A&Q about Lotus
Q:
I recently got some new tires to replace the current Yoko A048 tires on my 2005 Elise I'm picking up later this week. As we all know, the front Yoko's are 195/50R16. The new tires I got are the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, front tire size of 205/55R16. Apparently, the dealer who installed the tires claim the front tires are rubbing when you turn the car. Now granted the Michelin's are bigger, according to my math 1.201" taller. Is this why the tires would rub? Sounds like it Is the max front tire size for the Elise a 195/50R16 and anything bigger will cause problems? Any recommendations here? No problems for the rear.
It looks like if I wanted to stay with Michelin all seasons (since it's not always sunny in rainy Seattle) my best bet is to go with the Pilot Exalto A/S front tires in a 195/50R16 size, keeping the size the same as the A048's and I should be fine. Or should I just dish the Pilot Sport A/S and go with the Exalto A/S? Comments?
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Can't comment on your Michelins, but I swapped my AO48s (now mounted in Rotas just for track use) for dedicated street tires. I stayed with stock sizes on my Exige - 195/50/16 front and 225/45/17 rear - to avoid possible rubbing issues, and I used Toyo Proxes TR1s.
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I have a set of the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2's, in the A048 sizes and I love them. Great all around tire, quieter and better ride than the A048, just not as high performance.
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why would you go from a 195/50 to a 205/55 shouldn't it be a 205/45? I went w/ the nero M+S in 205/45 and 235/45 without any rubbing issues.
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I don't have my tire size calculator with me but an increase of more than an inch is pretty big. I'd you are going to a 205, you'd be better off going down to a 45 aspect ratio. Anywayan someone just posted a listing of all the tire sizes with outside dimensions and percentage over/under stock.
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Too tall
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i have the exact same size but a different brand... and i think it only rubs when the wheel is turn all the way to either side... i hadn't noticed until just the other day... i forgot to check if there is any damage... that would be bad
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Hmm, looks like that addition 1.201" does make a big difference. Now here's one more question to bounce off you guys/gals. Would going with a different model tire, same brand, for front and rear be recommended?
For example. Right now I have the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for all 4 wheels on my Elise and, from my previous thread, the fronts are rubbing because they are to tall. So, could I keep the Pilot Sport A/S tires in the rear (same size as A048's) and replace the fronts with Michelin's Exalto A/S tires (same size as A048)?
That would be the simple solution. But is mixing front/rear models a good idea. Otherwise I'd have to swap out all 4 tires. The one issue I see with that is the Michelin Exalto A/S rear tires have a speed rating of "H" (130 mph). I guess the only time I'd drive that fast is on the track though.
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swap all 4.
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I would match tire speed ratings on all four tires and with the car's top end (V rated rubber at minimum), and I wouldn't recommend mix tire tread design - front to year - unless you want potentially interesting handling results.
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As others have said the tire is too tall. The 55 is a percentage of the width (the 205) when you go wider the aspect ratio (the 55 etc) needs to go down to maintain roughly the same circumference. Not only do you risk rubbing with a higher aspect ratio but I'd also be concerned that you've significantly changed the handling of the car (in a bad way). I think you need to change them to 45's as others have said. Tires should be changed in sets of four as different tires will have different adhesion qualities as a result od tread pattern, ware, compound etc. otherwise you risk negatively affecting the handling (again).
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I have the same problem when I went to a larger size in the 048's. Also 205/55 up front. Rubs just a little on full lock turn but otherwise no problem. Oh well,, at least with the 048's, I know I'll only have to put up with it about 4000 miles or so.
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Originally Posted by pete k
I have a set of the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2's, in the A048 sizes and I love them. Great all around tire, quieter and better ride than the A048, just not as high performance.
I have the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2s as well in LSS sizes. It's a decent all-around tire, quieter, and indeed a smoother ride.
As far as performance is concernted, it's predictable, but I believe I need a little bit more performance. I'm planning to try out Hankook Ventus Z212 next in the sizes 205/45/16 FRONT, 245/40/17 REAR
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any idea where it rubs?
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Out of curiosity, why did you go up in aspect ratio with a wider tire? You obviously know how to do the math?
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Originally Posted by bainbridgelotus
Now here's one more question to bounce off you guys/gals. Would going with a different model tire, same brand, for front and rear be recommended?
NO!! There's a chance you could be OK and the handling would be fine, but I think the odds are higher that you'd screw up the car's handling. I've experienced this before on a different car; the car was really darty and unstable on the freeway...downright scary, didn't want to track straight.
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Originally Posted by AlanS
Out of curiosity, why did you go up in aspect ratio with a wider tire? You obviously know how to do the math?
i am guess probably because they only offered that size...
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Well the easy fix was to swap out all 4 tires. At least that way everything is the same. Nevertheless, I think I'll be satisfied with the Exalto A/S tires. From what I've ready, they're excellent in the rain and still a good summer tire. AND, when I want to go track racing I can always re-mount the A048's and go really fast.
Oh, that leads me to another question. How much does a set of Lotus sport wheels cost? Are there better wheels for track use? I figure having my A048's already mounted would save time and money not having to re-mount them when I head to the track.
Thanks for everyone's suggestions. 3 days left before my Lotus experience begins.
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I am running Bridgestone S-03 205/50/16 and 245/40/17 without any problem. 205/55/16 might be little too "thick" for front.