TYRES for SE WHEELS

ED_MX5 · Postby **ED_MX5** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:46 pm

Hey all,
I'll probably open a can of worms here, but I need tyres for my new baby.
I bought the car with SE wheels on it already. Tyre size, 205/45 r17.
I use the car as a weekend toy. So drives to palm beach, mcars creek rd, old pacific highway. you get the gist. I want a good tyre with plenty of grip, however I still want reasonable wet grip. I don't want the car to have to sit at home just because it's damp. I know some semi slicks act this way.
What suggestions are out there for this tyre size?
Budget up to $1200 allowed. Good tyres are a must I think, no point having classic handing car if it doesn't stick.

Cheers

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:05 pm

Think I once had a set of Achilles 123s in 215/40/17. They were decently grippy in wet and dry and made the speedo exactly right. BARMY had coilovers, some lowering and 1.5-2 degrees of negative camber. You'd need to check if that tyre size clears on your car with your suspension, ride height and camber.

The COW (Can of Worms), of course, is that they were 17s and they were on the OEM Racing Harts.

ED_MX5 · Postby **ED_MX5** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:16 pm

They are exactly the wheels I have now.
I have just been doing some research on some tyres I had on my last car which was a celica.
The Bridgestone Adrenalin RE002.
They always did me well.
But I will see what response I get and keep researching. I might find something even better.

Danny · Postby **Danny** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 12:26 am

Federal RSR 215 40 17. 140 treadwear index so softer than the usual street tyres but you won't be disappointed. Their grip and wet weather performance is up there with the top tyres. And your budget will buy almost 2 sets.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Federal/595RSR.htm

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 6:29 am

140 tread is a bit last generation. Get down to bob jane? And get a set of yoko ado8r. Best sticky road tire on the market at the moment and there is a buy 3 get the 4th free deal on. BUT only till the end of the month.

lizard · Postby **lizard** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 12:23 pm

ED_MX5 wrote:Hey all,
I'll probably open a can of worms here, but I need tyres for my new baby.
I bought the car with SE wheels on it already. Tyre size, 205/45 r17.
I use the car as a weekend toy. So drives to palm beach, mcars creek rd, old pacific highway. you get the gist. I want a good tyre with plenty of grip, however I still want reasonable wet grip. I don't want the car to have to sit at home just because it's damp. I know some semi slicks act this way.
What suggestions are out there for this tyre size?
Budget up to $1200 allowed. Good tyres are a must I think, no point having classic handing car if it doesn't stick.

Cheers

Im very happy with my decision
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=64121

Danny · Postby **Danny** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:27 pm

sailaholic wrote:140 tread is a bit last generation. Get down to bob jane? And get a set of yoko ado8r. Best sticky road tire on the market at the moment and there is a buy 3 get the 4th free deal on. BUT only till the end of the month.

Why are they "last generation"? I'd take a 140 wear index over 180 anytime when roadholding is my priority. And $165 vs $202.50 gets my attention too.

How do BJ's manage to give away the fourth tyre? That's got to be one of the oldest sales pitches going.

Danny · Postby **Danny** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:35 pm

Are these going on an MX5? I see your details being "non MX5" and the tyre size on your wheels being 45 profile instead of 40.

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:36 pm

Newer generation tires such as the ado8r are just as sticky but with better wear. Check out the tire rack testing.

I believe it is yoko trying to combat the Bridgestone factory deal of 4 for 3 they do in march(ish) each year. Tires are the same as normal price so it's not jacking the other three up.

Agree on price but last set I priced was 175 each for the rsr. If the ado8r last longer then $/km may work out. If you get a set at 75% of the price then your better off

Hope this helps.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:37 pm

They sell the 3 tyres at full retail. If you bargain hard enough, you can do similar deals on other brands. Use the Bob Jane 'Best Price Gtee' - get them to match and better others prices.

ED_MX5 · Postby **ED_MX5** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:28 pm

What size do most people run on their racing harts?
Mine came with 215/40 R17

My local tyre mate reckons I should run 205/40.
Thoughts anyone? I generally don't like too low a profile tyre, can get a bit jumpy on Sydney roads.
What experience has anyone had with tyre sizes with these wheels?
The Mx5 being so light I know will have another effect again on how the tyre behaves.
Any observations welcome.

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:09 pm

Iv got 205/40 Bridgestone re002 on mine. I find them very good even in the wet for spirited driving. Expensive though.
From a looks point of view I would have liked a bit higher profile on the sides. The 205/40 is pretty low profile looking, Plus I was told 205/45 and 215/40 is more common (could be salesman talk through), which would have also given a taller side wall too but change the speedo a fair bit.
Not sure how this would have effected handling through.

ED_MX5 · Postby **ED_MX5** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:25 pm

ROADRUNNER-
I'm interested. Is your car lowered much? if so, how would you say clearance would be with 45's?
I have run re002's before on another car and loved them. I used a 45 with them too. But I have been told that if I run 45's on this one and intend to lower it, it will scrub.
I can't see why it would make such a difference. yes it's taller, but not enough to draw such a defined line. Also would 215's fit ok with lowering? I know that may have some effect with scrubbing on the arch of the tyre is too wide.
Cheers mate.

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 4:47 pm

Factory fitment for the RH rims is 205/40, these were only fitted to NB8c SE model....

2 things to note;
- The SE had reduced ride height compared to the standard MX5 (not by a huge amount though).
- The SE had a reduced turning arc for the front wheels to prevent scrubbing.

I run Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 205/40 on mine, good performers in all conditions (was the OEM fitment too) but not cheap @ ~$250 each.

Roadrunner · Postby **Roadrunner** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 10:50 pm

Ok my car is lowered (yellowspeed coilovers) so I just measured up and at the front, from the centre of the rim to the lip of the guard is 310mm. At the rear it's 322mm
At this height the front just scrubs the plastic guard lining only when going through deep compressions on the road at speed.
At the track recently I had no scrubbing at all during hard cornering.
Perhaps see if a local tyre shop can put a 45 or 215 on one rim just too see how much clearance you have?