winter tyres on mx5

[sawman]

Guys, I already posted in GG but then I remembered this board and thought I may get a more measured response, heres what I said:

Have been thinking about a winter snotter to take the strain off the morgan over winter. So having spent a while looking at worthy but dull hatches, saloons and estates, i keep finding myself in the mazda section of the classifieds.

I have had an mx5 before and once i had replaced the 'stat the heater worked well and I enjoyed using it all through the year, except when it snowed when it had less traction than a slippery thing on a slide. Its all a few years ago now and I cant remember whether the snow came before I had swapped out the japanese ditchfinders that came on the car (it was a eunos import)

Has anyone had better experience of snowy traction issues, or of using winter tyres on one of these???

[piefacemate]

Never used winter tyres on either of mine. My experience of winter this time round was don't drive; I got either grounded or mired everywhere I go. There's not much weight over the back of an MX5 and they're often slightly overtyred, not a good combination in the slippy stuff.

[sawman]

piefacemate said:

N There's not much weight over the back of an MX5 and they're often slightly overtyred, not a good combination in the slippy stuff.

Yes that was my previous experience, I'm interested to kow if winter tyres would help resolve things, perhaps with a sack of cement in the boot

[ironictwist]

sawman said:

piefacemate said:

N There's not much weight over the back of an MX5 and they're often slightly overtyred, not a good combination in the slippy stuff.

Yes that was my previous experience, I'm interested to kow if winter tyres would help resolve things, perhaps with a sack of cement in the boot

I was planning to do this actually...Shall be buying a set of Nokians for the '5 in the coming fortnight...I used a set on my XJ last year & they made it unstoppable. Despite the '5 being a completely different type of car, I hope it helps it just as much when the conditions really get nasty

Will keep updating

[piefacemate]

ironictwist said:

sawman said:

piefacemate said:

N There's not much weight over the back of an MX5 and they're often slightly overtyred, not a good combination in the slippy stuff.

Yes that was my previous experience, I'm interested to kow if winter tyres would help resolve things, perhaps with a sack of cement in the boot

I was planning to do this actually...Shall be buying a set of Nokians for the '5 in the coming fortnight...I used a set on my XJ last year & they made it unstoppable. Despite the '5 being a completely different type of car, I hope it helps it just as much when the conditions really get nasty

Will keep updating

Were they really that goo don the XJ? My XJ8 is about due new shoes and I was very tempted by some of the winter tyres... thought they're pricey for 18" 245's!

[sawman]

ironictwist said:

sawman said:

piefacemate said:

N There's not much weight over the back of an MX5 and they're often slightly overtyred, not a good combination in the slippy stuff.

Yes that was my previous experience, I'm interested to kow if winter tyres would help resolve things, perhaps with a sack of cement in the boot

I was planning to do this actually...Shall be buying a set of Nokians for the '5 in the coming fortnight...I used a set on my XJ last year & they made it unstoppable. Despite the '5 being a completely different type of car, I hope it helps it just as much when the conditions really get nasty

Will keep updating

waiting with bated breath.....

theres a nice red mk1 for sale near me, seems reasonable condition for age even has dual 'zorts

[ironictwist]

piefacemate said:

ironictwist said:

sawman said:

piefacemate said:

N There's not much weight over the back of an MX5 and they're often slightly overtyred, not a good combination in the slippy stuff.

Yes that was my previous experience, I'm interested to kow if winter tyres would help resolve things, perhaps with a sack of cement in the boot

I was planning to do this actually...Shall be buying a set of Nokians for the '5 in the coming fortnight...I used a set on my XJ last year & they made it unstoppable. Despite the '5 being a completely different type of car, I hope it helps it just as much when the conditions really get nasty

Will keep updating

Were they really that goo don the XJ? My XJ8 is about due new shoes and I was very tempted by some of the winter tyres... thought they're pricey for 18" 245's!

It's expensive yeah...I spent over £400 on them last winter, worth every penny though as getting to work was faaaaaaaaaaaar more important.

