tonybelding

All tires are a compromise of one sort or another. . . but as far as I know, the Advan Neova tire wasn't created specifically for the Tesla Roadster. It's simply the latest and most advanced performance tire that Yokohama has come out with, and if it happens to have lower rolling resistance then I suppose that's an accidental bonus.

TEG

Yup. For an efficient tire it appears that it will make a decent track tire as well. As Telsa would say "no compromises".

http://www.yokohama.ca/article.php?s...60407092527962
"Lotus Cars selected the new Yokohama ADVAN Neova as original equipment fitment on the new Lotus Elise. "

(given the Elise connection to the roadster that must have made it an easy first choice to consider)

http://www.yokohama.ca/article.php?s...60407092527962
"As a thoroughbred tire, the ADVAN Neova requires specific care.
Yokohama Tire recommends owners store the ADVAN Neova in a dry, climate-controlled area during winter and not subject the tires to temperatures below -10° C."

OK, so it isn't a great tire for Alaska... I wonder if they ran those tires for their cold weather testing in Sweden?

W8MM

I recently took the passenger seat of a Lotus Elise Sport for some hot laps at Putnam Park Road Course. I was piloted by a podium-finishing pro driver who well knows his way around the track.

If the Tesla Roadster handles anywhere nearly as well as that Elise Sport, it's going to be beyond great to drive on a track. The Elise Sport was shod with Yokohama A048 Advan "DOT" race tires that look like they would fit the Roadster just fine. The 195 width front tires might benefit from 8" (vs. stock 7.5") wide front rims , but I don't know the width specification for the front wheels on the Sport version compared to the normal Elise.

The Elise Sport was so well balanced and had so much grip that it could easily keep up with most of the race cars with which we were sharing the track as it carried speed through various combinations of corners. It was turning lap times equal to cars that exceeded its 110 MPH straightaway speed by 15 to as much as 30 MPH, mainly due to its tenacious, yet wonderfully balanced handling ability. I was really impressed with how well it got around the course. Only two full-tilt race cars with slicks could top its radar measured corner exit speeds.

During my headquarters visit, I quizzed Tesla's Philip Luk about the Roadster's center of mass compared to an Elise. He told me that it was actually lower than that of the Elise owning to the shape of the battery pack filling the space otherwise consumed by the Elise's fuel tank. Li-ion cells must weigh a lot more per unit volume than does gasoline!

I had imagined that the Roadster might be more top-heavy than the Elise just because of the weight and height of the battery pack, but I had not thought about the arrangement of the mass not needed for the Elise's conventional IC engine and transmission. If the extra weight of the ESS can be somewhat compensated by an even lower center of mass, I expect the Roadster to be just as much fun to track drive as was the Elise Sport. It might be even more fun because its "E-drive" should accelerate way better than the comparatively wheezy motor In the Elise.

The Elise Sport turned in great lap times mainly because it didn't need to slow down as much as other cars through the corners. Imagine if it could accelerate, too!

Anyway, I think it will be great fun to get another set of wheels, mount some A048 tires on them, and take the Roadster to a track!

vfx

Now it seems viable with Tesla 120:

Tesla considering a track-ready version of the Roadster - Autoblog

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The world loves to be deceived.

TEG

Hmmm....

Tesla Motors - think

" TEG2 wrote on October 26th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
I know you folks have your hands full (to say it mildly), but I wanted to toss out the suggestion for a “Roadster Light” someday:

• 35kWH pack
  One gear
  90MPH top speed
  170mile average range
  2300lbs (2/3 ESS capacity and no transmission might get you there already)
  $80,000 "

Now, lets hope the price falls into line considering far fewer batteries.

TEG

By the way, I know that dsacks (who runs this forum) has a particular interest in seeing the roadster as a track car.

TEG

I was just watching some "Drifting" on ESPNHD.

Being RWD with good handling could make the Roadster a possible drift candidate. With complete DSP control over motor torque someone could make some "drift mode" firmware. Take a reading off the front wheel speed, and tell the eMotor to spin the rear wheels at 120% of front wheel speed. Pedal to the floor and go.

"Burn rubber not gasoline..."

BBHighway

DSP controlled drifting, that's a cool idea, although drift affectionados would says that's takes all the fun out of it.

The Roadster would also need some sort of limited-slip differential, or maybe an active differential. Currently, only the right wheel spins (driving in a straight line) if the traction control is disabled. That would probably also improve the 0-60 time by a tenth or so.