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Lotus in the Peak
28th - 30th June 2024

Tyres - S2 Exige (Toyota)


P W

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Hi All - almost new tyre time for my S2 Exige - 195/50 16 & 225/45 17's - leaning towards some sort of semi slick as I only intend to drive in the dry and hoping to play on track a little..

 

Would appreciate feedback from more experienced people re my conclusions so far -

 

Yoko AO48 LTS - recommended tyre, best for track, not so good in wet, expensive 

Avon ZZR & Toyo 888 -- similar to above

Avon ZZS - coming soon in S2 Exige sizes....more road bias, but still semi slick and good on track

T1-R's - more road / wet friendly, less track focus, relatively cheap

 

Let me know your thoughts please ?

 

 

Cheers,

Paul

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You could also consider the Toyo R1R.

 

Just became available at Demon Tweeks, I think they make them in batches so they are only available form time to time.

 

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/competition-tyres/toyo-r1-r-tyre

 

Apparently they are quite soft so don't last long but grip really well in the dry and wet.

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I've got ad08r for the road and zzr for track. If I was limited to 1 set then I'd go for the ad08r, will give you 95% of a 48/888/zzr but be far less compromised on the road should it be anything other than bone dry and warm.

 

They do only come in 205 fronts though.

 

Had the LTS 48s in the past and the ZZR offer just as much grip, wear better and cost less..

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I ran T1-R's on my old Elise, as a road tyre you won't go wrong.

 

I had A048's on my Exige S2, and frankly on road the differential is not usable unless you want to go silly.

 

Where the T1-Rs struggle vs A048's is going mushy through overheating on track.  

 

The A048's can also catch you out if it is cold. So if you go for them view them very much as a summer tyre.

 

If you run the car year round and enjoy the odd crisp winter morning run, then the T1-R's pip it for me. If it is a summer car with lots of track time, then maybe the additional expense of A048's  is justifiable.

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P W

I have been waiting for the Avon ZZS tyres for a few months now. It still showing Q2 onThier website but when I phone BMTR Birmingham they are unable to give me a definitive date when Elise/Exige sizes would be available, so I'm going to have to think of other options to fit on my new OZ Wheels!

 

Legs

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Thanks all - appreciate the comments

 

Think I'm going to get a 2nd set of wheels - T1R's or AD08's for daily use and the 2nd set with ZZR's or AO48's for track days

Hi Kevin - yeah, the ZZS sound perfect for 'all occasions' but like you say still not available......

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  • 2 months later...

I'm having the same problem deciding on tyres.

 

Had my S2 Exige S since June. It had brand new AD048 LTS all round. Went touring up Scotland after, 1500 miles rear tyre tread was down to between 1.6 - 2mm! I checked pressure and they were pumped up to 40 psi. I then let them down to correct pressure. Then it started to rain endlesselly. I had to do 80+ miles with them in wet. Even on a dead straight road the back end was wondering around at anything above 55mph. The back end would kick out a little every time I drove over a new bit of tarmac. I was genuinely terrified. Got back home and had geo checked as I was convinced something was wrong. Turned out all was ok apart from rear toe in was 8 degrees on both sides! I am assuming that the wrong pressure and toe in is what wore the tyres out so quick. Are AD048 normally this bad in the wet?

 

I am now considering whether to go for more sensible tyres like Toyo T1R with 8mm tread depth rather than AD048 /semi slick as I mainly drive on the road. I would have AD08 but cannot get the right size for fronts. I am tempted to try the AD048 again but they're expensive to just last 1500 miles and potentially deadly in the wet.

 

Anybody else had simular experiences?

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that sounds scary - although dare i say it, i would have checked pressures before that long a trip ?

 

however as you have said A048's are not a confidence inspiring tyre in the wet even when correctly set up.

 

Personally i didn't like that at all, awesome grip on track, but very on / off at the absolute limit (which was beyond my skill / bravery levels) and also difficult to balance, as they move in the rims under heavy track braking, so often had wheel wobble at the front that needed constant re-balancing.

 

I swopped for 888's which give me almost as much grip, are a bit more progressive on the limit, cheaper and last longer. 

they still aren't great in the wet the ADo8's and t1-r are better, but i don't tend to drive mine in the wet, and you suggest your planning the same.

Not tried the ZZr yet, so can't comment.

 

hth

 

richbk

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T1r's are absolutely shocking.

Very soft side walls meaning lots of flex which will make the car feel horrid.

Also utterly useless in the wet.

 

Toyo R1r's are a different story as are r888's

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T1r's are absolutely shocking.

Very soft side walls meaning lots of flex which will make the car feel horrid.

Also utterly useless in the wet.

 

Toyo R1r's are a different story as are r888's

 

Alex I'm surprised you say that, I found the T1-Rs MILES better in the wet than the Kuhmo ECSTA's, let alone the A048s

 

I honestly can't say I thought they felt horrid. They certainly wouldn't be my choice of a track tyre, but I had plenty of confidence in them hurtling down Stelvio (and the rain soaked Autobahns you have to navigate to get there). 

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Alex I'm surprised you say that, I found the T1-Rs MILES better in the wet than the Kuhmo ECSTA's, let alone the A048s

 

I honestly can't say I thought they felt horrid. They certainly wouldn't be my choice of a track tyre, but I had plenty of confidence in them hurtling down Stelvio (and the rain soaked Autobahns you have to navigate to get there).

Just my opinion Simon, but then that's on a car with nitrons and an aggressive geo.

I also had them on my ep3 type R and didn't get along with them.

 

Most road/fast road tyres will feel better than semi slicks such as 048's and 888's in the wet.

 

Having used ad07/08r's and toyo R1r's on various Elise's one of these would take my money all day long for road use and even the occasional track day.

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I'm with Alex, driven a few vx220s on t1r's - they work OK in the wet but pushed on hard in the dry they were very woolly. R1R is a totally different kettle of fish and a fantastic all round tyre, increasingly difficult to get hold of though. As above AD08R would be my recommendation for one tyre, capable in the wet and knocking on towards 888/zzr/ao48 performance on track. The fronts are only available in 205 but side by side there is negligible difference between them and 195 ZZR.

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  • 2 months later...

Just thought I would do an update. I ended up getting a full set of Toyo T1r . I wanted a decent amount of tread depth and something dependable in the wet. First thing I noticed was the steering was really light which must indicate the big difference in grip between Ad048 and T1r. When I pushed it around my favourite corners I did not get that confident, can handle anything feeling as before and found myself slowing down a lot. There is little feedback as too how much grip is available. I expect this is why someone described them as woolly. I notice the back end is a little twitchy as well but this could be the change from 8 degree toe in on the back to normal setup. Yes that's right 8 degrees! Thats how it shreaded new tyres in about 2000 road miles. I think t1r was a bad choice but was limited due to not wanting semi slicks. Still, dirt cheap. I think I would like to try the AVON zzs which are like the zzr but are meant to be for wet and dry. But they are not available in the exige sizes yet. AD08 would be my preferred choice but again front tyre size not available. I'm getting used to the T1r but still miss the Ad048. It feels like a sports car rather than a race car!

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