Is anyone running 19" track wheels?

[Citizen]

In fact emira gt4 works with 19” wheels right ?

 

[OppositeLock]

In fact emira gt4 works with 19” wheels right ?

The Emira GT4 I checked out at the dealer had 18" wheels and no parking brake at all.

 

[Tomwa]

He does have a point though. Coming off the track with hot rotors. You don't want to set the brake because it's going to bake the pads onto the rotor. But, when you stop the Emira and turn it off...it will automatically engage the brake.

You *might* be able to turn it off and chock the wheel while sitting for the next session.

 

[OppositeLock]

He does have a point though. Coming off the track with hot rotors. You don't want to set the brake because it's going to bake the pads onto the rotor. But, when you stop the Emira and turn it off...it will automatically engage the brake.

You *might* be able to turn it off and chock the wheel while sitting for the next session.

You can disable the automatic parking brake in the car settings, I already have. You don't need to remove the parking brake

 

[Raab]

It would work, and it'd probably throw a code or something, however, it's already enough of a pain to swap wheels for track days, I can't even imagine removing the parking brake each time. I have my limits.

I love my Emira, it has two things which annoy me; the seats and the electric parking brake.

I might try it. Ill Have a look next time I have the tires off. I already swap wheels and pads, and change fluids, it’s prob two more bolts to remove it. I’d love lighter wheels and cheaper 200tw track tire options.

 

[GRP]

I test fit and confirmed 100% that 18" wheels will not fit over the parking brake, 19" wheels will have plenty of clearance though.
18's barely rub the outer edge of it.

 

[centerpunch]

I test fit and confirmed 100% that 18" wheels will not fit over the parking brake, 19" wheels will have plenty of clearance though.
18's barely rub the outer edge of it.

Will 18" fit on the front?

 

[GRP]

Will 18" fit on the front?

Yep, no problem on the front.

 

[OppositeLock]

So, now is the time to decide on the wheel size and tires, since I need to figure out what to buy from @GRP .

I'd like to keep the front/rear diameter ratio as close of a match as possible so that ESC is happy. Stock, the rear tires are 0.7% taller than the fronts, so basically the same.

OEM size front is 245/35-20. Some alternative sizes with diameter changes:
245/40-19: -0.4%
235/40-19: -1.5%
225/45-19: +0.7%
245/45-18: -0.4%
225/50-18 +0.4%

OEM Rear is 295/30-20, some alternatives:
295/35-19: +0.4%
285/35-19: -0.4%


It seems like a sweet spot is 245/40-19F and 285/35-19R since it keeps the ratio of front/rear sizes the same as OEM. In this combo, these tires are available in the US. I've only run the Bridgestones on my Elise, and I really like them, but they're not a true track tire.
- Bridgestone Potenza RE71RS (Great tire!): ~$1,500/set
- Michelin Sport Cup 2 (240 treadwear): ~$1,700/set
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3: ~$1,400/set
- Yokohama AD09: ~$1,500/set

In the OEM sizes, we have some different options:
- Continental Extreme Contact Force: $1,600/set
- Michelin PS Cup 2 (like above. 240 TW): $2,200/set
- Michelin PS Cup 2(180 TW): $2,000-$2,200 depending on whether you get the Porsche or Ferrari variant
- Michelin PS Cup 2 R (140 RW): ~$2,200
- Yokohama Advan A052: $1,700/set
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar3: $1,700/set
- Yokohama AD09: ~$1,500/set
- Hoosier R7: $crazy

There does appear to be a lot more choice in the OEM 20" size! There's about an $75/tire price premium. The 19" wheels will be a little bit lighter, and the tires will be a little bit heavier (but overall wheel will be lighter)

 

[centerpunch]

For us older and/or slower dudes who may also live in places where it can get cold and wet, your sweet spot 19's are available in DWS06+ and PS AS4 all-seasons.

Although I might do 18 on the front, with 235/45-18 or 245/45-18F and 285/35-19R.

In addition to the slightly better ride, my old eyes just don't love the giant 20" wheel look with the tiny tire sidewalls.

Here's my old thread with pics of different size wheels.

Emira photos with different diameter wheels (20, 19, 18)

I borrowed a photo posted by @Lotus64 and modified it to show what the car would look like with different diameter wheels. According to some other threads, 18" wheels will not fit on the rear due to the design of the parking brake. And of course, different wheels are different, this is just a...

www.emiraforum.com

 

[OppositeLock]

For us older and/or slower dudes who may also live in places where it can get cold and wet, your sweet spot 19's are available in DWS06+ and PS AS4 all-seasons.

The DWS 06+ and PS AS4 and some Falken all seasons are all also available in the 20" OEM sizes.

 

[Tomwa]

I have some 18s in the garage I may see what needs/could be done. I don't think there's any point to running 18s in the front and 19s in the rear.

 

[Raab]

So, now is the time to decide on the wheel size and tires, since I need to figure out what to buy from @GRP .

I'd like to keep the front/rear diameter ratio as close of a match as possible so that ESC is happy. Stock, the rear tires are 0.7% taller than the fronts, so basically the same.

