I’ve never run road tyres on the S2 so what are the good options?
Eliseparts list the YOKOHAMA AD07.
Any suggestions? (helpful 
)
AD08 
Just put on a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3s. So far really impressed. Good life on them too. �400 for a full set from Camskill
Toyo R1R is a good option.
I use the RIR as a wet weather tyre for road use rather than semi slicks. That depends on the time of year.
Pretty good on track too but they can over heat.
The fronts are not available in standard S2 sizes, but the 205 on the front can help with some under steer if you suffer. Geo dependent.
Worth noting that Lotus Silverstone use/used to use the Continental ContiSportContact tyre for all their track club cars. Lasted a lot longer than A048’s and having driven on them they did offer a fair bit of grip.
Not as much as the 48’s but they are not in the same like for like bracket (not semi slicks).
AD08 are amazing. I went from R888s to the AD08 and feel a massive difference in the wet
Yep they aren’t bad for an all weather tyre.
They’re alright on track as well if you’re not really hammering them, but you would certainly realise they aren’t A048s/R888s.
And pretty economical aswell with rears no more than about �120 each, fronts circa �100 
Pilot Sport 3s were absolutely superb at Snetterton on Sunday. I don’t think I’m going to bother at all with A048 now. Ok slightly less grip in the dry, but take into account how often its wet then the fact I’ll get so many more miles out of them and they’re so much cheaper. …
Have you actually driven your car on track with 48s or 888s, or passengered with the likes of Gav/DaveP/Sean (plus many others on here) ie top drivers in properly set up cars???
There is something to be said about running road tyres on a trackday…
They are no where near as fast as 48’s but so much more fun to drive on. They break away earlier and more progressivly and (as said) will last much longer if your only doing a couple of trackdays a year and maily road miles
I always liked and rated the PS2’s on my old audi. For 400 quid and to have a good name brand you cant go far wrong…
I am with Pesky. Your PS3 might be good, but a proper track tyre will be so much better especially with someone who knows how to use them to their fullest.
I understand you need the compromise, but I would rather take it easy on the roads and hang more G’s on track.
[quote=TarmacTerrorist]
I always liked and rated the PS2’s on my old audi. For 400 quid and to have a good name brand you cant go far wrong… [/quote]
PS 2’s were brilliant road tyres on my Golf. The PS3 are not in the same ball park in my opinion.
Cheers Pete I agree on a heavier car the PS2 was the dogs hence my question as if it was VAG car I’d put my life on them.
But be clear my Exige won’t be going on track again so looking for a capable all weather tyre.
As an aside whilst doing some engine Dyno work at Ilmor one of their guys took me out in his Elise on winter tyres. That was awesome.
Winter tyres are pretty hilarious in snow - there’s nothing quite like flashing the lights at 4x4 drivers in denial to get them out of the way. But they won’t stop other people running into you.
For the last 3 years I’ve kept a set of trackday rims fitted with A048s or R888s, and a set of road rims with Conti Sports or if I can be bothered the Pirelli winters - this year I just put the car in storage most of the winter.
If you’re doing much more than a handful of trackdays per year then a second set of rims will pay for themselves financially alone, pretty fast. But the real benefit is always having road suitable tyres in decent and safe shape for road use any time you want to drive out the gate.
Have you actually driven your car on track with 48s or 888s, or passengered with the likes of Gav/DaveP/Sean (plus many others on here) ie top drivers in properly set up cars??? [/quote]
Yes I have. I also run them on my previous Audi Elise, had a spare set of wheels with them fitted for track use. I also used them every now and then when I was competing.
Its a no brainer they are going to have more grip in the dry. The OP was asking about road tyres. I tend not just to follow the crowd blindly, ie go for the AD08s just because everyone says they are the best (even though they are considered a medium brand tyre and contrary to what some think are not designed for Lotus like the AD07 LTS) In my opinion why go for a road tyre that performs badly (relatively speaking) in the wet in a country where its wet most of the time!! Prefer not to have to drive like miss daisy most of the time or risk ending up in a ditch. Also why pay through the nose for tyres that won’t perform any better than the crap coming out of Korea most of the time? And then to add insult to injury have them wear out quicker than a fat kid running up hill.
So I spent some time researching lots of various tyres, found ones that come in the right fitment and the PS3s come out on top. There isn’t a bad professional review out there. Added bonus is the Exige size seems to be low in price. So you get a Premium brand tyre all round for �400. One that will last.
My comment in regards to the A048s was simply to suggest I had just as much fun out on track with these tyres fitted as I do with A048s. But with PS3s a massive benefit in that I could turn up and if it rains I’m still having just as much fun. Then I can drive home on them safely even if there is loads of rain. And because of the wear rate less likely to be driving home on illegal tyres!
