All around, all year, daily tyre recommendations for ND2

Technical Area Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: ND2
  2. I’m based near: Glasgow
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Daily tire for all year round driving

I am looking for a tyre recommendations for something that offers good grip in wet and cold (Scottish winters included), and is still decent enough in the summer. I have a second set of wheels on which I will put track tyres, and these will be used for trackdays and perhaps the warmest months of the year.

So far my list comprises of recommendations and positive reviews online, and personal experience. I realise some/all offer compromises and perhaps are not the most engaging tyre for a fun car such as the MX-5, but it is my daily and I would prefer something more sensible for the daily runs.

In no particular order:

  1. Michelin CrossClimate 2 - my brother in law swears by them, runs them on a M240i
  2. Uniroyal RainSport5 - ran them on my MR2 and the wife’s Civic, I loved the wet grip even in cold Scotland
  3. Continental AllSeasonContact 2 - positive reviews online
  4. Nankang AW-6 - good value/performance ratio
  5. your suggestions…

I am happy to go to 215/45/17 or stick with 205/45/17. Sometimes the 215s are cheaper anyway.

Cheers!

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I currently have these on my ND and they are pretty good, they would work well as an all year round choice.

I also have a set of wheels with Hankook Ventus Prime which will go back on the car soon, slightly stiffer sidewall than the CrossClimate 2’s.

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I’d also add Goodyear Vector AllSeasons into the mix. I ran Gen2s on my old NC2 during the autumn/winter. Coped well with any wintery conditions, without too much of a step off in performance when it started to warm up. I think there is now a Gen3 version available.

I wouldn’t recommend running an AllSeason tyre year round on the MX-5 though. As you do loose a bit of steering directness and obviously outright dry grip isn’t as good. But as you’ve mentioned you have a second set of wheels, all good :+1:

Cheers,
Steve

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I also wouldn’t consider Rainsports in the same bracket. They are what would be termed a ‘summer’ tyre, but with good wet handling characteristics. The same could be said of the Kumho PS71.

That’s obviously not the same as an AllSeason tyre that can better handle wintery conditions.

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Yep I agree with your point. Reason for them being on my list is that I have had them before and I was reasonably happy with them even in the winter months. That said, I am open to any ideas or suggestions.

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Hi @YoanH - I thought about this tread while answering a tyre question over on one of the FB groups.

Just wondering if you ended up making a tyre choice?

Cheers,
Steve

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My ND is a toy so don’t get driven in bad weather. However, if you/others are considering All Seasons (I’ve got CrossClimate2 (CC2) myself on my NIssan Elgrand), I’m not sure if you’ve seen this dude’s All Season tyre reviews. Guy’s a monster reviewer. Seems to go with the new Pirelli AS SF3 as the most ‘summer feeling’ all season tyre, and he now puts CC2 in 4th spot, where before it has reigned supreme for a good few years

Very informative. Well worth watch
(there’s two videos below, but I couldn’t get both to come out as an in bedded video, so one’s a link)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kyPJcnSCC0

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Sadly no, finances have been tied in our house renovations. I will update this thread once I have made my move.

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Thanks, I have seen these videos and know this channel. It is certainly fun to watch some of his reviews.

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I’ve decided for the time being I will keep the tyres that are on. In the meantime, in a few days I have booked our other car for new set of the Pirelli SF3 all season tyres and I am quite excited to try them. They seem to get good reviews and would be a perfect fit for the type of driving the other car sees.

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Nice. What is your other car which will get the SF3s? (maybe the Civic you mentioned in your opening post?)

Let us know how you find them :+1:

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Yep the mighty Civic. Should be interesting. It is coming from a set of Rainsport 5 which I really like, the grip (for the car and driving style) is spectacular. Reasonably good feedback too.

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