New Tires

I installed some Pirelli P-Zero Nero M&S about 5000 miles ago and am quite happy.

Since no one tire is ideal for all conditions, it would help to know how and under what conditions you will be normally using them. A tire is an endless series of compromises, you just have to decide what is most important to you.

Higher grip generally equals less tire life. I can get about 3 times as many miles from a set of all-seasons as I do from my average high-performance tires, but the grip difference is huge.

Designing more dry traction equals less wet traction, and vice-versa, regardless of any manufacturer's, (or tire owner's), claims. No matter what rubber compound is used, more of that rubber compound contact means more dry grip. A slick would be best, but tread is required to make the tire displace more water to be safer in the rain, which means less rubber contact, hence less dry grip.

Tread patterns have improved but no tire manufacturer has ever gotten around these simple physics. More tread always equals less dry contact, and less tread always equals more dry contact.

Stiffer sidewalls will make the car have a faster steering response and will generally have a harsher ride than tires with more flexible sidewalls.

Where you drive is a big factor, especially if you live where there is snow and ice and if you only have one set of wheels/tires. You don't want to be caught in the snow with performance summer tires. On the other hand, driving around Texas with Blizzacks would be pretty silly as well.

As far as manufacturers, there are more brands that I would trust than I can keep track of. Goodyear, Toyo, Yokohama, Pirelli, Bridgestone, Falken, Hankook, Dunlop, & Kumho all come to mind. Most of these companies make a tire that will suit your normal driving conditions.

Once we know what features are most important to you, there are a lot of people who can make particular recommendations based on road noise levels, recommend against a particular bad tire or suggest one that sounds like what you are looking for. Probably other things as well.

Finally, what size are you looking for? Tire choices, especially new models, are becoming more limited with

Pat

That's beautiful, Pat. This should be required reading for every person that posts about new tires for their Miata.

Hey, I don't take kindly to compliments from SUV-driving turncoats. ;-)

Thanks!

Pat (really wishes he had that Nissan parked next to the miata)

pws" wrote

I thought it was pretty good too, Pat. Beautiful isn't exactly the word I would choose, but I only have a Subaru Forester as an OTM. SUV-driving turncoats have to find beauty wherever they can.

I don't think that "beautiful" has ever been applied to me since I was an infant, and even then they were just required to say that.

tooloud is obviously a traitor of the worst sort. He wants the miata to be a coupe, he doesn't think it is the ultimate cargo or family carrying vehicle, and he wants modern creature comforts. The very nerve.

I have the tar, now we just need some feathers.......

I need an OTM with A/C so bad that I am starting to have bad thoughts, probably brought on by sunstroke. Would the Mazda dealership really notice if I took a 2006 out and was a week or two late bringing it back? ;-)

Pat

Sign in the right places and they'll be happy for you to not bring it back at all! If you'd quit using all your tar and sell more of it on e-bay, you could be driving one of those new NC's ;-)

Chris

You are an evil, evil man. I could probably do it, it would be close, damn you.....

BTW, you can't sell tar on Ebay, you have to sell that stuff on the street, not to be used on the street, just sold on the street.

Pat

plus it's considered a liquid (at some temps) so you can't ship it by air anymore ;-)

Chris

Crap, there goess my supply!

I will just start smoking phosphorous-laden tobacco cigarettes. It's every bit as addictive as tar heroin, so that void will be filled, plus it is government-approved, so it must be ok.

Damn hypocrites. Let's have a war on drugs, excluding the two that consistently kill the most people and cause the most misery by far. Makes sense to me......

Pat - have never stuck myself with a needle on purpose in my life, BTW.