Hi i have an MX5 R-F 2.0 Sport Nav+ which i have owned from new in March 2019.The tyres are original Bridgestones with plenty of tread (9k miles), but the Mazda dealership that supplied & services it reckons that theyre perished & need replacing. My trusted tyre fitter says this is not the case after examining them, but the ride seems harder & the grip seems lessened. Do you think its my imagination or has the rubber compund hardened?. Any insights would be helpful,thanks
Bridgestones! Huh!
They may be “legal”, but after four years plus they are a poor bet for grip compared with almost anything else new.
The OE Potenzas on my NC were much like Bakelite after only six years and 17,000 miles, and the DSC light was flickering most of the time I touched brake or throttle or steering. Nightmare.
New tyres (Dunlop Maxx) and the DSC has lit on maybe a two or three occasions (relevant!) in the nine years since. Heaven.
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Thanks for the input, Richard my tyre fitter has quoted ÂŁ340 for a set of Toyo Proxes which my brother had on his CX3 & seems happy with.
I really disliked the OEM Bridgestone S001 when they were new on my car, forget 4 years old! They were only happy in the dry and heat, very twitchy in the damp.
I’ve had my ND 2.0 for about 8 years now and I’ve settled on Goodyear Eagle F1 Assy 6 tyres, really like them and they’re a bit cheaper than everyone’s darling PilotSport4 (which I also ran, marginally better but not worth the extra imo)
Never rated Toyo Proxes although never had them on the MX-5. Always seemed to struggle with damp conditions that are very common in the UK.
If you are replacing all 4 tyres and would like more grip, it’s worth upsizing to 215/45 R17, they fit the OEM rims fine and are often cheaper.
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Thanks, I was considering Goodyears as i have used them in the past on my old XR2 & found them excellent also.
Had Bridgestones on my daily driver from new and experienced exactly the same with them. Basically not very good from new and went off rapidly thereafter. Not great in the wet either and noisy too.
Kumhos have been my choice, they were fitted to my latest NC when bought and I had some fitted on my daily driver over two years ago. Previous NC had them on too, will be needing some for the present NC later this year they are looking low on tread.
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There are as many opinions as people that own cars, however of the 14 cars we had at Blyton on Friday on a private track day, the only car to spin, and they did so 3 separate times, was a Rocketeer on Toyo’s.
There are lots of reasons people spin cars on track, car, suspension, driver and so on, but the tyres were definitely lively and not helping.
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Umm, Toyos, hmm…
Opinions vary…
I was never happy with the OE Toyo Nanoenergy fitted on my Mazda3 from new, but the thought of ditching four brand new tyres was a bit much. Fortunately SWMBO was driving it most of the time and didn’t mind the noise and straight-line wander.
However, having finally got around to it, I wish I had changed them a lot sooner, the Contis are so much better in every way.
BUT this is on a Mazda3 and not an MX5, and Nanoenergy and not Proxes. Choose your horses to suit the courses.
My 2.0 is still on the original 4.5 year old Bridgestones, and this year I’ve had a couple of times when the rear has nearly let go.
Bridgestone Potenza’s?
Dreadful!
As RichardFx and others.
Maxxis Premitra HP5?
Brilliant. 
Hi again,& thanks everyone once more for the insight,The Goodyear F1s were ÂŁ470 fitted, Toyo Proxes ÂŁ390 including puncture insurance. Ive ordered the Toyos for fitting tomorrow. The fitter says theyre A rated for grip, & as i dont use it on the track it swung it for me. After seeing these comments not so sure now!
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