Hi I have owned my NC for a few months, the previous owner had really cheap tyre’s fitted to get it through the MOT before selling it, should I replace these for better quality as I get steering vibration, if so which brand are best they are standard 16" NC wheels. The car is only used for a weekend toy.
UPDATE - hi thanks for all the replies I have taken it into kwikfit today and it was wheel balance causing the vibration.
I recently had the same situation with the purchase of a used MX-5.
After reading many posts on the owners club website regarding tyres I decided to buy four new Kumho tyres at a very reasonable £90 per tyre on 16’’ wheels, I also had the alignment checked at a recommended specialist.
The Kumho tyres and alignment have really improved the car. I would definitely recommend changing the tyres. Also check if there is any damage to the alloy wheels.
Classic question which really depends on if you fancy giving yourself a treat.
Of course the brand new tyres will be fine, but if you’ve got the spare money, and fancy treating yourself, decent tyres will, in all likelihood (but not 100% certain) be better.
(I say not 100% as I replaced 4 Landsail so-called ditch finders which, like you, the prior owner must have fitted, and were about 3 and a bit years old. I stupidly didn’t learned my own lesson with, imo, totally overrated Pilot Sport 5, which I didn’t care much for when I had them on another car) and found they are not ‘better’, well, certainly not clear cut, than the so-called Landsail 3.5 year old ditch finders which they replaced!)
Steering vibration will be a wheel balance / alignment or unlikely a trackrod end or more unlikely wheel bearing issue rather than a tyre issue. Look for signs of uneven wear on the tyres.
If I was not 100% confident in my tyres I would not hesitate to change them for the best I can afford. Blackcircles website will give you options for your car and you can determine what the optimum balance of grip / wear and road noise suits you.
My daily NBFL is on 16’’ Michelin PS3’s which I bought to compare with a set of Goodyear Assymetrics I have and there is not much in it in dry conditions on the road, perhaps a smidgen more grip for the PS3’s on the track, it will be interesting to see how the PS3’s feel in the wet.
Steering vibration can also be caused by a sticking brake caliper as i found a while ago. Not sonething I’d come across before.
Depends how bad the tyres are and how you will be using them. If you only use the car when it’s dry and no chance of ice then they may be fine.
I’ve fitted Kumhos to my previous NC and current ND and can’t fault them. A good tyre that suits the MX-5 and gives a great driving feel without breaking the bank.
If you change them bring the old ones back from the fitter and put them on Facebook.