14" standard alloys on a Jap import, what rubber should it be wearing? Kumho's were mentioned an another thread, anyone got any other suggestions please?

Sal

 

Hi Sal,
We changed the standard alloys to 15" with 195/50 tyres. Nothing to expensive, the type that you find in car stores for about £450 all in.
The tyres fitted are Avon which I know is not a preferred tyre, and probably wouldn't have chose out of choice, but I have to say there not too bad on the MX5. The wear rate is outstanding, only about 60% worn after 30K, bit loose in the wet though
I have seen these package deals with other makes of tyre.
Allan

 

Cheers Allan but we're determined not to modify this car in any way at all yeh right

I've found a few sites recommending Yokohamo A520s and A509s but then I found a site saying these were rubbish in the wet! Looking at other car sites makes you realise how lucky we are to have the minefield of info that is Scoobynet, hence me asking on here not an MX5 site

Tyre wear isn't really a problem as we'll be doing very low mileage in this car - under 6K a year.

Would I be right in thinking I'm looking at 185/60R/14 for the 14" wheels? The info I've found so far is a little confusing

Sal

 

Sal,

Thats the same size tyres as my sis's G plate UK MX5, so assume its the same for yours.........

cheers
neil.

 

Cheers Neil

 

Ooooh, you're talking about my favourite subject, the MX-5

I have 14's, in fact I have four sets of wheels with different tyres

Standard Eunos Roadster alloys came with Bridgstone Blizzak snow tyres! amazing tyres (on the snow of course)

Standard Mazda steels wheels, with incredibly crap Dunlop SP's. If you want to have a nasty accident in the wet without even trying then these are the tyres for you.

Stealth alloys with Falken directionals are my winter economy tyres . They are actually really good value at around 140 squid for four from Euro Car Parts. I use them on both road and track and they seem pretty good.

Last set is Arrowspeed tyres on Leyton Racing wheels. Not good in the wet but pretty sticky in the dry, so these are for fast track days only.

I'd stay away from Toyo's or Yoko's. Brilliant dry weather tyres but they wear out in about two months, and they aint cheap

D.

 

Hey an MX-5 expert on Scoobynet, Excellent

We've gone for the Pirelli P6000's. I spent ages on various owners sites and these seemed to get a good vote, plus our local tyre chappie has them in stock and recommended them They're costing £197 all in inc balancing etc, we probably could have got them cheaper if we'd gone to a big chain type of place but I prefer to use my local independant tyre bloke - he really takes care of your alloys unlike some other places.

Sal.

 

Erm, I had P6000's for a while. I thought they were very slippy in the wet, maybe just my driving style

Just be careful in the wet or in autumn with those pesky leaves. The MX5 don't have a lot of power but it loves to break away any chance you give it. A lot of new owners don't even know it's a rwd so this catches them out a lot. I'm sure you have plenty experience though eh? (in cars) erm, (driving I mean)

If it's anything like ours then you'll have to enable the "flash to pass". For some reason in Japan the headlights will flash in the "down" position duh..., lighting up your engine bay??!!

If it need done it only costs about 20p I have the diodes you need.

I'll stop now

 

Yep I've been reading about this flash to pass thingy, is it the sort of job I could do myself? I'm reasonably handy when it comes to 12v electrics and have a fair bit of kit

Sal (who once rewired all the lights on her mini using all red cable - it was all I had! )

 

I'll give you a set of Kumhos for your MX-5

Seems like a fair swap.. *snigger*

 

It's a doddle to do the flash mod. It may sound a bit "cow-boyish" but it's worked fine for me for 5 years and everyone else I know who's done it.

All you do is (with the help of a low amp diode)....

Remove the plastic cover around the steering coloum, three or four philips screws then it inclips in half.
Unclip the right hand side wiring connector (white block with 6 wires.
Bend the diode ends into a "U" shape
squeeze the ends into the back of the connector block as per my photo http://freespace.virgin.net/david.scott14/headlights.htm

Top middle and bottom right on the picture. Make sure the diode is pointing in the right direction

Send me your address by email and I'll post down a diode. I bought a wee packet of them.

dave@carartz.com

 

Cheers Dave, you have mail

Sal