OEM size front is 245/35-20. Some alternative sizes with diameter changes:
245/40-19: -0.4%
235/40-19: -1.5%
225/45-19: +0.7%
245/45-18: -0.4%
225/50-18 +0.4%

OEM Rear is 295/30-20, some alternatives:
295/35-19: +0.4%
285/35-19: -0.4%


It seems like a sweet spot is 245/40-19F and 285/35-19R since it keeps the ratio of front/rear sizes the same as OEM. In this combo, these tires are available in the US. I've only run the Bridgestones on my Elise, and I really like them, but they're not a true track tire.
- Bridgestone Potenza RE71RS (Great tire!): ~$1,500/set
- Michelin Sport Cup 2 (240 treadwear): ~$1,700/set
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3: ~$1,400/set
- Yokohama AD09: ~$1,500/set

In the OEM sizes, we have some different options:
- Continental Extreme Contact Force: $1,600/set
- Michelin PS Cup 2 (like above. 240 TW): $2,200/set
- Michelin PS Cup 2(180 TW): $2,000-$2,200 depending on whether you get the Porsche or Ferrari variant
- Michelin PS Cup 2 R (140 RW): ~$2,200
- Yokohama Advan A052: $1,700/set
- Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar3: $1,700/set
- Yokohama AD09: ~$1,500/set
- Hoosier R7: $crazy

There does appear to be a lot more choice in the OEM 20" size! There's about an $75/tire price premium. The 19" wheels will be a little bit lighter, and the tires will be a little bit heavier (but overall wheel will be lighter)

With the right offset I also wonder about 255 in the front and 305s in the rear for a max grip track setup. Feels possible if people are adding ~10mm spacers to the stockers but I’m far from an expert on this sort of thing.

 

[centerpunch]

With the right offset I also wonder about 255 in the front and 305s in the rear for a max grip track setup.

Some calculated dimensions here. https://www.emiraforum.com/threads/...nt-diameter-wheels-20-19-18.5482/#post-157166

 

[OppositeLock]

With the right offset I also wonder about 255 in the front and 305s in the rear for a max grip track setup. Feels possible if people are adding ~10mm spacers to the stockers but I’m far from an expert on this sort of thing.

I checked that size; very few tires are available, it's pointless, and wide tires have downsides too. Spacers put more stress on wheel bearings, which you don't want.

 

[Raab]

I checked that size; very few tires are available, it's pointless, and wide tires have downsides too. Spacers put more stress on wheel bearings, which you don't want.

Good to know about the limited tire availability, I was actually saying no spacers, just a wider wheel with the right offset to allow for a similar flush fitment and the wider width tires. But if there’s not a lot of tire options then it’s potentially moot.

 

[Tracked Emira]

Yeah, I've contacted GRP a few weeks ago. As soon as they tell me that the wheels fit, I'm buying a set from them. I also suspect it might be possible to reconfigure the rear parking brake gearbox and turn the motor inwards, towards the center of the wheel. If I can find some time, I'll see if I can make a prototype that clears an 18" wheel. There's no reason for that thing to stick out so much.

I've done several hundred track days on my Elise, I lost count of how many a good decade ago, and early on, I realized that a dedicated track wheel set is a must.

First, until you sort out the car as you like it, you will be experimenting with tires, pads, all kinds of stuff. Some pads (like sintered metal ones) are hell on wheels, and I don't want to mess uo my pretty Emira wheels, since I'm going to keep this car pretty.

Second. Track focused tires can handle heat better. The Goodyear F1 SuperSports on my Emira were good for the first 10-12 minutes of a session, and then they started to get greasy. I had the same problems on the Elise as well. Once you get into the barely streetable tires, like Bridgestone RE71RS or Toyo R888R as examples, you will have higher performance for more of your session. I used to run the Yokohama A005 soft slicks on my Elise, and they got me 3-4 seconds a lap at Laguna Seca, that's huge! I use track wheels with dedicated tires because I want the extra performance, life be damned. Where I live it's generally warm, but we have a few weeks of the year where temperatures are below 40F, and the tires I mentioned aren't supposed to be driven at those temperatures.

Third. Your streetable, all-temperature wheels become your rain tires. Why miss a track day when it's raining?

Four. It's nice to drop wheels off at a tire shop and not have to worry about them dropping a Lotus off a lift.

Any chance you figured the parking brake situation out yet? If anyone has please let us know.
My goal is to use 18's all around with slicks, but if this parking brake situation isn't figured out, then it will be 19's in the back.

Does anyone have pictures of 18's in front and 19's in back or 19's all around?

 

[Tracked Emira]

I test fit and confirmed 100% that 18" wheels will not fit over the parking brake, 19" wheels will have plenty of clearance though.
18's barely rub the outer edge of it.

If 18's barely rub is it possible to grind and adjust any parts?
It's almost like Lotus didn't want us to put 18's on with slicks in case our builds could compete with the GT4 with other upgrades for less money and still be a daily driver...thoughts???

 

[centerpunch]

Does anyone have pictures of 18's in front and 19's in back or 19's all around?

Thread 'Emira photos with different diameter wheels (20, 19, 18)'

Nov 16, 2024

I borrowed a photo posted by @Lotus64 and modified it to show what the car would look like with different diameter wheels.

According to some other threads, 18" wheels will not fit on the rear due to the design of the parking brake.

And of course, different wheels are different, this is just a photographic demo, I'm not saying all wheels of these sizes will fit on the car! And while shrinking the wheel image I was also shrinking the brake image, so in reality the smaller wheels would have less space between the brake and the inside of the wheel.

Possible tire sizes might be...

• centerpunch

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