Lotus Esprit S4 Tyres

[Joe Reynolds]

I have had my 1989 Lotus Esprit S4 from new. The car was delivered from the factory with Goodyear Eagle ZR50 tyres. I have obviously changed them over time but Goodyear no longer manufacture this tyre. The ZR50 had a particularly wide tread area and aesthetically looked much better from the back. I would be interested in any owners who have found a tyre similar to the ZR50 or alternatively any recommendation of which tyre I should choose?

Many thanks

Joe Reynolds

[Thartje]

There wont be much different from one brand to the next on contact patch for a 235 tire. You could go up to a 275/50 15 which would still work on an 8" wheel, but not ideal. It would look noticeably wider and be relatively the same height. You're probably looking at drag radials at that point though. 

[drdoom]

Rears on the SE were 245/50-16, if I recall correctly. Not easy to find replacements in that specific size.

[Thartje]

1 hour ago, drdoom said:

Rears on the SE were 245/50-16, if I recall correctly. Not easy to find replacements in that specific size.

Believe they changed mid year in the 89. 235/60 15 to 245/50 16

 

If its a 245/50 16 then a 275/45 16 would work, not a lot of selection though. 245/50 still has a lot of options.

[NG5]

58 minutes ago, Thartje said:

245/50 still has a lot of options

Tell me more. Not aware of any road legal 245/50x16 in the UK or even the EU at any speed rating. A few 245/45x16 but getting less and less. Same goes for the fronts 215/50x15, a few 225/50 and a few 205/50 but almost all of them are VR rated not ZR

[Thartje]

5 minutes ago, NG5 said:

Tell me more. Not aware of any road legal 245/50x16 in the UK or even the EU at any speed rating. A few 245/45x16 but getting less and less. Same goes for the fronts 215/50x15, a few 225/50 and a few 205/50 but almost all of them are VR rated not ZR

Not sure of road legal requirements in the UK but the following are all available in an 245/50 16

Falken Ziex ZE950 & ZE960

Ventus V2 Concept

Toyo Extensa HP II

Kumho Ecsta PA31

Cooper Zeon RS3-G1

General G Max RS

BF Goodrich g-Force Comp-2

Nitto NT555RII

Nitto NT01

[NG5]

Thartje

Thanks for the extensive list but I have to assume you are in the US, sadly the only tyres on that list currently on sale in the UK are the BF Goodrich which are being sold by a US show car tyre specialist. But even they are not "E" marked so not legal to be fitted for road use in the UK. The Ventus and Kumho were on sale a while ago, but unfortunately no longer.

I think the EU and UK tyre noise limits are probably to blame. Getting good tyres in small wheel sizes is getting harder and harder over here.

[Thartje]

oh wow I didn't realize the UK has noise limits on tires! I went with continentals on my Esprit to keep it quite in the cabin, but wouldn't expect others to have to do the same.

 

How do they enforce laws like that? If you were to order a set from the US would it be possible to find a smaller local mechanic to mount them? or would it just fail an MOT inspection when the time comes?

 

 

[NG5]

The biggest part of enforcement is not being able to easily buy them in the 1st place. To get an "E" mark moulded on the tyres they have to conform, if they don't no one sells them. It's illegal to fit non "E" marked tyres so finding a fitter to do so is not easy but like anything if you try hard enough someone would fit them. Interestingly it's not an MOT failure to have non "E" marked tyres. Driving on non "E" marked tyres is a grey area as the law only refers to fitting, but probably would have insurance implications in an accident. 

[Thartje]

Wow, that it a huge pain 😬 A lot less restrictions in t he US on tires for sure. Insurance will test tire tread depth in an accident here but I've never heard them deny a claim for it.