mx5cartalk.com

What are you using/used ?
Hankook RS3 looks good.
Any other options ?
Rims are 15x7.5 +30

RS3's are great. I'm using AD08r's 205 x 50 and I'm really happy with them. same size rim but 38 offet.
NB8B sitting about 120mm. It has been 95mm with no scrubbing issues lbut that was too low for the street.

RS3 is the only option in 225/45/15 in Australia that is street legal. But, with a 7.5" wide wheel I'd be looking at 205/50/15 tyres, and there are a bunch more options - but as Bear mentioned the AD08Rs are the winner in that size.

Why do you want 225's if you're running a skinny rim?

Hankook reckon 7.5" is the optimum width for 225/45/15 RS3

http://www.garysmotorsporttyres.com.au/ ... ks-hankook

I could understand if the OP was after 225 wide tyres cause they're running 9" wheels and don't want stretch from a 205, but given it's for street use, why wouldn't you just use a 205? Given there are limited 225 options available locally.

The ideal width for general use on a 7.5" rim is 215 ot 225. Slap them on a 9" and your either tracking or stancing. My car is a stock NB8A and wont fit 9"rims without modification. I dont want to get defected either.

Code4 wrote:The ideal width for general use on a 7.5" rim is 215 ot 225. Slap them on a 9" and your either tracking or stancing. My car is a stock NB8A and wont fit 9"rims without modification. I dont want to get defected either.

For 6ULs, 949racing recommends 205s for 8" rims and 225s for 9" rims.

I doubt that some of the big tyre shops that would be willing to fit 225s on a 7.5" rim (some wont even fit 225s on an 8" rim!)

you basically have one local option, and that's the rs-3s. They are a good tyre, but i still think it's odd to to limit yourself to a 225 given you'll be hard pressed to notice any difference between it and a 205, and probably even a 195, on the street. Ad08r's are a fantastic tyre, RE003's are good for dailies, and there are plenty of other compounds that come in a 205 so might suit your requirements better.

Lokiel wrote:

Code4 wrote:The ideal width for general use on a 7.5" rim is 215 ot 225. Slap them on a 9" and your either tracking or stancing. My car is a stock NB8A and wont fit 9"rims without modification. I dont want to get defected either.

For 6ULs, 949racing recommends 205s for 8" rims and 225s for 9" rims.

I doubt that some of the big tyre shops that would be willing to fit 225s on a 7.5" rim (some wont even fit 225s on an 8" rim!)

Recommended tyre widths are not meant with sporty driving in mind, they meant with daily driving, economy cars in mind. Even if you don't race your MX-5, you probably still intend for it to be a sports car

I agree with 949, but they're talking from a race cars perspective and the 205/225 on 8"/9" (respectively) recommendations is based on lap times. But they work just fine on the street too.

On a 7.5" I would most definitely be looking at a 205 though, and I would consider 195 if tracking it. 225 on <8" is extra weight, extra cost and reduced options (well, no options) for no benefit, IMO.

I run 205/50/15 on 6.5", 7" and 8" rims



205/50/15 on 8"


205/50/15 on 6.5"