Winter tyres on standard alloys?

[JonT]

Thanks to Candles I should shortly have a spare set of alloys and I'm considering putting winter tyres on them. I know the book says 14" steelies, but I wouldn't even know where to start looking for those, and tyre technology has moved on a lot since the Elan came out. Obviously standard size would be fine, but there are very few winter tyre options in 205/50/15. Smaller options like 195/50/15 are a bit better, but a better rolling diameter match would be 185/55/15 and there's a huge variety of options in that size. Online guides I've found suggest the 185 profile should be okay on a 6.5" rim, but wondering what people on here thought. Obviously if I did fit non standard sizes I would tell the insurers to make sure I'm covered from that perspective.

cheers,

Jon

[rip]

Size aside, what tyres are you looking at getting?
I've got 2 sets of wheels for my daily & was looking at using 1 set for summer & 1 for winter 2 with suitable tyres fitted.

Back to size: if you want to upgrade your brakes at some point, then remember that most caliper upgrade solutions for our Elans will be unlikely to fit inside 14" rims.

[JonT]

Friends have reported good results in previous years with Vredstein snowtrac 3s or Nokian (Finnish brand). Otherwise I'd stick to "known" manufacturers like Michelin, Pirelli, Bridgestone etc. Mytyres show them ~£100/corner in 185/55/15, but you should get 3 or 4 seasons out of them (I think after 4 seasons the rubber tends to go hard and won't work so well even if there's tread left).

/edit to add. Even if we don't get snow, there's a lot of evidence suggesting that once the ambient is <7C winter tyres are much more effective than summer tyres for braking etc.

[rip]

Even if we don't get snow, there's a lot of evidence suggesting that once the ambient is <7C winter tyres are much more effective than summer tyres for braking etc.

I have heard that before & it makes sense too. That would be why I found my Toyo T1R's disappointing last winter on my daily yet they seem to work very well on my Elan which doesn't get driven much in the cold.

[JonT]

For those who have got time to spare...:
There's a review of winter tyres here (http://news.colesa.ru/news/7911.html) - in Russian, but google translate is quite good
and a short but informative demonstration of the effect on stopping distances here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ncga6UxlHM

[Dave Eds]

I just use 15" SE wheels with R888s and then pray

I have thought about using all the space savers I have if it snows heavily though

[MPx]

Not strictly relevant here, but I put a set of winter tyres on the Rangey last year and have to say it is fantastic if the weather gets as bad again as it has the for the last three winters. The Rangey came on big 20" wheels with 275 45 20 tyres which are all very gangsta and all that but actually a bit pants at off road traction and snow. The spare was the original 19" rim so I found another three on Scambay and fitted a set of Vredestein Wintrac Extreme 255 55 19s. Quite stunning what the car and tyres can cope with when the going gets difficult. I'd certainly recommend the tyres if you can get them in the right size - try Camskill...http://www.Camskill.co.uk.

[JonT]

Very similar thread on SELOC today resulted in someone posting this link which makes for good reading:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/t ... _test.html

[JIMBO]

Hi JonT,
Now is a good time to start looking before the rush starts, and unlike last year,most wholesalers have "filled their boots"
so I don't foresee the shortages that we had last year. The improvements in "cold weather" / winter tyres over the last few years has been astounding, and anyone that can afford to change their tyres, and store the summer tyres will be improving the chances of finishing each journey at the intended destination. Almost any "winter" tyre will perform better at low temperatures than "summer" tyres
. Last year I fitted Hankook Winter tyres to my wife's car and it was transformed. They will be going back on in November ready for her 100 miles a day to and from work.
As for size, it is better to go slightly narrower, and if possible a little taller. I know we don't have a lot of clearance on our cars, but I would seriously consider 195/55R15 which is only aprox.10mm taller, and will only touch the inner wheel arch on full lock.
Regards
Jim

[surfboardfiller]

My toyo's were amazing John, that car drove up the steepest hill around in snow no one else could drive in, except the 4x4 following me. But then it may have been driver skill

Seriously though Kutching had a set of winter tyres stacked up for his annual trip to the Alps (where it was law to have winter tyres capable of snow use) when I bought his car off him, they had snow groves in them. I am with you on the seasonal spares!

[theelanman]

I wouldnt bother.......
Salt, grit, slippy surface if u get it wrong........
Personally for me just not worth it......

[surfboardfiller]

I wouldnt bother.......
Salt, grit, slippy surface if u get it wrong........
Personally for me just not worth it......

Just not worth what Gareth? Driving your Elan or getting winter tyres?

[theelanman]

Riskin not havin an elan.....well an elan in one piece at least

[JonT]

Time for a bump. I've had some Goodyear UltraGrip 7+ 185/55/15 winter tyres fitted to the spare alloys. We haven't really had freezing conditions yet, but on Friday I had a day driver training covering over 200 miles around some of the South Wales and Pembrokeshire hills in /very/ wet conditions, and they behaved superbly. Lots of standing water or streams across the road, and yet the car was still well poised and predictable (and we weren't hanging around!) It's certainly easier to peddle the Elan in those conditions than it would have been in the Elise GPS shows the speedo is still spot on at 30 and within a couple of MPH at motorway speeds (the sizes were chosen to be as close a match as possible for the standard sizes). Will be interesting to see how they cope in colder conditions, but so far definitely worth the outlay.

Jon

[dapinky]

Jon,

I might be completely wrong, and i admit to basing my reply on my own (possibly outdated by modern technology) knowledge and a definate 'unknown' in relation to the specific tyres you are using........

(having got the "don't flame me for being an idiot" bit out of the way)


Are 185 width tyres suitable for elan alloys?

According to this site, the minimum width on a 7" rim should be 195

[JonT]

Jon,

I might be completely wrong, and i admit to basing my reply on my own (possibly outdated by modern technology) knowledge and a definate 'unknown' in relation to the specific tyres you are using........

(having got the "don't flame me for being an idiot" bit out of the way)


Are 185 width tyres suitable for elan alloys?

According to this site, the minimum width on a 7" rim should be 195

According to my handbook, the stock wheels are 6.5" in which case 185 is okay

[dapinky]

I'm getting my coat.....taxi is on the way......

You're quite right - I can't read!!!!

(or at least it is a combination of reading and memory lapse......)

The 15" wheels are 6 1/2 " width, it is the 16" (Fed oz & S2) which are 7".




As i said all along, that seems like an ideal tyre choice to me

[JonT]

As i said all along, that seems like an ideal tyre choice to me