I ran the WR G2's on my 98 XJ 4.0 V8 last winter...HUGELY confidence inspiring. Able to drive completely "normally" in the worst of the winter last year! Plenty of feedback through the Jag about the surface below & the Nokian's rarely felt "iffy" even when going at 60/70 cutting through the slush with complete ease. It could climb up iced up hills on many occasions where as for other cars it was a complete no go & sweeping twisties could be taken "normally" as if you were on summer tyres in the dry.

I drive up from the south coast to the middle of the Ashdown Forest up near E.Grinstead/Gatwick & none of my colleagues (who all live in a 5 mile radius) could make it in during the worst of it so everyone got in the XJ in order to get to work for the week!

Worth every single penny - 10/10

[Munter]

Well I just (but before seeing this thread), ordered a set of Nokian WR G2 for the MX5.

The Mrs drove it daily all through last years snow etc. But did have a few problems getting out of car parks etc. And as I have a spare set of wheels it seems like a good idea.

[71notout]

Where are you guys geting your Nokians from?

And are you keeping 195/50/15 or going for slightly slimmer, higher sidewall ratio?

[Munter]

71notout said:

Where are you guys geting your Nokians from?

And are you keeping 195/50/15 or going for slightly slimmer, higher sidewall ratio?

I put the order in with mytyres. I've gone for a 175/65 14 as per the manual recommendation for "snow tyres". Plus there's a lot more choice in that size than in 185/60 14.

[ironictwist]

Munter said:

71notout said:

Where are you guys geting your Nokians from?

And are you keeping 195/50/15 or going for slightly slimmer, higher sidewall ratio?

I put the order in with mytyres. I've gone for a 175/65 14 as per the manual recommendation for "snow tyres". Plus there's a lot more choice in that size than in 185/60 14.

The MX5 manual suggests 175/65/14? :O

[piefacemate]

ironictwist said:

piefacemate said:

ironictwist said:

sawman said:

piefacemate said:

N There's not much weight over the back of an MX5 and they're often slightly overtyred, not a good combination in the slippy stuff.

Yes that was my previous experience, I'm interested to kow if winter tyres would help resolve things, perhaps with a sack of cement in the boot

I was planning to do this actually...Shall be buying a set of Nokians for the '5 in the coming fortnight...I used a set on my XJ last year & they made it unstoppable. Despite the '5 being a completely different type of car, I hope it helps it just as much when the conditions really get nasty

Will keep updating

Were they really that goo don the XJ? My XJ8 is about due new shoes and I was very tempted by some of the winter tyres... thought they're pricey for 18" 245's!

It's expensive yeah...I spent over £400 on them last winter, worth every penny though as getting to work was faaaaaaaaaaaar more important.

I ran the WR G2's on my 98 XJ 4.0 V8 last winter...HUGELY confidence inspiring. Able to drive completely "normally" in the worst of the winter last year! Plenty of feedback through the Jag about the surface below & the Nokian's rarely felt "iffy" even when going at 60/70 cutting through the slush with complete ease. It could climb up iced up hills on many occasions where as for other cars it was a complete no go & sweeping twisties could be taken "normally" as if you were on summer tyres in the dry.

I drive up from the south coast to the middle of the Ashdown Forest up near E.Grinstead/Gatwick & none of my colleagues (who all live in a 5 mile radius) could make it in during the worst of it so everyone got in the XJ in order to get to work for the week!

Worth every single penny - 10/10

Thanks, that's really interesting; suspect that investing in a set might make sense, particuarly as I travel frequently for a living! The XJ looks rather nice, you still got it?

Also, do you have any recommendations as to where to source a set? Camskills and Blackcircles don't seem to have the Nokians listed!

[ironictwist]

piefacemate said:

ironictwist said:

piefacemate said:

ironictwist said:

sawman said:

piefacemate said:

N There's not much weight over the back of an MX5 and they're often slightly overtyred, not a good combination in the slippy stuff.

Yes that was my previous experience, I'm interested to kow if winter tyres would help resolve things, perhaps with a sack of cement in the boot

I was planning to do this actually...Shall be buying a set of Nokians for the '5 in the coming fortnight...I used a set on my XJ last year & they made it unstoppable. Despite the '5 being a completely different type of car, I hope it helps it just as much when the conditions really get nasty

Will keep updating

Were they really that goo don the XJ? My XJ8 is about due new shoes and I was very tempted by some of the winter tyres... thought they're pricey for 18" 245's!

