Tyres shortlist, opinions from those who've used them?

[Caffeine]

+1 vote for RE001's; I've had 2 sets of japanese made ones in 205/45-16 and they have been excellent, wet and dry. As alex mentioned there is some tread squirm but I found running +2PSI over my previous tyres fixed that nicely (I have them at 36) Managed about 35000km wear out of the first set, second set is ~6000km old and still going strong.

I also have michelin pilot sport 3's on the other car, in 225/45-17 and they seem to be very good also (have only done ~2000km on them so far) It's a nose heavy, extremely torquey turbo diesel, and is very hard on tyres so it will be interesting to see how they wear compared to the continental contisports that were on it before.

[BadBong]

Interesting how the RE001s only got a UTQG rating 200 though.

I've always thought that they are prone to wear but 35000kms sounds pretty darn good.

[Caffeine]

Interesting how the RE001s only got a UTQG rating 200 though.

I've always thought that they are prone to wear but 35000kms sounds pretty darn good.

I'm pretty soft on tyres, I usually manage 30 to 40000km out of a set, with a high of 50000 (CDrives) and a low of 25000km (OEM Bridgestone ER30 with plenty of track days and a skid pan day or two)

The car is onto its seventh set of tyres, after 242000km

[rhythmstick]

Like I said, I was convinced to get the KU31's after this thread. I had them installed this morning, and first impressions are pretty good. They are a lot quieter than my last ones, and the look the business.
However, I must say that the steering feels significantly lighter. This could be because they are more efficient in ground contact and change direction easier, but I do prefer a firmer feel when steering.
They also seem to be a bit more forgiving in the bumps, and don't shake me around so much. This could be due to a not-so-stiff side wall, or the pressure they put in them. I forgot to ask

[project.r.racing]

i'm gonna guess you'll need 4psi more in them. type shops alway under inflat tyres so you feel comfortable.

[OMY005]

With the Australian factory closing, they are now made off shore (Taiwan?)
It will be interesting as the feedback comes in as to how they perform from the new factory.

I have a set of Taiwanese made RE001's (185/60/14) and I'm very happy with them in the wet and dry.

Andrew

[Noddycar]

I was initially going to fit PS3's, but was convinced by my tyre mechanic to try Goodyear Assurance instead. I was a bit wary, as they are basically made as a more expensive tyre for passenger cars, but he advised me they were also a great performance tyre and exceptional in the wet. He was right.... I went for 195/50R15 and new wheels to replace the horrible train-lining 16" rubbish on my NA. Going for a slightly higher profile meant a better ride, but I was concerned about cornering. I really was impressed how much better these were. The ride is far smoother and these tyres really grip.... I am cornering a lot more enthusiastically than I was previously and they are exceptional in the wet. Coming down to 15" has also helped. I was originally thinking of going back to the standard 14", but was advised that there was a far better selection of rubber in 15". While I am sure a lower profile tyre is better for people looking to track their car, this offered a real increase in my overall experience with the car. I can now enjoy spirited driving, the cornering is far more precise and grippy and I don't feel like my teeth are being rattled each time I hit a pothole. It was a real risk fitting these, but I really pleased I did.

[rhythmstick]

i'm gonna guess you'll need 4psi more in them. type shops alway under inflat tyres so you feel comfortable.

I checked it out this morning, and they are at 39psi. Considering that my previous tires gave a bone breaking ride at 32, I'm going to think it's the side wall or just the fact they are new.

[bensale]

I'm becoming even more impressed with my KU31s. I've been running a mixed set of tyres recently on the road, KU31s on the front and Maxxis MA-V1s on the back. I had the Maxxis for around 20,000 kms (5000km on the front and 15,000 on the rear) and they are already worn out... I've had the Kuhmo's on for 15,000kms and they still have approximately 75% of there tread left despite feeling like they are a much softer tyre. I admit that I run very aggressive wheel alignment settings but that it still a massive difference in durability. That and the Kuhmo's have more grip in the dry and wet also. I will be replacing the Maxxis with anouther pair of KU31's.

Hi Nick, I've used every tyre on your list with the exception of the Yokohama S drive.

The Toyos do have quite good wear rates but grip levels drop off quite severely when they do wear. Both Toyos also have quite soft side walls. The T1Rs had quite good grip when new but became borderline dangerous when they wore out, so much so that I replaced them when they still had legal tread on them. The proxes 4's that I had I bought 2nd hand about 50% tread left (although only a year from manufacture date) so while I cant be definitive about them I observed them same wear traits only that they had even less grip when they went off, particularly in the rain.

The re001s are quite a good dry weather tyre, of the ones on your list they had the most dry grip... However mine were Australian made and had terrible wet grip with very little feedback. I used them on the track twice, they worked quite well at the dry track day considering the price but were a bit scary in the rain with very little grip (although under brakes they weren't bad)... I also found they had a lot of tread squirm when they were new and a bit of sidewall flex (although the re001s were 14s and the other tyres were all 16s). The re001s actually replaced a set of Yokohama A539s (replaced by the C and S drive) which were a really, really nice tyre and a very good all rounder with good drip and reasonably stiff sidewalls.

The Kumho KU31s are my pick, they have good dry grip and are phenominal in wet weather. They definetly aren't a track tyre (I have a 2nd set of wheels with Dunlop DZZ1 star specs for that) but are in my opinion a great all rounder road tyre which have almost as much grip as the re001s and far superior wet weather ability.

