Jump to content
Click here if you are having website access problems ×

195/50 15 TYRES


eric

Recommended Posts

FOR THE LOTUS ELISE AND 340 R THERE ARE SPECIAL YOKOHAMA REF 038 R IN 195/50 15 FOR THE FRONT WHEELS.

THE DESIGN SEEMS TO BE VERY SIMILAR THAN 032R AND THEY ARE CREATED FOR A LIGHT CAR.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE VERY GOOD PERFORMANCE ON 340 R.

Who can give me an advice ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Eric,

I use 032r 195/55 15" on my prisoner rims for motorway use and roads where I don't know what ground clearance is available (Ireland...) they give fewer revs per speedlimit + better gas mileage.

 

For track and nutter road use I use ACB10 on 13" rims.

 

For a normal road use I find the 032's better, mostly 'cos they don't tramline so badly and because I can't get the acb10's upto temperature.

 

I find them fine in the wet doing 80mph through thunderstorms with no aquaplaning, though spun the car on ice (big surprise). I have done over 5k miles on the o32's with two hard track days thrown in though they are now slicks.

 

The acb's are not as good in the serious wet though they're fine on damp roads as along as you remember they're cold and treat them with respect.

 

Cheers, Simon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Simon

 

YOU SEEMS TO BE VERY WELL EQUIPED WITH THE TWO POSSIBILITIES :

13" for track

15" for road

 

My goal was to have only one size of tyres and to have good performance but obviously it is not possible.

 

Thank you for your advise

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Eric.

I do find the 15"ers tramline a bit but that is the wheel size rather than the tyre choice. They have been good in the wet except when we had a real flash flood type storm and the car aquaplaned at any sppeed. I have to say though that the conditions were the worst I have ever driven in (in any car!) and this from a man who clocks up about 50,000 miles per year for the last 12 years!!!!!

 

I used a tyre conditioner from Demon T (which smells like Gunk/Jizer). This softened the outer 'coating' and they have been good for the last year!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Eric,

my £1.02p, it's all compromises, you just have to decide which two you're going to make.

 

1) Rim size:

 

For performace, 13" is best - 16" is worst

Exactly the reverse for ground clearance

13" has the best choice for performance rubber and 15/16" for road rubber

 

2) Rubber to wear (Oooh Err)

 

Choice runs from outright performance crossplys through performance radials to Ford Escort tyres.

 

ACB10's at one end through Yoko 032 and 021's to Michelin pilots.

 

You pays your money and takes your choice.

 

I have 13" ACB's and 15" 032's so I'm definately at the performance end do 5,000 miles per year + several track days and am prepared to replace both sets of tyres a year if neccessary.

 

Having smashed out my sump (twice) and trashed a carbon exhaust can + drive on some bumpy roads I want the option of high ground clearance.

 

I also do track days and my rationale is that the extra wear on tyres at a track day means I'll have to replace them quicker. There is a substantial difference in cost twixt 13" and 15" tyres, esp if one set don't have to be road legal. SO I can afford to buy a set of track tyres and rims for a bit more than just replacing my road tyres. Payback approx 2-3 years. No really, I've convinced myself that getting another set of wheels is saving me money... and I wasn't even drunk at the time smile.gif

 

Changing tyres without Schumi's pit crew is an arse.

 

If I could only have one set it'd be 14" 032's.

 

If it were just blats on good roads and track days it'd be 13" ACB10s

 

If I had to keep the 15" rims ('cos I already had them) I'd put 195/50 032's (or 38's) on them. I'll kill a set a year at 3-4k miles and two track days but that's what £350 ? Probably less than the cost of the petrol I put in it. Well worth the price for top road holding fun.

 

Cheers, Simon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...