It's expensive yeah...I spent over £400 on them last winter, worth every penny though as getting to work was faaaaaaaaaaaar more important.

I ran the WR G2's on my 98 XJ 4.0 V8 last winter...HUGELY confidence inspiring. Able to drive completely "normally" in the worst of the winter last year! Plenty of feedback through the Jag about the surface below & the Nokian's rarely felt "iffy" even when going at 60/70 cutting through the slush with complete ease. It could climb up iced up hills on many occasions where as for other cars it was a complete no go & sweeping twisties could be taken "normally" as if you were on summer tyres in the dry.

I drive up from the south coast to the middle of the Ashdown Forest up near E.Grinstead/Gatwick & none of my colleagues (who all live in a 5 mile radius) could make it in during the worst of it so everyone got in the XJ in order to get to work for the week!

Worth every single penny - 10/10

Thanks, that's really interesting; suspect that investing in a set might make sense, particuarly as I travel frequently for a living! The XJ looks rather nice, you still got it?

Also, do you have any recommendations as to where to source a set? Camskills and Blackcircles don't seem to have the Nokians listed!

The XJ in the picture unfortunately misbehaved alot mechanically...But all being well I should be buying another in a few weeks time & slapping a set of Nokians again.

I bought the tyres from mytyres, had them delivered to one of there "partnered" fitting stations, went along & had them fitted. Nice & easy

[piefacemate]

£152 each... ouch! Think I need to think about this one a little more!

[ironictwist]

piefacemate said:

£152 each... ouch! Think I need to think about this one a little more!

It's gone up a fair chunk?

Item No.: R-159426
Item: Nokian WR G2 225/60 R16 102V XL Fully Fitted (Wi)
Quantity: 4
unit price net: 97.65 GBP (112.30 GBP brutto)

---

Total amount net: 390.61 GBP

That includes the fitting too...From December 2009.

Edited by ironictwist on Wednesday 6th October 11:00

[piefacemate]

ironictwist said:

piefacemate said:

£152 each... ouch! Think I need to think about this one a little more!

It's gone up a fair chunk?

Item No.: R-159426
Item: Nokian WR G2 225/60 R16 102V XL Fully Fitted (Wi)
Quantity: 4
unit price net: 97.65 GBP (112.30 GBP brutto)

---

Total amount net: 390.61 GBP

That includes the fitting too...From December 2009.

Edited by ironictwist on Wednesday 6th October 11:00

Bear in mind I'm not on XJ8 sovereign wheels anymore, so they are more expensive!

[Munter]

piefacemate said:

£152 each... ouch! Think I need to think about this one a little more!

£52.20 each in my size.

[ironictwist]

piefacemate said:

Bear in mind I'm not on XJ8 sovereign wheels anymore, so they are more expensive!

Aha! That explains it!

Can't wait to nab a set for the '5, roof down in the snow here I come!

[Munter]

ironictwist said:

Munter said:

71notout said:

Where are you guys geting your Nokians from?

And are you keeping 195/50/15 or going for slightly slimmer, higher sidewall ratio?

I put the order in with mytyres. I've gone for a 175/65 14 as per the manual recommendation for "snow tyres". Plus there's a lot more choice in that size than in 185/60 14.

The MX5 manual suggests 175/65/14? :O

No really it does!

Here ya go from my MK1 manual.

[ironictwist]

Munter said:

ironictwist said:

Munter said:

71notout said:

Where are you guys geting your Nokians from?

And are you keeping 195/50/15 or going for slightly slimmer, higher sidewall ratio?

I put the order in with mytyres. I've gone for a 175/65 14 as per the manual recommendation for "snow tyres". Plus there's a lot more choice in that size than in 185/60 14.

The MX5 manual suggests 175/65/14? :O

No really it does!

Here ya go from my MK1 manual.

I had no clue at all! Thanks for that Munter...I'm now pondering as to whether I should go for the recommended size in the manual, or go for the same size tyres that I already have.

Hmmm?! What to do!