Kumho PS71 or Michelin PS5

Technical Area Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: 2016 2.0 Sport Nav
  2. I’m based near: Liverpool
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Tyres

Hello everyone,

I’m looking at getting a set of 4 new tyres fitted to my 2.0 ND. I’ve been advised by a specialist to go for 215’s as opposed to 205’s.

I have my selection narrowed down to Kumho PS71’s or Michelin PS5’s. There is quite a difference in price between the two. Including fitting approx £360 for the Kumho’s and £560 for the Michelins. Would it be worth it paying the extra for the Michelins or are the Kumhos good enough? I’ve heard great things about both.

I had a full alignment done late last year and the car is handling great. Will I need to get the car realigned straight away after going from 205 to 215?

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I fitted the ps71 Kumho in all 4 corners last year on my 2014 mk3.75 and I’m very happy with them in all conditions so far. Great tyres for the price. I went from the 205s to the 215s too.
I had them recommended to me by other mx5 members on here.

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I was close to going for the kumho but ended up with Goodyear eagle f1 assymetric 6. They were smack bang in the middle of your prices at 460 the set. Very happy so far though I’ve only put a couple of hundred miles on them. Worth considering as an alternative.

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I have Kumho PS71’s on my NC1 in 215 size, they are a great tyre that works well.
Price is right too.

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I put Kuhmo’s on my last car and they were fine. Current car is still on axle stands after fitting new Meisters and doing some other stuff. Wheels have been refurbed and fitted with the PS5’s and hope to go back on the car on Sunday - also went for 215 so no idea how it will drive but should be able to report back next week.
I figured as its not my daily driver and I wont put many miles on it I would spend the extra this time round.

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6

Not the same car but I have PS5’s fitted to my tuned 2013 Fiesta ST180. Compared with the PS3’s that I had on the car before the ride is a lot harder (stiffer sidewalls) and the grip I feel is not as good. I think they made them are harder tyre so they last longer. I would not be fitting them to my MX5 as the ride is hard enough already. (Bilstiens & 172 wheels)

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PS71 Kumhos here in the 215’s on the NC. That’s three sets I’ve bought over the past few years (on other cars) can’t fault them.:+1:

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PS71 Kumho all the way for me too…excellent. I upsized from 205s to 215s too. Great choice👍

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I would personally go for the Kuhmo’s. I have had them on sevaral of my cars over the years and have never been disspointed. My Mk1 has Kuhmo’s all-round and handles extremely well in both the dry and wet👍

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A vote for Michelin!

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11

PS5’s have the sexier sidewalls.

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What are the benefits of going to 215 & do you go from the standard 45 profile to 40 profile?

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Stick with 45 side wall, it’s almost not worth mentioning as a difference really.
40s would make for a “slightly” firmer ride but that would be almost imperceptible IMO

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215 has a slightly bigger contact patch and slightly taller sidewall, should also provide better protection for wheel rims due to the extra width. Can improve grip and comfort slightly with 45 profile being the percentage of the width ie. 205/45 has a sidewall total of 92.25mm and a 215/45 has 96.75mm. Marginally improves ground clearance and fills out the wheel wells slightly better

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PS71s on my 2.0 ND, standard 205s. Love them and car drives better than the Bridgestones. Had the older KU39s on my 2.0 NC and loved them too.

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Thanks everyone for your sound advice. I think I’m going to go for the PS71’s. With nearly everyone having had a positive experience with these tyres and the price being very competitive I think I’ll give them a go.

I currently have different tyres on the front and rear. Bridgestones on the front and cheap dealer fitted budget tyres on the rear that came on the car when I bought it.

I’ll be back with photos and an update once I get my new tyres. :smile:

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When I swapped from Bridgestone to Kumho one pair of the old tyres still had around 5-6mm left. I brought them home from the fitters and stuck them on Facebook Marketplace. Got about £30 which all helps.

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You don’t seem to be able to buy a performance tyre in “our” sizes without them being XL marked.
They are almost certainly stiffer as the are “extra load” to deal with the extra weight of SUVs etc.
Such a pity we have to put up with this, I have two cars fitted with PS5s and both weigh less than 1300 kilos. Much better for the environment than daft unnecessarily big vehicles that now dominate the roads

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Good choice…:+1:
The reason for the odd tyres on the rears, they most likely didn’t get swapped around in their life. Swap fronts to rears say each year to get maximum even wear from the set. Always good to have a matching set on an MX-5 especially, those Bridgestones are poor when part worn anyway, well I’ve found so on one of my cars.

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100% agree

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