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S1 Tyres
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 1:48 pm
by 111Robin
Ok so i know this will have been done to death over the years but I'm a late arrival to the party with my original P Zeros now 21 years old so i will ask all the same. I am looking for road use tyres only, that will not adversely affect the handling and won't look "wrong" by being too fat or super low profile. Is it best to stick with same size as original or is this not feasible with what is currently available ?. Options are..... ...... ?. (original suspension setup and intend to keep it that way)
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 7:46 pm
by campbell
There’s a Yoko Advan Neova in Lotus spec and sizes. Might now be called C-drive model?
Think they also do AD07 tyres in S1 sizes.
Finally, I was always a fan of Toyo T1S then T1R for road tyres on my S1. Great value and also brilliant in the wet.
There were Kumhos that some used too but check model # carefully.
Keep us posted.
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 9:12 pm
by Victor Meldrew
YOKOHAMA AD08R TYRES S1.
There was a change in the tyre regulations in the last year (maybe longer) which meant some tyres became un available. I had spotted on another forum (not lotus) that people were being caught out getting a mixed set of pre reg change and post reg change tyres.
I bought my first set from Elise parts but I phoned and asked them directly if the tyres were from the same batch. The current set that are on were organised by Craig Moncrief. Speak to Craig about suspension and tyres. It would be a shame to put new tyres on if the alignment isn't spot on.
My experience of the Yokohama tyres has been really good so far. They are pretty poor in wet conditions as they can take a while to get any heat into them. I have used Toyo 888's before which I feel are better when it is wet, but that would be down to them being a softer compound that can need changing after 3k miles on the rear. You can probably get 6k miles or more on the AD08R's
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 9:20 pm
by Stephen
I like Yokohama.
I'm 99% road and the odd Miss Daisy round track every so often
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 9:29 pm
by woody
campbell wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 7:46 pm
There’s a Yoko Advan Neova in Lotus spec and sizes. Might now be called C-drive model?
Think they also do AD07 tyres in S1 sizes.
Finally, I was always a fan of Toyo T1S then T1R for road tyres on my S1. Great value and also brilliant in the wet.
There were Kumhos that some used too but check model # carefully.
Keep us posted.
The C drive isn't an advan.
AD07 isn't available in S1 sizes.
The AD05/06 were and were sided, hence the numbers. They were only available from lotus and Elise specialists. Really good tyres, not sure if they're still available.
The last I bought, 5 years ago, I fitted AD08R which were excellent. Better than the 05/06 I'd always run before. Better in pretty much every way.
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 10:49 pm
by 111Robin
Thanks folks, looks like the ADO8R may be the way to go. I'll give Craig a call.
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 11:37 pm
by campbell
Top anorak marks to Woody.
I am getting rusty.
Well at least he still has an S1.
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 11:44 pm
by woody
campbell wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2019 11:37 pm
Top anorak marks to Woody.
I am getting rusty.
Well at least he still has an S1.
I only still have it as otherwise there'd be no purpose to a vast chunk of what's inside my head.
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 2:04 pm
by Mike Scib
I wouldn’t fit AD08’s if you are never going to track it, personally.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 4:28 pm
by campbell
Yep. In which case, if C-Drive still available, otherwise Toyo...More than adequate for what you need Robin.
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:49 pm
by Victor Meldrew
campbell wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 4:28 pm
Yep. In which case, if C-Drive still available, otherwise Toyo...More than adequate for what you need Robin.
I had a similar concern about going back to a track focused tyre after using T1r's for a while. It was Craig that eventually persuaded me to go to Yokohama. If you know it is going to be completly pissing it down, would we really be taking the Lotus out of the garage?
The Yoko's are more than able to deal with the occasional shower. Even if it is raining a little it doesn't normally put me off taking the car out. Standing water is really the only time you have issues, but would you be using the S1 in those conditions anyway? If it is your only car and you need to use it every day no matter what then I agree that a less track focused tyre would probably be a reasonable option, but every time the sun is out, you will be missing out.
If like a lot of us the S1 is our toy car, then I would advocate making that toy as much fun as possible and going with the transformative Yoko tyres and getting the geo checked at the same time. The difference is night and day.
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:52 pm
by 111Robin
Is it advisable to stick with the original profile size ?. I would prefer to not goo for a reduced profile if it makes the day to day handling suffer. From what I've seen any sizes being recommended are lower profile, but not sure if that's due to supply issues or if most folk just prefer the stiffer sidewall handling ?. I'm happy enough with the "factory feel" and don't want to compromise this with something that may be more track oriented.
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:58 pm
by 111Robin
Victor Meldrew wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:49 pm
campbell wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 4:28 pm
Yep. In which case, if C-Drive still available, otherwise Toyo...More than adequate for what you need Robin.
I had a similar concern about going back to a track focused tyre after using T1r's for a while. It was Craig that eventually persuaded me to go to Yokohama. If you know it is going to be completly pissing it down, would we really be taking the Lotus out of the garage?
The Yoko's are more than able to deal with the occasional shower. Even if it is raining a little it doesn't normally put me off taking the car out. Standing water is really the only time you have issues, but would you be using the S1 in those conditions anyway? If it is your only car and you need to use it every day no matter what then I agree that a less track focused tyre would probably be a reasonable option, but every time the sun is out, you will be missing out.
If like a lot of us the S1 is our toy car, then I would advocate making that toy as much fun as possible and going with the transformative Yoko tyres and getting the geo checked at the same time. The difference is night and day.
Good points made. It is just a toy and is rarely out in the wet. Obviously running on the original suspension may seem a bit of a backward step but it's always felt good enough for what I want from the car. A geometry check does seem like an obvious benefit though.
S1 Tyres
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:07 pm
by campbell
Rear profiles shouldn’t change other than if you go 225 vs 205 section.
Fronts only need to if you fit 195 instead of 185. Goes down by 5 I think.
Get on the SELOC TechWiki to check.
https://wiki.seloc.org/a/S1_Wheel_Options
Re: S1 Tyres
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:22 pm
by douglasgdmw
111Robin wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:58 pm
Good points made. It is just a toy and is rarely out in the wet. Obviously running on the original suspension may seem a bit of a backward step but it's always felt good enough for what I want from the car. A geometry check does seem like an obvious benefit though.
Oh - I remember the days of the high pitch "clunk" with the S1 111S Koni suspension, brought back good memories.
George