After noticing my Mk3 was getting a bit sloppy in the handling department, I took the car to a local garage who do 4 wheel alignment. Had a chat with the owner who told me that poor handling was a common problem on Mx’s fitted with the Avons due to the tyre being a hard compound tyre. This was news to me as I have only read good reports about the Avon’s. I assumed he was talking bull, but was he. I have a decent Kwik Fit down the road from me (I know Kwik Fit aren’t popular), but they did a full tracking check, including camber and toe in free of charge complete with printout. This gave the car a clean bill of health suspension wise. Pat on the back for them, that’s what I call good service. So why is my car handling poorly?, steering not as sharp as my Mk2 and back end a bit slippy in the wet. I have to assume that I have to refine my driving style from my old Mk2 habits. So back to my original question, are the Avon’s a good starting point and ok for the car. Draining the PAS fluid (dirty and smelled bad), and replacing it has helped with the steering though.
I have fitted H&R 40mm lowering springs, and then added a 225 Avon ZZ3 tyre to the standard multi spoke wheels. MK3’s come standard with the 205 tyre…no good I am not surprised you are experience poor handling. Drop it down and add 40mm worth of tread across the two wheels. Handles like its on rails now. Also helps if yours is a sport with all the added strut braces?
I am a fan of the Avon ZV5 tyre, the others not so, although the latest rage for the Lotus are rather good.
Personally I think you will find a better tyre in the Kumho KU39 at a much lower price then the Avon though.
It is quite well documented that the car as supplied by Mazda with the 4x4 looking high suspension has compromised the handling of the car. Fitting the Mazda lowering springs or a number of other after market types does wonders for the feel and control and there is no need to go to wider tyres to achieve this. If you do want to go wider then 215 45 is the usual size.
I would agree the Mk3 handles very well on 205 tyres, talking of Lotus the original Élan was on 155’s . Regarding your alignment maybe worth a second look as if KwikFit have gone with Mazda figures the tolerances are quite wide.
I have just fitted 215/45x17" Avon ZV5s on my MK3 and it took a while to scrub them in but no complaints so far the chuckability has improved the only problem now is the over eager traction control just cant keep up.
I also drive an RX-8 which uses the same system and you really have to drive it hard to get the traction to intervene, the RX-8 really will leave the MX5 struggling to keep up.
Del.
Turn it off then.
The RX-8 has no torque qith which to trouble it, but also didn’t come with 4x4 suspension. I would suspect you have a better set up on your RX-8 that is all.