Don’t get me wrong, on a dry day I would prefer to have 048s on, but with our unpredictable weather unless you have the luxury of being able to rock up with a spare set of wheels, there is always a good chance it will piss down and you’ll be struggling to keep up with Barry in his Saxo or part end up part of the track furniture.
And I know its not exactly proof, but my first track day in the Exige, in my eyes I was holding back in the corners and I was not overtaken all day. Covered over 100 miles on track and it was dry in the afternoon too. So the tyres couldn’t have been all that bad!
Oh and BTW, it was Gav who gave me the thumbs up on using Pilot Sports
Sometimes its just best to go with what you know Damon…
We did all the circles with the audis - yokos were great in the dry, ok sort of in the wet but would only last 8k if your lucky and tail off after 5k. Pireeli were not so good in the dry, shite in the wet, last forever but would tramline terribly for the last third of the tred and youd be changing them well before they were due. Michelins were the best in the wet, the best in the dry, offered the best useable mileage by far and were uniform in performance down to the wear bars…
If i had a list of road tyres in front of me to choose an all year round tyre from and the PS were on the list, in the correct sizes at a good price compared to everything else, i wouldnt hesitate to use them regardless of what car they were going on…
I have a set of the AD07 (i think thst what they are any way) on the sport 160, but i would class them more as a summer tyre and that is exatly what i use them for. Mainly for the dry but can handle the wet if really need be without too much drama. They still have quite a low tread wear index (160), so not something i would want to be doing daily motorway/trudge miles on as youll not be getting the best from them and just wasting your money…
Its a compromise, always…
Have you actually driven your car on track with 48s or 888s, or passengered with the likes of Gav/DaveP/Sean (plus many others on here) ie top drivers in properly set up cars??? [/quote]
Yes I have. I also run them on my previous Audi Elise, had a spare set of wheels with them fitted for track use. I also used them every now and then when I was competing.
Its a no brainer they are going to have more grip in the dry. The OP was asking about road tyres. I tend not just to follow the crowd blindly, ie go for the AD08s just because everyone says they are the best (even though they are considered a medium brand tyre and contrary to what some think are not designed for Lotus like the AD07 LTS) In my opinion why go for a road tyre that performs badly (relatively speaking) in the wet in a country where its wet most of the time!! Prefer not to have to drive like miss daisy most of the time or risk ending up in a ditch. Also why pay through the nose for tyres that won’t perform any better than the crap coming out of Korea most of the time? And then to add insult to injury have them wear out quicker than a fat kid running up hill.
So I spent some time researching lots of various tyres, found ones that come in the right fitment and the PS3s come out on top. There isn’t a bad professional review out there. Added bonus is the Exige size seems to be low in price. So you get a Premium brand tyre all round for �400. One that will last.
My comment in regards to the A048s was simply to suggest I had just as much fun out on track with these tyres fitted as I do with A048s. But with PS3s a massive benefit in that I could turn up and if it rains I’m still having just as much fun. Then I can drive home on them safely even if there is loads of rain. And because of the wear rate less likely to be driving home on illegal tyres!
Don’t get me wrong, on a dry day I would prefer to have 048s on, but with our unpredictable weather unless you have the luxury of being able to rock up with a spare set of wheels, there is always a good chance it will piss down and you’ll be struggling to keep up with Barry in his Saxo or part end up part of the track furniture.
And I know its not exactly proof, but my first track day in the Exige, in my eyes I was holding back in the corners and I was not overtaken all day. Covered over 100 miles on track and it was dry in the afternoon too. So the tyres couldn’t have been all that bad!
Oh and BTW, it was Gav who gave me the thumbs up on using Pilot Sports [/quote]
Is Barry in his Saxo the fat kid that can’t run up hills???
He obviously needs more power and to go on a diet. I wonder what tyres he uses??
Yeah, the fat kid running up the hill bit made me smile as well…
Funny topic.
I have been driving my car last year on track on RE050A tyres ( espcially the A is important as that are the better tyres compared to the re050a )
And yes semi slicks are faster ( done r888 and 048 )
But lots of lotus and porker drivers where suprised that I could keep up, out brake them, pass them, etc.( not the porkers on the straight… )
My laptimes on Zolder without a passenger where better or close to a lot of the Lotus on track-trackday drivers.
This was on a day where it was 30 degrees celcius. I did have to stop after 20 minutes as they where getting very warm, but that is also my somewhat agressive driving style.
And I am no driving god.
My next tyre is propably going to be a AD08 just to try it, but I am not touching a Semislick anymore. Street tyres or full slicks
O and the RE050A performend very well on a very very wet trackday with lots of standing water. Huge fun also.
That I miss 3 seconds on a 2 minute lap ? I save a lot of money that buys me beers and trackdays…