What tyre for the '5?

[ironictwist]

To be honest...I'm keen to explore the winter tyre route. Anyone have any experience with them on there '5?

I currently have T1-R's which are overdue for changing! Although I could swap for another set of T1-R's which are obviously awesome in the summer, I just feel a bit more security in winter tyres knowing what my commute alone is like.

& with the extra travel I'm doing on weekends my weekly mileage is a minimum of 400 milss upto 850-900 maximum so obviously they've gotta be pretty hard wearing!

The T1-R's have been awesome ever since I bought the car in March & have covered about 18,000 miles since without a hitch. Brilliant.

But hey, although I love RWD with tyres that are pretty worn like mine (Cue rather excessive kicking of the back end on empty roundabouts), it's not the most fun on the roads when it's ruddy awful as it's going to be!

[tuttle]

There's a fair bit of tyre discussion here. CLICKY

Im hearing quite good things about Dunlop SP sport fast response. Which I am considering as the Watanabes I recently bought are shod in a set of genuine dedicated ditch finders.TM.

Edited by tuttle on Wednesday 21st October 16:37

[MX-5 Lazza]

If you lived in the scottish highlands then winter tyres might be a good idea but down in Sussex you don't need them. Just get some all weather tyres like Goodyear Hydragrip if you want something that will cope with cold wet winter weather.

[ironictwist]

MX-5 Lazza said:

If you lived in the scottish highlands then winter tyres might be a good idea but down in Sussex you don't need them. Just get some all weather tyres like Goodyear Hydragrip if you want something that will cope with cold wet winter weather.

Oo I'll have a look. Have you used them personally?

What are you running nowadays anyhoo Lazza?

[MX-5 Lazza]

I use them on my Focus but I also know a few people who use them on their MX5s and are impressed with them wet & dry. I might even try them on my own road wheels after all, I don't use 100% of the grip of the F1s I'm currently using on dry roads so if the Hydragrips are 90% as good in the dry and better in the wet I'm probably still better off.

At the moment I'm using 17" OZ Superturissmo with Goodyear F1 GSD3 205/40/17 on the road and 15" Rota Circuit 10 with Hankook RS2 195/50/15 on track. I might try R888s from Mazda on track on the track wheels next

[phil_cardiff]

I had worn Hydragrips on the rear of my mx-5 when I bought it and they were good. I've got T1-R's all round now and there is little difference in my experience, slightly more grip in the dry/warm.

[redgriff500]

Digging up an old post...

Lazza how do the RS2 compare to the F1's ?

Why don't you use them on the road ?

Thanks

[MX-5 Lazza]

The RS2s are massively better on the track and better on dry roads too. On mildly wet roads there isn't a lot of difference but if it's properly wet or a bit cold then the F1s are better. Of course neither tyre likes the current temperatures.

The only real reason I don't use the RS2s on the road is because I use the 17s wheels on the road and the 15s on track. I really wouldn't have a problem using the RS2s on the road all year round if I didn't have 2 sets of wheels.

[J-Tuner]

I was gonna try the hancooks but they were difficult to get hold of and needed some pronto - so i went with the t1r's. I have sampled the hancooks on track and they are a very good tyre - and stood up up well. Good wear rate. A fair bit of squeal going on though

In all honesty i think you are going to be hard pressed to better the toyos for an all rounder - especially at the price they are (i think i paid £50 a corner). I have found them superb in all conditions so far.

My old yoko's on the other hand... adequate in the dry - dogst in the wet !!

Edited by J-Tuner on Saturday 30th January 12:16

[redgriff500]

Cheers.

I generally rate the 195 T1R but need something a lot stickier.

I can either go up to a 225 - with arguable benefit, a stickier tyre or traction control.

The RS2 seems to be the cheapest option.

[Chapppers]

I'm running winter tyres at the moment because I got them cheap, but unless it tips it down they're not going to be of any real benefit to me.

I hope it snows more!

[neil_bolton]

To be honest, the P6000's on mine are perfect.

Just enough grip to keep things shiny side up, not enough grip to allow her to 4 wheel drift and oversteer at will.

They're also lasting rather well

ETA: I might add, I would never use them on any other car, ever. They're known as ditchfinder for a reason - any FWD car I've driven with them on has just understeered for England.

Edited by neil_bolton on Monday 1st February 10:10

[dylan0451]

i thought p6000's were pretty good on other cars i've had, not brilliant outright dry grip by any means - they feel a tad hard, but then they last ages and tend to be able to move a lot of standing water so a good all year tyre

my 5 is still running the yoko parada 2's it came with. i've never run potenza, R888's, A048's etc. so can't compare but they're only £40 a corner (i think) and are super soft. standing water isn't great, but in the wet + damp they have a smooth predictable breakaway, and in the dry they're fantastic - squeal when finally letting go, but again, remain smooth and predictable

[GravelBen]

neil_bolton said:

To be honest, the P6000's on mine are perfect.

Just enough grip to keep things shiny side up, not enough grip to allow her to 4 wheel drift and oversteer at will.

They're also lasting rather well

ETA: I might add, I would never use them on any other car, ever. They're known as ditchfinder for a reason - any FWD car I've driven with them on has just understeered for England.

On a similar note, I'm trying to wear out some kingstars on the back of mine. It can be quite 'entertaining' in the wet, occasionally even verging on 'exciting'.

[lord summerisle]

i had goodyear hydragrips on mine for the last 3 years - except for this year when i couldnt find any, so switched to goodyear excellance - which are crap.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Hydragrip have been discontinued. I had to put EfficientGrip on my Focus.