advice on wheel/tyre choice

[MattDon]

the time will come in the not too distant future where i'll need to replace my tyres and im looking to replace the wheels at the same time as im currently having to use a 10mm spacer, my question is will 15" wheels give a noticeabley better ride compared to 16"? im currently running 17" and find that the cra99y roads we have are prooving a little too jaring, and as a daily drive comfort is more important that out and out power.

[tweetdriver63]

Smaller rim means more air between you and the road, so more comfort, but also taller sidewall, which means more flex, poorer handling. Larger rim means the opposite. Better handling, less comfort. Most people plus up on rim size for aesthetics more than anything, but often find the trade-off in comfort is a regret.

Bottom line, Lotus didn't choose the stock rim size at random. They were trying to give the best combination of perfomance and comfort. I would like the looks of 17" rims, but I'm going to stick with the stock 16's because I trust Lotus' judgement. I find the ride comfortable for a small sports car, and the handling is...well...it's a Lotus. You can always buy tires that have stiffer sidewalls (Michelins, for example--which may be why Lotus chose them as the original equipment tires) to help with the performance.

[MattDon]

the se came with 15" in the uk, so im not sure if that means lotus thinks we needed more comfort when the car was first launched? I didnt notice a huge difference in feedback between the 15 and 17 inch wheels, maybe its a small difference on the road? but i do notice the louder bang when i go over potholes. I love how my 17's look, but to be honest i never get to see them in motion, i think the only reason id go for 16" over 15" is because i might not be able to fit the 15's over the hispec brakes ive got at the front, i just wondered if id be sacrificing much, particularly in the way of comfort.

[RayD]

Hi Matt,

I don't think you’d notice the difference between 16" and 15" and you could probably reverse what little difference there is by adjusting the pressures.

I have S2 16" wheels and Michelin Exalto tyres with 29 PSI all round.

Most people would choose 16” given a choice.

Ray

[MattDon]

thanks for that ray, how did you come to the tyre pressure? ive been trying to guess at a good figure for mine, but have no idea where to start. Im guessing tyres might be easier to find for the 16" wheels!?

[RayD]

...

My S2 handbook says 29 psi all round for Pilots.

Hopefully people with 17" tyres will let you know what they have found best.

Ray

[theelanman]

Matt
the owners manual gives you pressures for 15" abd 16" rims IIRC
cheers
G

[Elanlover]

What size tires do you have on your 17" wheels currently? There may be another path to a smoother ride than smaller wheels.

[max and andy]

hi guys.can wire wheels be used on the elan?and is there a idiotes explanation for the 60 deg offset.ive seen the diagram on a page somewhere on the site but im not quite there.cheers max and andy

[superbad]

can wire wheels be used on the elan?

Please don't.

To answer your other question, offset is the distance between the wheel centerline and the mounting face. If you deviate from the stock offset, the wheels get moved inboard or outboard from their stock location. This can change the handling (by changing the track width), and it can affect fit (tires might rub on the wheel wells or suspension components, brake calipers might hit the wheels, etc.)

[Specky]

hi guys.can wire wheels be used on the elan?

If you're thinking of using a steel wire wheel don't... the steel breaks off in tiny little pieces and gets stuck in the alumium... it then produces tiny rust spots

IIRC Geoff has a good picture to describe what offset is....(A picture speaks a thousand words and all that)

TTFN

[thewheelrestorer]

Hopefully people with 17" tyres will let you know what they have found best.

I'm currently running 24psi on the following 17" wheel and Tyre set up:

7.5" x 17" rim
215/40/17 Nexen N3000 Tyres

This was a substancial difference for me in ride quality, grip and feel from the previous set of S2 wheels
7" x16"
205/45/16

The ride quality is a bit harder for sure, yet 40% aspect ratio of 215mm width tyre profile is 86mm, and 45% of 205mm width is 92mm, so the amount of sidewall height and also "Air" is closer than a 205/40/17 which is 82mm.

The car does follow the road cambers, and underlations much more but this is partly due to 7 1/2 " inches of rim width and also the ET48 offset. These characteristics for me spice up the whole feel of grip through the steering wheel and the car feels much more alive for the type of driving I enjoy: A good thrash after a hards days work, If I travelled any fair distance in the car and also used it daily (And not just weekend's) then this set up would start to annoy me, and I would revert back to 16* or possibly the original 15".

The low ish 24psi gives a reasonable ride comfort around town and the pressures rises to 28 when subjected to higher Speed (Motorway) driving.

The other factor is as mentioned some tyre brands have stiffer sidewalls than others, Bridgestone s can be quite hard, Toyo Proxes T1's are quite soft....

Take Formula One Cars as an example, they are on 13" Rims with a big tyre profile, but very stiff suspension with very minimal travel, compared to a Touring saloon car Racer with 19" Rims, low profile tyres and lots more suspesion travel to deal with the kerbs...etc..

[max and andy]

we get the offset part thanks .so you could use crome wires .but the offset would be done on the hub with a spacer or what ever adapter is used with wires i presume a complete new hub .please advice max and andy

[Specky]

we get the offset part thanks .so you could use crome wires .but the offset would be done on the hub with a spacer or what ever adapter is used with wires i presume a complete new hub .please advice max and andy

You can manufacture anything to your spec, they truely would be bespoke..

It's gonna cost you thou..

What wheels have you got in mind

TTFN

[Specky]

This may give you a vague idea...

TTFN

[max and andy]

i mean proper wire wheels think e type jag.max

[Specky]

i mean proper wire wheels think e type jag.max

A vague idea...

Giugiaro meets Stevens, sounds intresting

TTFN

[superbad]

i mean proper wire wheels think e type jag.max

Laced wire wheels on an Elan would look as wrong as putting modern OZ alloys on an E Type. It's like putting a Victorian carved door on the Guggenheim Blibao. It's just not what they were designed for. Wire wheels are also very heavy, and the extra unsprung weight will not do the handling any favors. They generally require old fashioned innertube tires (otherwise all the air leaks out around the spokes). I've only ever seen them available for knockoff mounted spline drive hubs, but they are popular on lowriders, so I guess someone must make them in a bolt on version. But that's just my opinion- it's your car, and if wire wheels are what you want, then don't let anyone talk you out of them.

[GeoffSmith]

I would imagine that the lateral compliance isn't the best and I'd hate to clean them.

But if you must, a quick search threw up this lot.

[max and andy]

wow . per set is that 595 .and will they fit my baby?maxine