Tyres & wheels

[liamsp]

Basically I need new tyres for standard wheels 185/60/14 but my wheels are in bad condition so I was just wondering is it worth going for bigger wider wheels anyone got any suggestions from experience.
Thanks in advance

PS can someone edit the title as I cant spell!

Edited by liamsp on Monday 22 June 19:52

[Munter]

Yes. 15" tyres are considerably cheaper and you get a better selection. 195 is the width for the standard 15" wheels. So stick with that would be my suggestion.

[sassthathoopie]

Both mine had/have 15s. Ride/handling didn't feel compromised with either; (BBS RS, Racing Sparco)

[Herman Toothrot]

Agreed, 195/50/15 is the way forward, huge selection of tyres at much better prices. 15x7 or 6.5" wide wheels, with an offset of about 40 is what you'll need to get. Its probably best to get some standard 15" MX5 ones from ebay / owners club 2nd hand. But if you want new see here :-

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

[freerange7]

15 inch rims with some quality sticky TYRES, Toyo TS1s or Yokohama Parradas would be nice. It will help to fill the arches, keep the weight down, improve the handling and put a smile on your face.

[liamsp]

Thanks for your help I will be looking on ebay soon!

[tuttle]

For those of us still languishing with 14" rims, what decent tyre choices are there?

Mine came with Avon zvt 3's or whatever, which seem fine on most good surfaces but very unpredictable on anything else...don't like em much.

[Munter]

I looked to Dunlop and chose the Dunlop Sport Fast Response. Comes with "Touch Technology" don't you know!

It's a pretty good tyre actually. It seems to be quite a soft compound but stood up to Bedford and a few trips around the nurburgring no problems. I've not pushed it in the wet too much but I've no complaints.

[Pete Franklin]

In my opinion the best performing rubber on 14s is:

Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD2 185/60/R14

or Toyo Proxes T1-R 195/55/R14

both can be found for around £50 per corner (check www.mytyres.co.uk)

Goodyear hydragrip and Vredestein Hi-Track are also worth a look if your not after all out dry grip.

[Munter]

Pete Franklin said:

In my opinion the best performing rubber on 14s is:

Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD2 185/60/R14

or Toyo Proxes T1-R 195/55/R14

both can be found for around £50 per corner (check www.mytyres.co.uk)

Goodyear hydragrip and Vredestein Hi-Track are also worth a look if your not after all out dry grip.

If you can find Eagle F1 GSD2s then I'll be VERY surprised. They may be on the website but they don't have any. They haven't been available for over a year now.

[Pete Franklin]

Munter said:

If you can find Eagle F1 GSD2s then I'll be VERY surprised. They may be on the website but they don't have any. They haven't been available for over a year now.

Funny that- because I bought 4 from mytyres in April this year and am running them on my car at the moment. they dont say out of stock on the website at the moment either.

are you as surprised as you thought you would be?

[J-Tuner]

I've been hearing good things about hancook's (the ones in the mx5 racing series)and i took the WIM mx5 out at castle combe at japfest this year and tore the arse out of them and they kept on gripping after 7+ hard laps. When they started to go off it was very progressive and confidence inspiring. I will be getting some of those next.

I have Yokohamas on mine 195/50/15 and actually suprised how grippy they are... they do let off a nice squeal when conerning hard on roundabouts which is childish, but fun

[MX-5 Lazza]

Paddy_n_Murphy said:

IO noticed my 14inch Tyres were uneven wearing and two corners would need replacing before Winter.

I would have thought T1R in 195/50/15 should be cheaper than that - I paid less for my F1 GSD3s!
More importantly, get your alignment sorted!

[Munter]

Pete Franklin said:

Munter said:

If you can find Eagle F1 GSD2s then I'll be VERY surprised. They may be on the website but they don't have any. They haven't been available for over a year now.

Funny that- because I bought 4 from mytyres in April this year and am running them on my car at the moment. they dont say out of stock on the website at the moment either.

are you as surprised as you thought you would be?

Very. Because when I tried getting some in August I was told by that very website that they don't have them, and will not as they are out of production never to return. Which seemed fairly final on the whole getting a set front. I'd be interested in the date codes on your set.

[Pete Franklin]

Munter said:

Very. Because when I tried getting some in August I was told by that very website that they don't have them, and will not as they are out of production never to return. Which seemed fairly final on the whole getting a set front. I'd be interested in the date codes on your set.

Where on the tyre is the date code? i'll have a look the next time I'm at my car. Were they advertised with a price against them in august? they are showing up as £48.90 per corner at the mo and it normally says "out of stock" if they dont have them.

[Munter]

Pete Franklin said:

Munter said:

Very. Because when I tried getting some in August I was told by that very website that they don't have them, and will not as they are out of production never to return. Which seemed fairly final on the whole getting a set front. I'd be interested in the date codes on your set.

Where on the tyre is the date code? i'll have a look the next time I'm at my car. Were they advertised with a price against them in august? they are showing up as £48.90 per corner at the mo and it normally says "out of stock" if they dont have them.

See here for date codes: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.js...

It's possible Goodyear kept getting demand and so ran a new batch off, or they have found some old stock to flog off (Hence they kept it on the website even though not available at the time....who knows). In August it took an order on the site then they returned an e-mail saying they couldn't get them at all so no point waiting for stock, wery sorry etc please try another tyre.

[Stickers]

I have a set of 4 Marangoni Zeta linea 195/50/15's on my OZ Racing Chrono's & they are spot on - the reviews for these tyres are outstanding & they are guaranteed for life, even accidental damage is covered.

Unfortunately I can't find a supplier in the UK as the only importer 'Oak Tyres' of Warrington have fallen out with Marangoni but I'm not too concerned at the moment, there's plenty of life left in them.

[Pete Franklin]

Munter said:

See here for date codes: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.js...

It's possible Goodyear kept getting demand and so ran a new batch off, or they have found some old stock to flog off (Hence they kept it on the website even though not available at the time....who knows). In August it took an order on the site then they returned an e-mail saying they couldn't get them at all so no point waiting for stock, wery sorry etc please try another tyre.

I checked the tyres and they were manufactured in 2008

[Stickers]

Stickers said:

I have a set of 4 Marangoni Zeta linea 195/50/15's on my OZ Racing Chrono's & they are spot on - the reviews for these tyres are outstanding & they are guaranteed for life, even accidental damage is covered.

Unfortunately I can't find a supplier in the UK as the only importer 'Oak Tyres' of Warrington have fallen out with Marangoni but I'm not too concerned at the moment, there's plenty of life left in them.

Found out where the Marangoni's can be purchased: http://www.mytyres.co.uk/Tyres.html

[Gizmo!]

After knackering the tyres on the 14" wheels I had, I've gone and joined the throng on 15"s. I really like the look of the Mk2 OEM wheels on the Mk1. The (slight) extra offset helps them fill the arches a bit more too!