race tyres to my mx5.
the yoko 539s i had were excellent - but a couple of months ago went all
non-sticky, bad in the cold and wet...
i'm a motorcyclist, and if that happens on a bike we say the compound has
"gone off" or the tyre has "cured".
the 539s had more than 5mm left of tread - and were less than 2 years old.
now my mx5 is quite modified:
adjustable konis
eibach springs
strut tower braces front and rear
all available under bracing
and entire new chassis rails - made of 4 mm thick square wall tube.
also an aggressive alignment .
http://www.miata.net/garage/align.html
so my experience may not be that same as everyones.
i wanted to stay with 14' rims as my setup is pretty firm and i was worried
that a smaller section sidewall would make the car very harsh.
i have volks racing rays 14x6 wheels with a 35mm offset.
i had toyo fm9r circuit tyres recommended by some track day friends and
bought a set.
http://www.toyo.co.nz/race.htm
they cost $200 a piece - and fitting was $70 at a local tyre shop
i had them fitted on saturday- scubbed them in yesterday.
they are exceptional.
the car has never felt so neutral and even over rutted corners (piha road)
they are phenomenally surefooted.
when they finally break away (much later than anything i've had on the car in
the 10 years i've had mx5s) they kinda "scrabble" rather than sliding - lots
of warning and very predictable in a slide.
they do make a bit of "drumming"road noise, but soooo worth it.
they also seem good in the wet - although i'm told their standing water
performance is not as good as a road tyre.
they'll wear quickly, i'm sure, but i would never go back.
my car has truly found another peak in handling and grip.
just another perspective...
ken
uk.messenger.yahoo.comFrom: glenn roberts <supasparky@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: 2004/09/13 Mon PM 04:20:46 GMT+12:00
To: MX5List <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Spark Plugs and Tyres
let us know how those dunlops are going, as i was
offered a set at a really good price but have not
heard of any one using them. My grid 2's are coming up
for replacement soon.
=====
Glenn "SLYDIT"
http://miata.cardomain.com/id/supasparky
ken newell
