Tyre recommendations

iamjohngalt · Post by **iamjohngalt** » Mon May 14, 2012 7:40 pm

I just bought a 98 1.8 with 14" wheels and I'm not impressed with the Dunlop LM600's that came with it, so looking for better performance wet and dry. My other mx5 in USA has Falken Azenis Rt615's and they are quite satisfactory (if that helps define my needs.) What is available at reasonable pricing for 195/60R14 sizing and decent performance here in NZ?
(I did search the tyre forum first, but if there is anything recent I missed it.)
Sure would appreciate some suggestions, please.

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Mon May 14, 2012 9:57 pm

the thing that is ruining the handling is the 14" wheels...invest in some factory 15" or 16" wheels first. "performance" and 14' wheels are mutually exclusive on an NB

iamjohngalt · Post by **iamjohngalt** » Tue May 15, 2012 3:22 am

Thanks for that suggestion, but larger wheels are not on the menu for the time being. This is a daily driver, not a track beast, and I can accept the limitations of 14" wheels in that role, given a tire designed for it. I have been happy enough with 14" on 3 NA's; how is the NB so different in the role of a daily driver? (I suspect your needs for your mx5 and mine may be somewhat different, SLYDIT.)

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Tue May 15, 2012 8:34 am

SLYDIT wrote:the thing that is ruining the handling is the 14" wheels...invest in some factory 15" or 16" wheels first. "performance" and 14' wheels are mutually exclusive on an NB

Remember the NB came with 14" wheels too

Get 185/60R14 RE001s, they'll be more than sufficient.

Bwarp · Post by **Bwarp** » Tue May 15, 2012 8:35 am

You will struggle to find tyres in 195/60R14. But if you go to a 185/60R14 (standard tyre size) you'll have a lot more options. Bridgestone RE002s have been recommended to me. But I'm also going up to a 15 I think, so tyre choice is opened up a lot more when doing this.

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Tue May 15, 2012 8:53 am

Bwarp wrote:You will struggle to find tyres in 195/60R14. But if you go to a 185/60R14 (standard tyre size) you'll have a lot more options. Bridgestone RE002s have been recommended to me. But I'm also going up to a 15 I think, so tyre choice is opened up a lot more when doing this.

Don't think RE002s exist in 14" size, hence my RE001 recommendation

iamjohngalt · Post by **iamjohngalt** » Tue May 15, 2012 9:54 am

Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I see I may have to go back to the 185/60's, but thats not a problem if they keepp me on the road shiny side up;^) Until my business is generating enough profit I need to stay with 14's. Once it does I will have a lot better choices. Is there no market in NZ for performance summer tyres like Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, or are they just priced to the moon (or only for larger rims)?

Not trying to change the subject, but you think there would be a market for a petrol additive that upgrades standard unleaded to premium and cuts pollution at cost of 9 cents/ltr?

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Tue May 15, 2012 9:58 am

Only for larger wheels. You're somewhat limited when it comes to 14"

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Tue May 15, 2012 10:37 am

iamjohngalt wrote:Is there no market in NZ for performance summer tyres like Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, or are they just priced to the moon (or only for larger rims)?

Angreal wrote:Only for larger wheels. You're somewhat limited when it comes to 14"

I'm running 185/60R14 Star Specs. Got them for $210 per corner, fitted and balanced.

They're far, far more than the OP needs though by the sound of it. Get RE001s at best, the only reason I got Star Specs is because RE001s were apparently out of stock until like July.

iamjohngalt · Post by **iamjohngalt** » Tue May 15, 2012 11:11 am

Considering that Firestone wants $195 a corner for RE001's, the Star Specs are more appealing at $210. Maybe I will nurse these Dunlops along and put a set of tires in my 40' container of household goods from the US. Anybody know the duty on tyres?

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Tue May 15, 2012 11:15 am

Star Specs are however a much softer compound so while they'll perform far better, they'll also wear faster. You may not be able to get the same $210 for Star Specs, as I was going to pay $185 for RE001s.

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Tue May 15, 2012 11:49 am

I have an NB and they just like to slide if you really want more grip you are going to need wider wheels first. the factory 15x6 or in your case 14x6 arent wide enough at all!!! To get grip you need at least 205/50's and they won't fit comfortably on a 6J wheel

As for tyre reccomendations Yokohoma S Drives $125 per corner best tyres Ive ever used

But no matter how good the tyres are remember that you are driving a light RWD car... YOU ARE GOING TO SLIDE IN THE WET!

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Tue May 15, 2012 12:07 pm

Kieran wrote:But no matter how good the tyres are remember that you are driving a light RWD car... YOU ARE GOING TO SLIDE IN THE WET!

