I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __ Tyre replacement
I’m currently running my 2010 PRHT on Avon ZZ5 tyres that I had fitted when I first bought my MX5 in 2018. Since then it’s done 13k miles and the rears are down to just over 3mm whereas the fronts are still around 5mm.
I don’t like running down below 3mm, especially on RWD, so should I change just the rears or all four tyres ?
Im happy enough with the Avons and I know I can still get the tyres locall so I’ll have a matched set.
Wouldn’t bother doing the fronts unless they’re showing signs of perishing or rather old. I’ve done 50,000 miles in mine and always run them down to 2mm before changing.
Personally I don’t like Avons. I never got along with them on anything I have owned (bikes and cars). I dont know what compounds they use but for me grip was never progressive with Avons. They tend to work until they don’t and let go rather suddenly.
Also I prefer having same brand/size onto the car but also tyres that are of the same age. If you can you should try rotate the tyres in order to have uniform wear on the tyres and change them all four in one go.
In a few weeks I’m also buying a set of Kumho PS71 (or HS51 depends what size and speed rating you need). A lot of people have recommended these tyres so I’m going to give them a go as well and at 70-80 odd quid a pop they are fairly good buy.
As for wear sure look at the wear indicator but bear in mind, old tyres don’t work as well as new stuff.
Ideally when you get four new ones. Swap the fronts to rear (vice Versa) to even out the wear over the life of the tyres. Perhaps every year or two depending on mileage. Then when worn buy four.
IF you just buy an axle set “Always” put the best set on the rear. Why? “Generally” understeer is easier to correct than oversteer in particular in wet weather conditions.
The tyres that have the most tread depth, are the newest, or both, should go on the rear, otherwise you’re encouraging a car that can oversteer pretty much on demand to be even more tail happy, especially in poor conditions. Fitting the tyres that potentially have more grip on the rear will minimise this.
Still fun though.
Probably a little too late now but I swap fronts to back when say from new 2mm has worn off the treads (rear) Repeat the process and you’ll get an even wearing set of tyres. Ok you’ll have to by a set when ready, I much prefer to do this.
On my last NC I managed around 6 years on a set which had covered over 25k miles, actually it was the fronts that finally had an advisory for being low but legal.
I’ve got the Kumho PS71 on mine and love them. PS71 replaced the KU39 and they were great on my previous MX-5. Great value tyres.
A rated in the wet, not too noisy and from previous experience great on wear. Feels brilliant to drive on them too. I’m 100% confident in them in all situations.
When I swapped the full set on mine I had a few mm left on the previous front pair. Brought them home with me and sold them on eBay on a buyer collect listing. Made myself a few quid back and did someone else a favour.
on a seriouse note
i did not know this! and it explains why my old manta’s were so ridicularsly, dangerously pendumlum like!
i cant count the amount of times that while negotiating a wet junction the manta would just 180 in the middle of the road at about 10mph! seriously!!
i would start to move off and the next thing i would know was that i was pointing compleatly the wrong way!
I’ve missed the tyre rotation boat for this set but will look at doing it when I replace the existing set. I’m thinking that I’ll replace the rears for now and look at replacing the fronts earlier than normal but putting the newest tyres on the rear at that time.
My local plumber reckons that in my mid 60s, most tyres will outlive me anyway.
I have got four half worn Bridgestone Potenzas off my ND2 for sale. All have got about 4.5mm tread and are in good nick. If you are interested they are much cheaper than new Avons. The tyres are currently advertised on here.
I had a set of Kumho KU39 on the car when I bought it nearly four years ago, before replacing with a full set of Kumho PS71’s last year. The KU39’s had plenty of tread on them, but when looking at the invoice in the service pack, they had been on the car for around five years, and were showing signs of age’ing on the sidewalls, so even at 4mm they had to go.
I have no complaints, and would confidently recommend the PS71 as a new tyre, for the NC anyway.
Blackcircles have a good price, especially when ordering four, and I had them fitted locally by Hipwell Motor Services in Harworth, just outside Doncaster, who can be relied on to do a good job.
I’ve used Camskill and Tyre Shopper in the past for tyres online. Camskill good on price but no option for fitting. You can have them delivered to a local garage but then have to pay them for fitting. Tyre Shopper easier as it’s a fully fitted price at a local National Tyre depot and I trust our local one.
I used Black Circles for my PS71s though as they had them at a very good price, fully fitted. They have a very good choice of fitting centres too. 13 within 15 miles of me in rural Lincolnshire. Easy to find one you trust. They will even come to you for a £12 surcharge.
Shopping for tyres has become so much easier on the net. I’m sure plenty of you will remember when it took a couple of hours of phone calls with yellow pages, paper and pen. Then you also had the annoying line of ‘If you find them cheaper ring us back’.
I asked my local garage how much to fit a set of new Kumhos, on the daily driver. It was, I get the tyres from Black Circles he just fits them. It worked out at £14 a corner quoted. But before I went ahead and ordered them he quoted me for a set of Kumho from his own supplier fully fitted by him (I purposely didn’t tell him how much I was buying them for from BC) it came out at just £15 less all in to let him supply and fit than my original plan of buy and he fits.
He was an original BC fitting garage in the past but with pricing being so keen he wasn’t making much to make it worth bothering offering the service. I think NickD has had an opinion on that in the past too.
So price matching with my local garage seemed to work in my favour last time I had tyres fitted.
Agree, - although I start looking at 3mm
