not a matter of preference. It's a matter of what is available to fit the rims on the car.
Khumo is the only one making tires to fit 16 front and rears for my car. If I had stuck with the original 16/15 combo I would have been sol.
As it is I have no complaints on the Khumos.

[Martin]

Then again there isn't much room to complain is there? ;)

[Al B]

Nope

[wrh3]

I have the OE A048s for track days but run Toyo T1Rs on the street, they seem to handle well (although not as sharp as the Yokos), wear is better, and I get them at jobber cost ;) If Falken made the RT615 in an Elise Sport friendly size I would consider those as well.....

[Tony K]

Like many Esprit S1/S2 owners, I'm hoping and wishing for a V-rated 14" tire in suitable sizes from anyone!

[WayneB]

We obtained a set of Michelin 205/70 VR 14 XWX for the Dino last year from Coker tire.

I seriously doubt the Dunlop SP Sports will ever be reproduced (barring a miracle)

Did you know Dunlop's add campagn back in the 70's was "Dont honk, it annoys my Groundhogs" Groundhog was the nickname Dunlop gave the SP Sport tyre.

http://www.custom-car-graphics.com/groundhog.jpeg

As for brand preferences, over the years I have used all sorts of make of tyre, the worst were by Firestone and Uniroyal, the best were Bridgestone and Michelin . I have some Dunlop SP Sport 8000's on the Esprit which arent that bad and are lasting well (better than the BF Goodrich Comp TA's that were on it when I bought it).

[MoPho]

13" is even worse!! The only tires that I can find that fit are Bridgestone RE92's which are all season with an M&S rating. I have to get them shaved way down so they don't squirm around on the tread. With 170hp and 1400lbs, they add to "Period" feel of the car :D

[Martin]

I can only imagine!

Infact, I was just speaking with a family member last night who saw my car for the 1st time. He implied that my tires must cost a fortune. So I explained to him that it is easy and cheap, even much more so than tires for his SUV probably, because there are so many cars and especially aftermarket wheels that use the size tires that my Esprit uses (S4 wheels). I told him it was harder to get tires for my 240Z (gone now) than it would be for the Lotus and he was shocked.

It all comes down to demand, and unfortunately all people want nowadays is the brand new gigantic wheels with practically a zero profile tire.

Which reminds me, have any of you seen some of these tires that have a profile of about 25? It looks like if you ran over a penny you would feel it.

[joeyoesprit]

Just ordered a set of Falken FK452 for my Esprit. Dunlop stop making the SP9000 for the front in 235/40/17 so it was either the Falken, Toyo or Goodyear’s. Goodyear’s were too expensive; over a $1000 for all 4 tires.

Several people are using the Falken FK452 on their corvettes and BMWs without any issues. So I decided to give them a try.

I purchased the tires thru http://www.californiawheel.net/ for under $570 for all four tires. Still waiting on the delivery... forest fires had the port closed for a few days which delay my delivery.

235/40/17 front
285/35/18 rear

JoeyO
2001 Esprit V8

[Brian Skeoch]

I had Yokohama's on my Esprit and they only lasted a short time. I have dunlops on there now and they seem to last longer. they dont provide nearly as much grip as the Yokohama's but they have longevity.

I have Bridgestones Potenza's on my Acura TL and they stick like a cat on carpet.

[Autocross7]

Michelin makes the best tires period. No need to question it.


I agree in short step, but I have come to think that specific cars "like" specific tires. My Miata absolutely sucks with out Michelins! All of my Mazda cars do...

I could not get the correct Michelin size for the Esprit, so I got Good Year. better than the BFs that were on it no doubt... and the car show judges like the fact that this is the tire brand that came on the car...

I have to say it does drive quite fine with them... but Michelin get my vote 9 out of 10 times.
BTW... I get all my tires from tire Rack. The Good Years were almost half the price through them vs. the tire shops.

Cameron

[Martin]

Too bad tire shops jack up the price for the service when you don't buy tires from them though. Oh well, that gotta make their money somehow.

[Kylie]

I have enjoyed Toyo Dot performance Stickys on the Esprit as it were only driven at weekends anyway. Rather handy for the odd track day too I might add.:D

I have had all sorts of tires over the years expensive and cheap. But have to say the Toyos are good value for money.

[WayneB]

One thing that nobody has so far mentioned about tyres (or tires as they call them down south):p , i.e. their aesthetic qualities (sidewall graphics and tread design).

