mx5cartalk.com

Hi All,

It is looking highly likely that I will be picking up a set of 16x8 Rays Mazdaspeed rims for my NC this week, and as such will be in the market for some new tyres. I am already running Mazdaspeed suspension, and am after a pair of high performance street tyres. I have been advised that the best sizing would be 225/50R16 (this is the size that most NC owners with 16x8 FD RX7 rims run), and owing to the slightly increased amount of sidewall over stock I would prefer tyres that are stiffer in this area.

I am currently weighing up a few options, however I'm also open to any other suggestions (and where I might get the best price). This is my first time buying tyres and its not an area I know I great deal about, but I nevertheless would like to do it right.

Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5 - $162 - On sale from $242, read a couple of good reviews but couldn't find a whole lot of information about them.
Michelin Pilot Sport PS3 - $186 - I've read a lot of reviews favouring this tyre, but there was also a number of negative ones. They also seem to have a softer sidewall.
Bridgestone Potenza Re003 - $228 - The darling of the Australian Mx-5 community, but really not sure if they are worth $40/$60 more than the other two options. I was expecting them to be somewhat cheaper than this, to be honest, but again, first time buying tyres so I don't have much to gauge it on.

Thanks everyone, I'd really appreciate any feedback or advice that you have to offer.

Welcome to the forum!

If you're not in too much of a hurry, I'd suggest you wait for Bridgestone to come out with another '4 for the price of 3' offer that they seem to do around November each year. That's how I got my RE-003s (in 195/50-15).

Thank you very much!! I've been a long time lurker, onto my second MX-5, and I actually bought my current one from one of the ads on this site, but this is the first time I've posted. I'm at uni now and am finally finding myself with some time to actually start doing stuff with my car, so I'm hoping this marks some more involvement from here on out!!

You're the second person to suggest that to me, and I'm thinking that it may be the way to go. I've already got stock wheels with plenty of tyre on them, and as much as I'd love to have them on right away, for that much of a saving it may be worth waiting the couple of months!! Thanks!!

Welcome!
Re the Michelins, the PS3 have now been superseded by the PS4. After many years of using Bridgestones, I've been using the predecessor to the PS3, the PP2, which was at least as good a good Bridgestone. So for my next set of tyres I'd probably go with either pending latest reviews. Just a note about the Bridgestone 4 for 3 offer, down here we seem to see it more regularly, but it doesn't always include RE003 etc & is sometimes limited to the Turanza etc passenger car tyre.

Jax have 215/45/17 re003 for $199 fitted & balanced

Thanks again guys, it's looking like the Bridgestone or PS3/4 are the way to go, I'll keep my eyes peeled for good prices on them over the next month or so!!

And I might give Jax a call on Monday and find out if they have the Bridgestone's fitted and balanced for $199 in the size I'm after, that's not too shabby a deal at all, thank you for the heads up Red Dragon!!

I have been really happy with PS4 on my ND. Great improvement over OEM Bridgestones. Better grip, more progressive break away, more feel.
They have just come out the best high performance tyre in latest EVO Australia magazine tyre test (August edition)

If you want high performance street tyres then go AD08R's.

Or Federal RSRR ........... about $180 in 16"
Maybe a little noisier than most but not annoyingly so IMO ......................
Great grip.

I have tested the Goodyears and Michelin PS 4's on my RS 200 Clio and i think that the Goodyears are a better tyre in every way,The Michelins are a big step up from previous PS 3 (which I had on an ND) which were just a tyre in my opinion.
Peter.

I have tested the Goodyears and Michelin PS 4's on my RS 200 Clio and i think that the Goodyears are a better tyre in every way,The Michelins are a big step up from previous PS 3 (which I had on an ND) which were just a tyre in my opinion.

Hey Peter your comment about the Goodyear Eagle F1 Directional 5, not the Eagle Asymmetric? If so, how did the Goodyear Directional 5s compare with PS3 in terms of ride compliance/comfort, grip and turn in vs the PS3?

Keen to hear a direct comparison as I had PS3s on my Subaru and was happy with the compromise between ride comfort and performance they offered at the time. Agree they're more of a high performance passenger car tyre than an outright high performance tyre. PS3s are outdated now, so I'm looking for a modern equivalent of that type of comfort/performance compromise. The tyres on this thread are on my shortlist.