There is a view that the road holding and handling of the Elan is superior with the original tyres and rims fitted. Traditionalists may well feel this is so, but in our practical experience it's a mistaken impression.

The performance of the Lotus Elan or Plus Two, fitted with a fresh set of 185/60 Yokohama tyres, a spaceframe chassis, twin wishbone rear suspension system and driveshaft conversion kit, is so outstanding it's unlikely that anyone who has driven one of these cars would wish to go back Thirty years in time and technology.

The contact patch of the present day tyre is slightly larger - providing improved grip and the shorter sidewalls reduce distortion during load transfer. As a consequence, the car feels more direct and takes a much quicker 'set' as it prepares to negotiate a corner, instead of wobbling for a moment on the original deep sidewalls.

A smart example of a "Spyder" car fitted with 14" Yokohama tyres, Minilite pattern wheels, Spyder Spaceframe chassis, roll over bar, twin wishbone rear suspension system and driveshaft conversion kit.

Since the original pressed steel 'knock-on' wheels have not been produced for twenty years and the likelyhood is we will not have access to them again, it may be worth considering a set of Spyder Minilite pattern wheel and preserve your originals.

The replacement wheels can be fitted to the Elan Series 4 and Sprint and to all models of the Plus Two without bodywork alteration. In fact, in the case of the standard Plus Two and Elans fitted with the Spyder RSC they are a  direct replacement. Small Elans with the original rear strut suspension systems, however, require the rear spring seats to be modified and 2.250" rear springs fitted. This is a job that Spydercars is happy to carry out if required.

The end results are: stunning looking wheels, superior road holding and handling and, in the case of the small Elan, the bonus of having adjustable rear ride heights.

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