Reminds me the first time I drove in the wet... Almost lost it around a corner by doing a 180

Who knew RWD cars in the wet flicked out, my old FF car just had serious understeer

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Tue May 15, 2012 12:25 pm

Ha with mine.. Test drove in the dry, went back and did the deal. by the time i went to drive home it had rained... First intersection, taking it easy and my ass was going.. boy did it catch me out! haha

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Tue May 15, 2012 12:45 pm

There seems to be a fair bit of misinformation in this thread...

6" wide wheels with proper tyres are plenty of grip for factory power, unless you're trying to break traction (which you shouldn't be doing on public roads in the dry, let alone in the wet anyway). In the downpour last night on my way home I had full traction with Star Specs taking off with moderate throttle trying to beat some random FWD on the motorway onramp drag lights, and that was with 185s on factory 14x5.5s.

Even on the skidpan on Sunday I was only sliding where surface water had heavily pooled, and was catching traction mid-slide randomly. And the skidpan is noticeably slicker than road surface even when dry.

OP: If it's a daily driver, get ordinary road tyres like the S Drives mentioned by Kieran. If you want performance with longevity, look at RE001s. If you want ultra performance the likes of which you'll never need for daily driving, get Star Specs but don't expect them to last long at all; they're quite soft.

iamjohngalt · Post by **iamjohngalt** » Tue May 15, 2012 12:56 pm

Dont want to initiate a jinx, so I wont say how good I drive in the rain <grin>. Actually my flatmate in Uni impressed me with the need to understand limits in the rain, when he put his T-bird in a ditch about 2 minutes after bragging about how NYers knew how to drive in bad weather. That was definitely a white knuckle ride. To quote Dirty Harry, "A mans got to know his limitations." So I am usually a lot less aggressive driving when its wet. At least rear drive slide is not much surprise, I have been driving Mazda rear drive 2 seaters almost exclusively since my '78 RX7.

Kieran, where did you get the Yoko S drives? How do they ride for you?

Mr Shine, the Azenis on my 94 are short life, too. Cant usually get good grip and longevity together in the same tyres. Cars are all about living with trade-offs aren't they?

Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions.

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Tue May 15, 2012 1:13 pm

iamjohngalt wrote:Kieran, where did you get the Yoko S drives? How do they ride for you?

Don't think you can actually get S Drive in 14" apart from 185/55R14 which isn't quite right if you want to keep your speedometer accurate.

Mr Shine, the Azenis on my 94 are short life, too. Cant usually get good grip and longevity together in the same tyres. Cars are all about living with trade-offs aren't they?

I've heard high praise for RE001s in this regard. Excellent performance and longevity in one, and likely to be more than you'll need for daily driving.

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Tue May 15, 2012 1:59 pm

any local tyre place can get you whatever you want and usually do the best deals

S drives ride really smooth no road noise and quite soft but very durable ive thrashed them for over 6 months they still have wofable tread and in the dry they still stick!!!
As for wet driving i havent found a 195/50 tyre that can hold over 3000rpm without braking traction even with full tread!

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Tue May 15, 2012 2:05 pm

Kieran wrote:any local tyre place can get you whatever you want and usually do the best deals

I got my Star Specs through Tyre City in Botany, ask for Ressa he's a really great guy.

As for wet driving i havent found a 195/50 tyre that can hold over 3000rpm without braking traction even with full tread!

Maybe if you're trying to launch at 3000RPM

iamjohngalt · Post by **iamjohngalt** » Tue May 15, 2012 2:07 pm

I can live with the 55's 3% high speedometer reading for the $70 saving per tyre, if available. It might even keep me from a citation.

punkoutnz · Post by **punkoutnz** » Tue May 15, 2012 2:10 pm

Kieran wrote:But no matter how good the tyres are remember that you are driving a light RWD car... YOU ARE GOING TO SLIDE IN THE WET!

Yeah remember that time... On the motorway... Haha.

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Tue May 15, 2012 2:13 pm

punkoutnz wrote:
Kieran wrote:But no matter how good the tyres are remember that you are driving a light RWD car... YOU ARE GOING TO SLIDE IN THE WET!
Yeah remember that time... On the motorway... Haha.

thats exactly my point and you have 205s dont you?

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Tue May 15, 2012 2:14 pm

Kieran wrote:
punkoutnz wrote:
Kieran wrote:But no matter how good the tyres are remember that you are driving a light RWD car... YOU ARE GOING TO SLIDE IN THE WET!
Yeah remember that time... On the motorway... Haha.
thats exactly my point and you have 205s dont you?

He also has a turbocharger...

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Tue May 15, 2012 2:15 pm

Mr. Shine wrote:
Kieran wrote:
punkoutnz wrote: Yeah remember that time... On the motorway... Haha.
thats exactly my point and you have 205s dont you?
He also has a turbocharger...

that doesnt matter james drives like a nana haha

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Tue May 15, 2012 2:19 pm

Im just going to fold on this otherwise it will go on forever... factory wheels and proper tyres are enough for factory power if your prepared to spend $200+ per corner on tyres

Tyre recommendations

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