Tyre replacement for NCT's

[hopo]

http://www.event-tyres.co.uk/quotation/results.php

Wich ones?

[TrapperJohn]

I just fitted Toyo T1R's to my 90 SE. They came in the original sizes, 215/15 and 245/16, though I had to accept a 45 profile instead of a 50. Oh darn, it sits 3/4" lower now.

If the original eagle's stuck like glue, these stick like crazy glue. Fantastic grip, excellent response, and they really plow a furrow through a rain soaked road.

Only downside is limited lifespan due to the R compound.

[hopo]

Right i cant find any of the Dunlops anywhere and im not feelin the Pirellis so i may well go with these.... any thoughts?

theyr Yokohama V550 (High Performance Motoring Tyre)

http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/ts/search/ty...de=1956015YK55V

http://www.tyre-shopper.co.uk/ts/search/ty...de=2256015YK55W

[ian4455]

Anyone got or know of any GoodYear Eagle F1 225/60/15 ???

[hopo]

I have an NCT for the front with around 6-8mm of tread if anyone is interested

[Robert Crooks]

I'm looking for some new tyres for an S2 Commemorative. Currently have 205/70 14s on the rear and 205/60 14s on the front, although some sources suggest the right front size is 195/60 14s. Really struggling to identify any matching sets in these sizes. Toyo and Falken do 70s and 60s in these sizes, but they are different tyre types. Any thoughts gratefully received.

[molemot]

After a lot of medical messing about (still on-going!) I have finally got the new Vredestein Sportrac 3 tyres on the 82 TE. Only done 10 miles or so; they feel good so far but boy, are they noisy around 60mph. Hoping they'll get quieter once the moulding pips wear off...go do some powersliding, I suppose! About time I got some new donuts... the old Goodyear rears had metamorphosed into slicks.....and were imported in the Ark by Noah!! More about the tyres once I've got some real miles on them. Gotta love the Giugiaro name on the sidewalls, though....

[molemot]

The new Sportrac 3 tyres now have about 1000 miles on them, and have got a lot quieter. I emailed Vredestein about the din, and tyre pressures...and some nice chap phoned me back to say they would get quieter after about 1000miles...and they have! He also thought that the Lotus recomended pressures (for the original Goodyears) were too low for the Sportracs. I had them at 21 front and 25 rear...he thought I should try 27 front and 32 rear, to properly stabilise the tyre walls. I'll give it a try and see how it goes...car tracks straight as a die "hands off", but is perhaps a little too liable to deviate from a straight line with very slight steering inputs, which could mean the tyre walls were allowing the tread to move about a bit.

[JoeEsprit]

Hi all, new here having just purchased a 1987 Turbo HC I could do to put new tyres all round when I collect it in 2 weeks or so. I've read this entire thread and am still a little unclear as to the preferred option to the OE tyres. I know tyre choice can be subjective but I would like the car to keep the original look as much as possible and putting 225's on the rear isn't my preferred option.

COuld anyone enlighten me pls

I'll upload some pics of the car asap..

Thanks in advance

Joe

[simon a-b]

Hi, reading through this thread I found comments on load rating, suggeting load ratings of 96 rear and 88 front (in one thread they were back to front, i.e. 96 on the front and 88 on the back). 

I've found this chart of load ratings:

 

Load Index

The load rating (represented by the numerical value) is related to the maximum weight that tyre can carry. So in this case 105 would refer to a load capacity of 925kg, with most passenger vehicle load indexes range from 62 to 126.

 

Load index

Load in Kg per tyre

Load index

Load in Kg per tyre

Load index

Load in Kg per tyre

Load index

Load in Kg per tyre

Load index

Load in Kg per tyre

62

265

75

387

88

560

101

825

114

1180

63

272

76

400

89

580

102

850

115

1215

64

280

77

412

90

600

103

875

116

1250

65

290

78

425

91

615

104

900

117

1285

66

300

79

437

92

630

105

925

118

1320

67

307

80

450

93

650

106

950

119

1360

68

315

81

462

94

670

107

975

120

1400

69

325

82

475

95

690

108

1000

121

1450

70

335

83

487

96

710

109

1030

122

1500

71

345

84

500

97

730

110

1060

123

1550

72

355

85

515

98

750

111

1090

124

1600

73

365

86

530

99

775

112

1120

125

1650

74

375

87

545

100

800

113

1150

126

1700

Which as far as I can tell means that we are allowing a load rating of 710kgs per rear tyre and 560kgs each per front tyre.  My car doesn't weigh 2540kgs... am I going mad?  on that point too LEW states 1220kgs and elsewhere I've seen 1020kgs, anyone actually weighed one?

