Nexen N3000 / Kumho KU31 / Yoko R1's

[snowboardingmr.p]

G'day all.

Having just purchased my 1st MX-5 (2005 NC Limited Edition) only 1week ago i came across this site and have to say it seems awesome with lots of great information and help. And i am totally chuffed to bits with the car....

Anyway enough of the waffle!! What my question is, that i wondered from peoples experiences which tyre would be a good choice for a standard NC Limited Edition 17inch wheel?

205/45/17's or 215/45/17's?

I wont be using it for track days (well not just yet!! ), it will be just road use. All i want in a tyre is a good all rounder really. Nothing over the top and mega expensive, that has reasonable grip in dry and wet and will last a good distance.

At the moment i have 2 michelin Pilot Preceda's on the rear and 2 yokohama A Drive R1's. There is a fair bit of tread on the Yoko's, but the michelins are coming to an end!!!
What i really would like to get is 4 matching tyres really, and so my options (unless you guys can advise) are.

(1) 2 more Yokohama A Drive R1's. ($200 ish per tyre)
(2) 4 new Kumho KU31's. ($140 per tyre)
(3) 4 new Nexen N3000's. ($125 per tyre)

If anyone could advice on any of these tyres, it would be greatly appreciated.

Ps - Oh and if anyone knows where i can get them cheaper than stated in Sydney, that would be cool too!

[sliq]

welcome mate.

just some brief words of advice - you'll need to get your avatar picture changed because it doesn't comply with the forum rules - Edit Okibi (I have resized it to suit) -

on a general note, keep the size of the rubbers the same size as stock as possible.

[HIC-45S]

(1) 2 more Yokohama A Drive R1's. ($200 ish per tyre)
(2) 4 new Kumho KU31's. ($140 per tyre)
(3) 4 new Nexen N3000's. ($125 per tyre)

I STRONGLY urge you not to get N3000s. I have a set of Stagea rims (much the same as stock R33 Skyline rims) with N3000s on them and they are terrible in the dry and even worse in the wet, I'm talking unintentional 4th gear wheel spin in a standard car. I currently have Federal 595SSs on my car that cost me roughly $160 per tyre and are leaps and bounds ahead of the Nexens.

I'll admit to being a bit of a Federal fan boy, but there not a bad tyre as far as grip, durability and price go. There are tyres that are better, like Bridgestone Potenzas (came with my car when I first bought it) but not $150+ a corner better. They do make a bit of road noise though, but in a MX-5 I have been told road noise is something you live with.

[NMX516]

I've heard good things about the Kumho's, but haven't tried them myself. For the $'s they could be worth the experiment...

[snowboardingmr.p]

Ah man!!

[snowboardingmr.p]

Thanks for the advice HIC-45S, i think from your comments the N3000 are a definate no go then! And to be honest i haven't heard of the Federal tyres, but just jumped onto there website now.
Has any MX-5 owners had any experience on these 595SS tyres?
Cheers mate.

(1) 2 more Yokohama A Drive R1's. ($200 ish per tyre)
(2) 4 new Kumho KU31's. ($140 per tyre)
(3) 4 new Nexen N3000's. ($125 per tyre)

I STRONGLY urge you not to get N3000s. I have a set of Stagea rims (much the same as stock R33 Skyline rims) with N3000s on them and they are terrible in the dry and even worse in the wet, I'm talking unintentional 4th gear wheel spin in a standard car. I currently have Federal 595SSs on my car that cost me roughly $160 per tyre and are leaps and bounds ahead of the Nexens.

I'll admit to being a bit of a Federal fan boy, but there not a bad tyre as far as grip, durability and price go. There are tyres that are better, like Bridgestone Potenzas (came with my car when I first bought it) but not $150+ a corner better. They do make a bit of road noise though, but in a MX-5 I have been told road noise is something you live with.

[snowboardingmr.p]

Hi Sliq and cheers for the welcome .

And thanks for the avatar picture advice, but how come it doesnt comply mate as it was an image already on here to choose from?

