MK3.5 Sport tech Load Index

Technical Area Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
2

I’ve been reading up and have seen around the net that it’s bad to put the tyres with a load rating higher than 84 on the mx5 due to the tyre being to stiff for the weight of the car.

 

I will be needing to change tyres and it’s very rare to find any tyre other than the RE050A in load rating 84.

I’m probably going to end up getting the RE050A 84w again but if it’s not a problem to get 88 tyres then I have a bigger playing field.

 

Thanks,

Ed

3
Load rating and sidewall stiffness are not necessarily correlated. To me all this "you must use 84w load rated tires" on a Mk3 and higher MX5 is one of the myths circulating around the MX5 community. And probably confusing for new owners.
 
There are tires with higher load ratings than 84 and at the same time with a much flexible side wall than the OEM RE050A. It has to do with the materials used and the tire design. The RE050A 84w should in fact be a cheap OEM tire. Though is rare in our size so the selling price is pushed ... 
 
Also in my opinion, the OEM RE050A is not such a great tire, it is OK, but you can get better (better = depends what you want ultimate grip, complience, etc). For me the Michelin PS3 is a great tire for MX5. The Kumho EKU39 is also great and much cheaper. Right now I'm on a set of Hankook K110, which are pretty impressive in rainy weather, though I find them a bit "numb" in dry.
 
All in all don't let the load index influence your purchase. 
 
 
Adrian
4

I didn’t want to be first, but there are many similar topics on here on the same subject. I don’t like the RE050A, I think they only offer good performance in dry road conditions. Incidentally I’m running PS3 they’re not like the old Michelins that used to last forever, they offer good all round performance even from cold.

5

Thanks guys. I’ll try something else this time.

 

Been checking sites. Any out that aren’t popular on Google that may have good prices?

Think I’m going to try the PS3.

6

 

Hi Ed, 

I would check Camskill and Lovetires and ebay if you fancy:

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s457p0/Car_Tyres_-MPV_Tyres-People_Carrier_Tyres-17_inch_R17_inch-_205_45_17_205_45R17
http://lovetyres.com/search/tyres/205-45-17

Also, I would contact NickD from MazdaOnTrack, he can advise you on tires and probably sort you out. 

Lastly, I Don’t want to me confuse you more, but I would check the new Uniroyal RainSport 3. They look really good and should be a step forward from the Rainsport 2 which were pretty decent tires for MX5. And they’re £79.80 on camskill:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Uniroyal-Rainsport-3-Launched.htm

 

Hope this helps,
Adrian 

 

7

Now here’s a thing. Many of the reports from drivers that say “sidewall’s” are soft on tyres are the tread design. Designs like T1R and RainSport 2 have a directional chevron pattern. When you turn, the alignment of the tread means that relatively tall thin tread blocks are bending over resulting in an imprecise feel to the tyre, often described as “wobbly”.

When you get an asymmetric tyre with a directional component, such as the RainSport 3 the tread profile to the ground is different from the left side to the right side of the car and the rubber deforms in a different way which when pushed results in a different feel to the car turning left to turning right.

8

Thanks for that Nick. Was expecting you to arrive at some point!
How do you rate the Michelin PS3?

Will I get this "Strange turning? I did post a while back that I was having bad turning when turning right, it got better and now its incredibly bad and my tyres are getting scarcley low now so I’m hoping a change will help drastically as I know Bridgestones can get very jumpy/edgey when they get low.

9

Hi Ewar,

Tyres do change their characteristics over their life. You only have to look at some of the features moulded into new tyres to see that as these wear away the tyre must behave differently. Also as the tread becomes shorter, it gets stiffer, and also rubber properties can change too.

Peugeot used to fit the Pirelli P6000 to the 306, which also goes to show just how long this tyre has been around, once half worn, the tyre used to tramline significantly.

I think it is quite fair to say that Michelin make some of the best tyres going, from Rallying to road cars. The PS3 is a very good tyre and from the Primacy through to the Super Sport you have good tyres, but you will be spending north of £500 for a set of 4. Personally, if it were me, I would have the Super Sport, it is, in the grand scale of things, very little more than the PS3.

I come back to the tyre that I think is totally fit for purpose on the MX-5, which is the Kumho KU39 which would save you £50 a corner over the cheapest Michelin and HankooK V12 is not a bad tyre either.

For a performance tyre, however, with good grip and water clearance properties and all the precision you want on a sports car I really rate the Nankang NS-2R. I have run them all year on both my road and track car and for the money I know nothing better. The down side is you would have to go for 215 width, which is no problem for the car. They are £95 each, so still £30 cheaper each than the Michelin

10

I would agree with your comments on the PS3 and perhaps regret not going for the PSS however I think without the fuel offer I received with the Michelins I probably would have ended up with something else. The NS-2R seems to be generating a lot of interest, not sure why the manufacturer recommends a 7J tyre but surely at 215 it should stretch to 7.5J

11

It will fit 7.5" no problem. I have 195 on 8"

 

12

Nick.

My local tyre place can only get the Michelin PS3 in with a V speed rating.
Is this going to cause any problems for me?

13

For info.

 

Mine PS3 are W rated 205/45 r17, the PSS same size are Y rated and Premacy are V rated.

14
[quote=Ewar] Nick.

My local tyre place can only get the Michelin PS3 in with a V speed rating.
Is this going to cause any problems for me? [/quote]

 

Do you drive faster than 149?

 

The load ratings tend to be a default that comes with a certain size of tyre rather than a necessity. The W speed rating is not required for the car’s performance, so V is quite adequate. You would actually have a very strong case even if you fitted H rated tyres are well above the UK speed limit.

I can supply you the W rated tyres for £131 each delivered if you require. This forum does not give me notifications of posts or messages so please call the number below if you need anything.

Nick 

15

I was able to get hold of the W PS3 and they’re being fitted this week for £140 a tyre.

Thanks for all your help, chaps.

16

Excellent

17

Just got the michelins fitted.
Steering to the right still screwed up. Any amount of power when going right and the back just goes.
Can’t even go more than 15-20 round a roundabout.

Nick, is there anything I can check or ask the local mazda to check?
Unfortunately you’re quite a drive away from me.

18

I would suspect you have a significant problem with your alignment or a failure of another suspension component.

I would guess you have significant toe out on the rear left wheel. Have you hit the car on anything in the past?

 

Where are you?

19

I’m in Essex, about 2-3 hour drive away.
I was hit in the back right bumper a year and a bit a go but had a wheel alignment.
Here is the before and after:

Before

After

 

I think I may get it done again once I’ve got this service out the way (Local mazda dont use a hunter) 

Thing is, saving up for a lotus and all these new tyres and service are biting into the fund Frown

20

That, in my opinion, is a horrible alignment.

Hunter is just a brand name of a machine, it is quite quick if used correctly, however there are plenty of other makes and methods. It is not the equipment, it is what they do with it.

 

If you car is horrible turning right and different to left, there is something wrong.