Hi,
I posted about this on seloc but didn’t get any real good feedback.
I am having Eagle F1’s fitted in a few weeks at Plans and they suggested that I put 205’s instead of 195’s on the front. Apparently it can be done.
Apart from the reduction in ride quality, will this affect the balance of the car negatively or will it as Plans told me, give me more grip and be “better”
The S1 has wider tyres on the front but the geo is set for that…
Has anyone got 205’s on the front?
My old car /Jason’s car ran 205s in the 48s and once I had found the right set-up it was flipping quick. I did have the wider 240R front wheels and at the time I spoke to Yoka UK and they said I was on the limit of what could be fitted to the wheel width. I did this independently of Plans but the car did go back to Plans in Jason’s ownership.
Interesting Plans suggested this - I am guessing its because you don�t want to run 48s and the correct sized F1s are not available?
So yes it can be done and with adjustable dampers etc you can tune the car to make the most of it (Plans are more than capable of sorting your car to make the most of it)
But if you really want more grip 48s would be the way forward.
Another point to make is I had 270hp and an aggressive Quaife diff that did tend to ‘push’ the car so the wider wheels and different spring rates were used to fine tune the balance.
Thanks, that’s some good information. I’m putting the F1’s on as a tyre for winter (and all the rain we seem to be having in summer I have 48’s on there atm and I love them but not in the wet
The correct size F1’s are available but the guy at Plans suggested I go for the 205’s because they are “better, more grip”.
I am getting the geometry done at the same time so I guess they can set it all up nicely for me? I don’t have adjustable dampers unfortunately…
I would make sure you drive it on their track and check the on the limits handling characteristics - better to know before you need them
An interesting option might be Dunlops. Their website recommends 195 SO1’s on the front and 225 MaxxGT’s on the rear, with a lower pressure differential front/rear than standard.
Has anybody tried this option?
A mate of mine here in germany ran the dunlops before he went to the kuhmos. He said they had more grip than the yokos but they were more money though. He now runs 16/17" wheels with 205/245 kuhmos and i have never been in a lotus with so much grip…
A mate of mine here in germany ran the dunlops before he went to the kuhmos. He said they had more grip than the yokos but they were more money though. He now runs 16/17" wheels with 205/245 kuhmos and i have never been in a lotus with so much grip…
Given the problems with A048 supplies at the moment have you got the precise details of the Kuhmos?
Thanks
i will dig out the mail he sent me with his specs later…he runs 17/18" inch though.
Do a search, someone posted a sport auto article with a comparison of the 48, kuhmo, michelin and dunlops.
I’ve had it done, F1’s all round with 205’s on the front.
The turn in is now much more immediate with no more understeer. The overall dry grip level is obviously not as high and some people might not like the less safe feeling but I tested it round the perimeter road at plans and there aren’t any sudden surprises, the car is very controllable on the limit.
I knew it would happen, I have these tyres fitted for the wet weather and suddenly the forecast is for 5 days of sun!
Interesting! Did you have anything else changed on the suspension/geo or was this just a straight swap?
Yes, plans did the geometry at the same time. I don’t have adjustable dampers yet unfortunately.
How much did you pay for the Goodyears if you don’t mind me asking?
They were about �630 inlcuding fitting, balancing and vat.
They were about �630 inlcuding fitting, balancing and vat.
Not as cheap as I thought from a quick look at prices on the web, was the geo cost separate?
That’s what I thought! Yes, geo was exta… When getting tyres again, I’ll get them from somewhere else and get plans to do the setup.
What tire pressures are you running with these (F1’s)?
Last time I looked into this, albeit a few years ago, the 195’s were a Chrylser Neon specific tyre. These were definatley not the normal Goodyear F1 tyres that you would expect.