What do you call “high speed”? i.e. what speed was your friend testing it at?
People regularly get hyperbolic about the benefits of sorting out alignment, tyre pressures, and having four matching tyres on an MX-5. They use words like “transformed” and “night and day”. But it’s no great exaggeration in some cases. Personally I think those things are probably more important than the brand of tyre, within reason.
I once bought a Mk2 with a couple of Barums on the back, and a Firestone Firehawk and something else I can’t remember now on the front. All had good tread. Even with correct pressures it was almost undrivable on an even slightly damp road, like having castors on the back. It also had a shake at 70mph, difficult to pin down but very unsettling.
Substituted 4 x Vredestein Sportrac 3 and that car could grip for England, rain or shine. The shake disappeared. Never did get around to getting a full alignment but the tyres wore evenly and the car behaved itself after that.
Hi Laurence
I had exactly that problem last year after having two new rear tyres. Unnerving, isn’t it? Rob Marsh, soft top hard top technical adviser suggested that the old tyres had worn into a cone pattern i. e. narrower on the inside faces and the new tyres were flat on the tread. A 4 wheel tracking by National Tyres completely cured the problem.
“Being as the concern appeared after replacement of the rear tyres I’d start my investigations there. It could be that the wheel alignment setting on your car had caused the old tyres to wear slightly, bedding them into the angle at which they contact the road. Imagine rolling a cone on a flat surface, it’ll turn towards its point. If you have a pair of tyres that have worn slightly conically, then they may be trying to roll towards each other, in effect keeping the back of the car straight. The new tyres will not have that slightly conical wear so the rear of the car may behave slightly differently. I appreciate that you are experiencing a concern with the front of the car but, in simple terms, the fixed axle, the rear, is what steers the car, you as a driver are just compensating with the steered wheels for what the fixed axle is doing. If the rear of the car is unstable you are having to make constant corrections with the steering wheel and maybe giving the sensation of the front of the car being skittish”
My friend drove it at 90 but ive also felt it when i drove between 60-70.
Yeah it is very unnerving.
Ive just gone to remove the wheel nuts but my wheel nut wrench that came with the car doesnt fit, its like its too big. So i guess ill have to try and purchase a new one, does anyone know the nut size? Thanks
This tyre thing is getting all too common, both the mixed makes and the age of some of the tyres fitted. Do we have a “Buyers Guide” or something where this could be highlighted and prospective owners could be warned that if the tyres are “odd” makes or over 5 or 6 years old they should be looking for a price reduction in line with the cost of 4 new tyres of a better brand? I think a lot of new people and maybe some current owners, don’t appreciate how sensitive these cars are to this problem and start to think that this is how a sports car feels. I can personally recommend MOT Tyres at Weedon - Nick, if you are in the area or at one of the events they support.
I’ve mentioned tyres to dealers when looking at cars. They aren’t bothered as long as they are round and made of rubber and legal, someone will buy the car eventually as is.
I’ve found the issue (well hopefully the issue) my front two tyres are cracked and are slightly worn on the inside which must be the reason why I was swaying sorry to side like someone said it’s like a cone. The two rear tyres look brand new they are zv7 tyres so I purchased two more for the front and hopefully that should solve the issue. I did take a few pictures of the tires which are posted I also took a few pictures of the brake discs etc could someone look at the images and tell me if you spot anything that maybe wrong with them? Thanks for all your help.
Fingers crossed you sorted it. Those tyres look nasty. I’m sure others will also comment that the hub, disc etc need a clean up. Worth getting a wire brush, or better still one on a drill, in there to clean off the surface rust. Then some rust converter and paint. Easy job whilst the wheels are off
I’m sure those tyres weren’t cone-shaped when they were new so there’s a reason they’ve gone that way.
It would be in your best interests to have the alignment checked (ideally go to a specialist and have a 4 wheel geometry setup) otherwise you may well find your new tyres going the same way.
I would be putting new disc back plates on there too.
Those look really shot to me.
Those shock absorbers look really old too.
Perhaps a job in due course.
WD40…that will be a waste of time really, (as others have said give it a good clean/treatment).
IF both the inner and outer parts of the tyres are worn, it would suggest to me that they have been running “Under inflated”. (They do look horrible mind).
As others have said you certainly need to get tracking/alignment done.
All jobs you can do yourself. Just take your time and there will always be someone on here to advise and give you help.
Fair few outlets for pattern parts too.
Saying that, sometimes OEM parts can be very reasonable too.
