185/60R14 (MX5) - What tyre?

[BeirutTaxi]

Hey everyone,

I am looking for a good performance and wet weather tyre for the MX5. The only option I can think of at the moment is the Eco Contact 5 (Continental) however It's not exactly performance oriented in the dry. What do you think I should go for?

Best regards,


Matt

[v8will]

Move upto 15" opens up a world of tyre options.

[MJK 24]

v8will said:

Move upto 15" opens up a world of tyre options.

This could be an option but I don't know enough (anything) about MX-5's to know if it will alter the handling of your car.

My Scirocco used to wear 185/60 R14 but nowadays, there's few decent tyres in this size and those that can be considered decent can be very expensive. It's not a common size these days at all.

I switched to 15" rims and now use 195/50 R15. Same rolling diameter so no speedo accuracy issues. This is one of the most common current sizes - fitted to the majority of new Fiesta's for example. I got 4 x Michelin Pilot Exalto PS2 for circa £200. They're brilliant.

Good luck

[GravelBen]

195/50R15 is the most popular size for MX5s too, I preferred the handling of mine on the 15" to the original 14". Just make sure you get nice lightweight wheels. Toyo T1R are popular on MX5s.

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 15th March 22:23

[rallycross]

T1R is cheap because it's rubbish.
Soft sidewalled budget crap.

[vrooom]

cheapest tyre. no power to pull a greased stick out of pig arse.

[paul99]

I recently had a full set of Uniroyal Rainexperts in that size fitted on my daily and they are great. Bags of grip in the recent crappy cold/wet weather and also plenty on grip in the dry, more than enough for a standard 5 anyway. Also great value at about £40 each.

Also I have 15" Toyo T1R's on my supercharged MK2, yes they have a soft sidewall but a bit of extra pressure (I use 30psi) and they are great. I have heard they are poor on heavy cars but they suit the MX5 very well.

[paul99]

vrooom said:

cheapest tyre. no power to pull a greased stick out of pig arse.

Also complete cobblers, put cheap ditchfinders on a 5 as and you will most likely end up in a ditch.

[vrsmxtb]

Uniroyal Rainexperts or Dunlop SP Sport Fast Response.

[mattshiz]

I have Uniroyal RainSport2's on mine, were £33 each on camskill a week or so ago.

In 195/15 that is

[poing]

vrsmxtb said:

Uniroyal Rainexperts or Dunlop SP Sport Fast Response.

I'm going for the Uniroyals next, haven't been impressed with the Dunlop really.
Great in the dry, great in the proper pouring rain but a bit rubbish at anything in the middle and sadly that's what most of the British climate consists of. Also not worn particularly well and wet performance has massively dropped off over the tyre life despite plenty of tread left earlier on in their life.

Far better than the Yoko's it came with though which are still sitting part worn on the garage.

Noticed that Camskill are doing the Uniroyal at a great price at the moment too.

[anonymous-user]

I have Dunlop SP01 sport fastresponse or something similar on mine in 185/60 R14. Very pleased with them in the dry and more importantly in the wet. You can be quite heavy handed even on soaking roads and they grip well and are progressive when they let go. It had Pirelli P6000s on the back when I had it and I cannot exaggerate how awful they were in the wet. Massive oversteer and slides at walking pace off roundabouts, random slithers under gentle acceleration and so forth. Way beyond the point of fun and into "dangerous at any speed".

[Buff Mchugelarge]

dme123 said:

I have Dunlop SP01 sport fastresponse or something similar on mine in 185/60 R14. Very pleased with them in the dry and more importantly in the wet. You can be quite heavy handed even on soaking roads and they grip well and are progressive when they let go. It had Pirelli P6000s on the back when I had it and I cannot exaggerate how awful they were in the wet. Massive oversteer and slides at walking pace off roundabouts, random slithers under gentle acceleration and so forth. Way beyond the point of fun and into "dangerous at any speed".

I had P6000's on my 106 and they are st! Great in the dry but utter plop in the wet.

Ive got Autogrips' on my 5 So I expect I'll be dead soon. They were great in the snow though

[vrsmxtb]

poing said:

I'm going for the Uniroyals next, haven't been impressed with the Dunlop really.
Great in the dry, great in the proper pouring rain but a bit rubbish at anything in the middle and sadly that's what most of the British climate consists of. Also not worn particularly well and wet performance has massively dropped off over the tyre life despite plenty of tread left earlier on in their life.

Far better than the Yoko's it came with though which are still sitting part worn on the garage.

Noticed that Camskill are doing the Uniroyal at a great price at the moment too.

I haven't noticed any particular issues with the Dunlops, they were decent on track and seem excellent on the roads in most conditions.

I've had Uniroyals before and the Rainsport 2 is a very good tyre, so wouldn't hesitate to go for RainExperts next time.

[BeirutTaxi]

Thanks for the replies guys

Does anyone have a experience of Continental Premium Contact 5's?
If so, how did you find them?


Many thanks,

Matt

[TameRacingDriver]

paul99 said:

vrooom said:

cheapest tyre. no power to pull a greased stick out of pig arse.

Also complete cobblers, put cheap ditchfinders on a 5 as and you will most likely end up in a ditch.

Cobblers as well, my last MX5 I bought was on cheapo tyres, and I didn't end up in a ditch. I still drove it hard in the dry, and respected them in the wet, no problems.

Not necessarily endorsing cheap tyres on the MX5 but most aren't too bad.

I'd have thought the Eco tyres would have been great for a giggle (read sliding around), doesn't the GT86 share tyres with a Prius?

[DKS]

I've got Avon ZV3 in a 195/60R14 on the GTE. Was very pleased at the off the line grip at a 1/4 day.