I paid $140 for my KU31s in 205/45/16... I also bought a set for my mums Peugeot 206 gti in 195/50/15 and paid about $100ea.

x2

[snshami]

I'm becoming even more impressed with my KU31s. I've been running a mixed set of tyres recently on the road, KU31s on the front and Maxxis MA-V1s on the back. I had the Maxxis for around 20,000 kms (5000km on the front and 15,000 on the rear) and they are already worn out... I've had the Kuhmo's on for 15,000kms and they still have approximately 75% of there tread left despite feeling like they are a much softer tyre. I admit that I run very aggressive wheel alignment settings but that it still a massive difference in durability. That and the Kuhmo's have more grip in the dry and wet also. I will be replacing the Maxxis with anouther pair of KU31's.

Hi Nick, I've used every tyre on your list with the exception of the Yokohama S drive.

The Toyos do have quite good wear rates but grip levels drop off quite severely when they do wear. Both Toyos also have quite soft side walls. The T1Rs had quite good grip when new but became borderline dangerous when they wore out, so much so that I replaced them when they still had legal tread on them. The proxes 4's that I had I bought 2nd hand about 50% tread left (although only a year from manufacture date) so while I cant be definitive about them I observed them same wear traits only that they had even less grip when they went off, particularly in the rain.

The re001s are quite a good dry weather tyre, of the ones on your list they had the most dry grip... However mine were Australian made and had terrible wet grip with very little feedback. I used them on the track twice, they worked quite well at the dry track day considering the price but were a bit scary in the rain with very little grip (although under brakes they weren't bad)... I also found they had a lot of tread squirm when they were new and a bit of sidewall flex (although the re001s were 14s and the other tyres were all 16s). The re001s actually replaced a set of Yokohama A539s (replaced by the C and S drive) which were a really, really nice tyre and a very good all rounder with good drip and reasonably stiff sidewalls.

The Kumho KU31s are my pick, they have good dry grip and are phenominal in wet weather. They definetly aren't a track tyre (I have a 2nd set of wheels with Dunlop DZZ1 star specs for that) but are in my opinion a great all rounder road tyre which have almost as much grip as the re001s and far superior wet weather ability.

I paid $140 for my KU31s in 205/45/16... I also bought a set for my mums Peugeot 206 gti in 195/50/15 and paid about $100ea.

x2

Do the KU31s come in 14"?

[bensale]

I don't think so... I tried to find a set in 14' a while ago but couldn't... Sorry =(

[rhythmstick]

I'm becoming even more impressed with my KU31s. I've been running a mixed set of tyres recently on the road, KU31s on the front and Maxxis MA-V1s on the back. I had the Maxxis for around 20,000 kms (5000km on the front and 15,000 on the rear) and they are already worn out... I've had the Kuhmo's on for 15,000kms and they still have approximately 75% of there tread left despite feeling like they are a much softer tyre. I admit that I run very aggressive wheel alignment settings but that it still a massive difference in durability. That and the Kuhmo's have more grip in the dry and wet also. I will be replacing the Maxxis with anouther pair of KU31's.

Hi Nick, I've used every tyre on your list with the exception of the Yokohama S drive.

The Toyos do have quite good wear rates but grip levels drop off quite severely when they do wear. Both Toyos also have quite soft side walls. The T1Rs had quite good grip when new but became borderline dangerous when they wore out, so much so that I replaced them when they still had legal tread on them. The proxes 4's that I had I bought 2nd hand about 50% tread left (although only a year from manufacture date) so while I cant be definitive about them I observed them same wear traits only that they had even less grip when they went off, particularly in the rain.

The re001s are quite a good dry weather tyre, of the ones on your list they had the most dry grip... However mine were Australian made and had terrible wet grip with very little feedback. I used them on the track twice, they worked quite well at the dry track day considering the price but were a bit scary in the rain with very little grip (although under brakes they weren't bad)... I also found they had a lot of tread squirm when they were new and a bit of sidewall flex (although the re001s were 14s and the other tyres were all 16s). The re001s actually replaced a set of Yokohama A539s (replaced by the C and S drive) which were a really, really nice tyre and a very good all rounder with good drip and reasonably stiff sidewalls.

The Kumho KU31s are my pick, they have good dry grip and are phenominal in wet weather. They definetly aren't a track tyre (I have a 2nd set of wheels with Dunlop DZZ1 star specs for that) but are in my opinion a great all rounder road tyre which have almost as much grip as the re001s and far superior wet weather ability.

I paid $140 for my KU31s in 205/45/16... I also bought a set for my mums Peugeot 206 gti in 195/50/15 and paid about $100ea.

x2

This must be a trait of the KU31's. It feels much softer than the MA-V1s that I also had. However, I don't feel like I'm going to die in the rain in the Kumho's. Anything about 2.5krpm with the Maxxis, and I'd be doing a burnout in the wet till I got till third.

[Blue Ant]

Hi People,
I've been using Kumo KU 36 tyres, primarily for track work, and have been really happy with them . Their performance road qualities too are great but they are noisy and pretty soft (at least when you make them squeel on every corner and every brake application - LOL). They are not as good as the V70a's for track; however, the V70a is not eligible for the standard class in the MX-5 Club events as they are an "R" spec tyre. They also perform very well in the wet.

Regards Blue Ant
Standard
WP: 1:16.002
EC: 2:02.04
PI: 2:09.78

[Pamex]

This thread was timely as I'm due for new tyres too.

Of the list I sent off, the KU31s were the cheapest ($99 each for 195/50/R15) and I've been tempted to try them, so I get a set on the car next week. Not that my Marangonis don't have plenty of tread left, but I like to keep some tread there so I can use them for track tyres/ spares.

I was going to try for KU36s, but unfortunately they don't make them in 195/50/R15. Dang!

[geofiz]

Another vot for KU31's.