hot tyres!

[jeff]

hi all

after drooling over prices/specs on the US forum, I
did some local price shopping today.

Falken Azenis 195x50 15 - US$63 ... NZ$ 270 ?!?!

can anyone offer up some suggestions on places+prices
(Akl) ? I'm looking for something grippy, with stiff
sidewalls like my good ol' Bridgestone RE-71's...

(most of the "hot" tyres aren't even available in 15"
... aargh!)

in sticker shock,
Jeff

[Gary Morrison]

I was quite taken by that Michelin that Lou said he had. I liked the look of
the tread pattern and design... How much were they Lou?

[Don Warrington]

Since the subject of tyres is in the air again, can I please ask whether
anyone out there has had experience of the Pirelli P6000 on an MX5? Or other
types with silica-based tread compounds?

If one can believe the advertising material, silica gives the designer more
room to move with regard to balancing the contradictory requirements of grip
vs rolling resistance, but how have they chosen to use this extra room? Have
they paid too much attention to reduced rolling resistance (= reduced fuel
consumption, lower noise etc) at the expense of grip? What are the breakaway
characteristics of silica compounds, when the grip runs out?

(Background for the question is that one of the Bridgestone Conselfa's on my
car is right at the limit of acceptability for a WOF so I need to replace
soon, and replacing all 4 now would give me two tyres to use on a light
trailer which has been caught by the new regs requiring car-standard treads
on trailer tyres also. The Conselfa is not a performance tyre of course - I
haven't found it a problem, which no doubt says something about the way I
drive my MX5, but I'd tend to go for a higher grade tyre for the replacement.)

Toyo T1-S is not available in 185-60 14, and my preferred options at the
moment are:
1. a set of the remaining few Grid 2's around, at $155 each fitted
(That's quite a bit more expensive than the under-$130 being paid
for these in Auckland not long ago - not sure how much of this is
that they've used up the backlog of Grid 2's, and how much is the
reduced competition in Dunedin compared to Ak.)
2. Grid 3's at $175 (Do these have a silica-based tread compound? Has
anyone tried them on an MX5?)
3. Pirelli P6000 at $200 (the P5000 Drago has now been deleted)
4. Michelin MXF?? Available in 185-60 14?? Price??

Any info/opinions gratefully received.
Don

[lou Girardin]

They are MXF Sports, Around $1200.00 from Marshall Tyres. Great tyres!
Lou

[lou Girardin]

I've had silica based tyres twice now, Uniroyals and Michelin plus
Bridgestones on my bike. Great combination of tread life and wet grip. Don't
have a problem with sudden breakaway. The balance depends on designer
priorities.
Lou