I was thinking of sticking with the 205/45/17 to be honest, but have read many posts on here that 215 will fit too with no bother, which kind of opens up a bit more cost effective tyres to choose from ya know.

welcome mate.

just some brief words of advice - you'll need to get your avatar picture changed because it doesn't comply with the forum rules - Edit Okibi (I have resized it to suit) -

on a general note, keep the size of the rubbers the same size as stock as possible.

[snowboardingmr.p]

Thanks mate, appreciate it.

I've heard good things about the Kumho's, but haven't tried them myself. For the $'s they could be worth the experiment...

[Hammer]

snowboardingmr.p, where did you get quotes for the Nexen's?

I've got a spare set of wheels with 3x very good Nexen tyres (w/one wheel having a bald Goodyear). I'd like to buy another Nexen to match the other 3 (they're only my spare set). Then when all 4 are worn down, replace the lot with PP2s.

[snowboardingmr.p]

There is a guy selling them on e-bay. He has a store in Arncliffe. (204 Princes hwy)
Telephone number 02 9567 4999.

So can you tell me what the Nexens are like?

snowboardingmr.p, where did you get quotes for the Nexen's?

I've got a spare set of wheels with 3x very good Nexen tyres (w/one wheel having a bald Goodyear). I'd like to buy another Nexen to match the other 3 (they're only my spare set). Then when all 4 are worn down, replace the lot with PP2s.

[Hammer]

....So can you tell me what the Nexens are like?

Thanks for the info.

But I can't tell you anything about the Nexen's. They came with the set of 2nd hand wheels I bought off eBay about 6 months ago, and I am yet to drive on them.

And to be honest, I'm a bit of a tyre snob. I consider tyres very important, and I tend not to skimp on them. And because I don't have my own tyre testing facility rightly on wrongly, I stay with the reputable big brand tyres. If it weren't for the 3 near new tyres on the set I got, I would not have given the Nexen a 2nd thought. But it seems a waste just to throw them out.

But once they wear down, I'm replacing them with Michelins PP2s.

[Guran]

Nexens are available from Tempe Tyres, so I'm told.

[Boags]

I have the R1s on my NB. Great performance in wet and dry. I'm looking at around 10000-12000 kms out of the set though, that's with 1 track day and a few skid pan days and lots of mountain driving.

Excellent grip though.

[Charlie Brown]

Welcome aboard snowboardingmr.p.

If you come along to the Club run on Sunday there will be plenty of people to talk to about your tyre selection.
Have a look here for the details:
http://www.mx5.com.au/nsw/PDF%20Content ... 0x%202.pdf

or here

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=35318

Basically the more you spend the better the tyre. The starting point will be around $200 a corner and you may find, as I did, that the 215x45 size is cheaper than the 205x45.

[snowboardingmr.p]

Thanks for the welcome Charlie Brown and many thanks for the advice too.

I was thinking of joining the NSW MX-5 club, is it any good mate? Is there a good crowd there?

Sunday could be a possibility, will just have to check something later on in the week. Bit of a trek though for me as i live out west in Jamsiontown, but will see!

I did find also that there seems to be more of a range and slightly cheaper in some tyres at 215/45/17.

I have been thinking about getting the car wheels aligned when i buy the tyres, do you happen to know what would be a nice standard (road only) set up arrangement for my new baby? OR is there somewhere you can point me where i can get the information from?

I did try having a look on here, but there seems to be a heap of things!! And i am by no means an expert in this field!!

Cheers Charlie.

Welcome aboard snowboardingmr.p.

If you come along to the Club run on Sunday there will be plenty of people to talk to about your tyre selection.
Have a look here for the details:
http://www.mx5.com.au/nsw/PDF%20Content ... 0x%202.pdf

or here

http://www.mx5cartalk.com/phpBB-3.0.2/v ... 63&t=35318

Basically the more you spend the better the tyre. The starting point will be around $200 a corner and you may find, as I did, that the 215x45 size is cheaper than the 205x45.