To a detail freak like myself,nothing can make or break a restoration or modification of a car like the looks of its tyres.

I'm afraid the offshore brands (Yokohama, Sumoto, Kumho, Toyo etc.) are somewhat lacking in this respect. Serraited sidewalls are especially ugly, and some of the wierd tread patterns give me halucinations If I look at them too long.

Nothing really seems to look as nice on an Esprit (especially a Giugiaro) as a nice set of Goodyears IMO, the graphics and tread design of the Eagle NCT I think was especially nice to look at.:)

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f355/WayneBarr/Turbo_Esprit_Goodyear.jpg

[Autocross7]

Too bad tire shops jack up the price for the service when you don't buy tires from them though. Oh well, that gotta make their money somehow.

I guess I'm lucky to have a good shop. The guys I deal with mount the tires (tyres) I get from Tire Rack, balance them, and then provide extended service (ie: flat fixes) for $10.00 USD per tire. After that I get the balance done for $26.99 USD. They will rotate (wich means taking tires off wheels and swaping left for right) for $40.00USD.

The shop owner caters to off road drivers and racers and does not need to make any money off me to speak of...

Cameron

[clockwork]

I run a +2 on goodyears but it amazes me how out of balance new tyres are i use more lead now than ever before,grip is not as good as sp`s but not a bad thing,i prefer it a bit tail happy than having to collect it all in a hurry.Clockwork

[talon]

Unfortunately tire choices are extremely limited for the V8 Esprit as the sizes are a bit odd. I just put a set of Goodyears (+1 on the rear) on my car and the difference is amazing. I would recommend them to anybody.

[Martin]

What are the tire size dimensions on you car Talon?

[Sunburn]

Martin,
I had Bridgestones on my 348 and they were good in the dry but they were all over the place in the rain and had lots of tread noise. I replaced them with Goodyear F1 GS-D3s and OMG what a difference. Much smoother ride, excellent grip both wet and dry and they were quiet. From that point on I've used them on all the performance cars I've had.

Rick . . . .

[GregWO]

I can't seem to find much of anything for the 88 wheels. 195/60R15 & 235/60R15 Are there other sizes that fit?

[talon]

What are the tire size dimensions on you car Talon?


I have the factory 245/17 on the front and 295/35-18 on the rear. The Goodyear F1 D3's are incredible in both the wet and dry. Last weekend was the first time I've really beaten on them since scuffing them in. The level of grip is incredible in comparison to the old tires.

[WayneB]

Greg,

I think the only tyre available in the exact sizes is the HR rated Michelin Pilot Sport(in North America), but you can also get the sizes in SR rated tyres (BF Goodrich radial T/A, Goodyear Eagle etc) which isnt a good idea If you like to go fast.

In ZR rating, Lotus are endorsing a narrower 225/60-15 rear tyre (Pirelli P6000 or Dunlop SP Sport) with a front tyre in the original size (still available)

I am told they work well, but I personally think they make the back of the car look silly (just my opinion before someone gets upset)

Some of us Giugiaro Turbo guys went with wider 205/55-15 ZR and 245/50-15 ZR Dunlop Sport 8000's (whilst they were still available), they look great and the level of grip is fantastic.

Maybe your local supplier may be able to source some for you ?(or Tire Rack of course)

[Martin]

Anyone here ever shave the tires tread? Even on new tires?

[GregWO]

Thanks Wayne! :thumbup:

Wider would look a little more aggressive. I noticed though the Sport 8000 are only available in the rear size.

Seems I can't find a matching set of tires. :crying:

[WayneB]

Anyone here ever shave the tires tread? Even on new tires?

When I worked on the BMW M3 for Enterprise racing (back in the 80's), we used to get the Bridgestone Potenza RE 71 tyres shaved and it made a noticable drop in lap times so it was worth it for production saloon racing at least. One of my jobs was to remove the wheels after qualifying and using a Surform file, shave some of the gummed up balls of rubber off the tyres (made a big difference to the amount of stick going into the first corner of the race.)

Before shaving came in, we would actually wear the new tyres down on purpose at test days (by driving the cars around and around) and before that would go around the tyre stores looking for near bald tyres(usually slung around the back)

Racing was cheaper then!

Production racing soft treaded tyres are now availible moulded in half tread depth so shaving isnt really done anymores.

BTW, I wouldn't shave tyres on a road car, you can actually feel the difference but on an Esprit you would be driving way to fast (for the public highway) IMO.