 

I think I can go to a lower speed rated tyre legally if it's deemed roadworthy (according to my insurer), which may give me a wider choice.  I'd be happy with anything from S (180kmh) and above. 

 

Just starting the hunt now, anyone else in Aus got a recommendation?

Cheers,

Simon

[ChrisJ]

I've got Vredestein Sportrac 3 all round on my 82 Turbo Esprit. They have Giugiaro on the sidewall, and after a year on the car, the 225s have filled out to 235, So a winner all round.

 

Chris

[simon a-b]

How does a tyre 'fill out'?

 

Apologies for the mess my post above ended up in, when I previewed the table was formatted legibly!

 

I've been offered a tyre locally, branded mastercraft, aparently made in USA not China, correct sizes, T rated which is 180kmh rating, which I reckon would be fine (not planning to do that speed for any length of time, if I do much over 120kmh even that wouldn't be for an extended period... anyone ever heard of mastercraft tyres?

[The Pits]

How is it supposed to look Simon? I'll try and tidy it up for you.

[simon a-b]

It was at this address...

http://www.bobjane.com.au/info/load-index-speed-symbol/

[ChrisJ]

I'm running the tyre at the handbook pressures and it now looks a little wider than it did when it went on.

[simon a-b]

so you have 25 psi on the rears, and that feels good?  I've heard comments about newer tech tyres needing a compromise, somewhat higher than handbook... I think Molemot went through this process and ended up with pressures between manufacturer recommended and handbook?

[ChrisJ]

Feels fine.

 

On a track day I up it by 2-3psi with no problems - although I'm not the fastest at going round the corners

 

Chris

[lotus-62]

pirelli is still doing the p600 in 235-60-15 but can I justify the £180 v.s. the £78 for a vredestein sportrac 5 in 225-60-15

 

how is the look of the 225's  compered to the 235's ? 

 

nankang is making a 235-60-15 as well any good ?

 

why o why does vredestein not make a sportrac in 235....(I have emailed them to ask) . because I really like that tyre but I am just afraid the 225  will look too small from the rear. maybe some 10 mm spacers will do the job?

 

(btw just a S3 )

[ChrisJ]

Do these help? Tyres fitted Dec 2012

 

New Years Day 2013

 

 

October 2013

 

Earlier this week

[lotus-62]

chris, does not look bad, I see you have the sportrac 3,  how do they handle? 

 

thanks, rick

[ChrisJ]

I haven't had a problem with the handling. I have done one track day, with another one next week - although I am not the fastest round the track, so haven't approached any limits. I do push on fairly quickly on the right sort of road, grip and handling are fine. Probably much better than the NCTs they replaced, but it was so long ago that I drove on them, I can't remember.

 

I'd stick 225s on - P600s were £400 a corner when I needed to replace them. The Sportrac 3s were £95, so no contest.

 

Chris

[lotus-62]

that's what I was thinking, plus the p600 is for the rear only (don't want 235's up front ) 

I was just a bit concerned about the looks 

[Tocus]

I am a Lucky guy, i still have good as new NCT under my esprit, and it has a new MOT so no worry's

it also drives still very good, but the tyres are allready 17 years old or something maby allready older then 20 years,

but they are new without any cracks inside,

 

the car get pick up begin of aug. because i sold her, (yess i am stupid, she only has driven 54.000 miles, and looks really as new)

but i just dont like the colour, so i buy a other colour back (its a turbo esprit from 1984)

 

maby i can post here a picture of the NCT's..

[Tocus]

i have found this picture inside my email.. but i will come back with a better one,

 

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/gallery/image/3533-4/

 

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/gallery/image/3539-20140524-104055-resized/

 

[simon a-b]

So I have the mastercraft rears on now, they look ok and so far grip well, early days and no wet yet. Running 25 psi, had more in there but it felt too hard and bouncy...

Btw, how are you all getting tyre pressure readings? Is there a reliable hand gauge anyone can recommend? Pump gauges are notorious for being inaccurate...