I m have the original 14" bbs on my mk1. I’m liking the chunky sidewall and retro lok it gives. Going to stick with the 185/60 r14 but which tyres. Tyres in this size are cheap as chips! Anyone used the Toyo cf2s? Or have any advice?
Many thanks
Hi, I bought a Mk1 with the same 14" BBS Alloys. I was wondering if I should change to 15" wheels, but like you, I prefer the softer ride given by the bigger sidewall. The car had 4 different “no brand” cheap tyres on it. So the first thing I did was replace them with new tyres. I looked around and the ones I got were Dunlop GY Effigrip ones. To be fair, there were not a lot of choices, but these tyres have been fine and I cannot fault them. They were about £55 each from National Tyres.
I like the look of the 14" bbs going to get mine refurbed and new tyres, I will have a look at those tyres thanks
There are a number of totally decent tyres around for 14" rims. For the very vast majority of people there will be no noticable difference between any of these tyres.
The most cost effective will be the Kumho Ecowing ES31. The Hankook Kinergy Eco2 (K435) is, in my view, better than the Dunlop for less money. If you want Dunlop I would chose the Street Response. If you want to push the boat right out then the Conti Eco Contact 6.
Cheers guys sounds like they’re all similar thanks
I would probably agree. I only chose the Dunlops as I wanted a name that i had heard of and the garage had these in, but as the other guy said, there will be little real difference, but I would always go for a make I had heard of…
You’ve heard of Dunlop as we all have because they have traded under the Dunlop name since 1890.
Both Kumho and Hankook tyres have been working well on the MX5 both on road and track for well over a decade.
Kumho trading as Kumho Tire since 1996 but company founded in 1960
Hankook trading as Hankook Tire since 1960 but company founded in 1941
Toyo used to be well thought of and cheap Nick; are they out of bed now?
rhino, I agree with what you say - I have also heard of Kumho and Toyo - but the ones that came on my car were names that I presume were budget chinese tyres - 4 different names - not sure how or why. although the tyres all had reasonable tread - the first time I took it out in the wet it was like an ice skating rink. May be that there were 4 different tyres, as any good ones will still not perform as well if you put a different one on each corner, but it was beyond this. Therefore I believe there is cheap and rubbish/dangerous and the ones on the car were the latter. In summary, you can get some good priced tyres, but I would not go too cheap…
I think my views on Toyo are well known.
Dunlop as a brand are owned by a number of different companies in different geographical markets.
I’m new here and don’t know your views on toyo…no good?
Toyo came to prominence in the late 90’s, early 2000’s with the emerging modification and tuning market as they made a multitude of tuner friendly sizes. The main tyre, the T1S was followed by the T1R. They didn’t mind a bit of stretch, looked sporty, were not expensive and importantly were probably available in sizes not made by others. They were pretty much standard fitment for every “Drifts Yo” and Fast and Furious car out there at the time and in addition they arrived at the time the internet forum and chat rooms were taking off and so it became the tyre the internet told you you should have and frequently told you you were stupid for not having. Contrary to popular opinion I always thought it was a decidedly mediocre tyre, lacking precision, quite capable of scaring you when new and very capable of letting go suddenly in the wet. It is a view quite widely held now. The CF1 which is still available in 14" was a better tyre from the point of it went where you pointed it better.
The tyre was replaced last year with the TR1 which I have no experience of but is said to be adequate. There are a great deal of adequate tyres out there.
I have a few of this type of picture including with MX-5’s
There is a thread on here somewhere if you care to look for it called something like “A tyring time.”
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Ordered the hankooks cheers for everyone’s input! Now I’ll wait for them and get my wheels refurbed 
Time to carry on fitting my meister r sportives 
Sorry to resurrect an older thread, but I’m also going through the process of looking for new rubber for my MK1. It’s currently on 3 Pirellis and a random cheap make (not my choice or decision). I’ve seen lots of reports that Uniroyal Rainsport 2/3s are a good bet, but I can’t find anywhere that seems to supply them in the 185/60/R14 size. Is this now a EOL tyre? If so it sounds like the Hankooks might be a good option/replacement. TIA 
It will be Rain Expert in that size.
The Pirelli, which I expect will be the P6000 is a frightful tyre, so your budget is actually probably the best one. Kumho, Hankook, Uniroyal, Dunlop, all good choices.
If you can’t find them, give me a call.
I have Dunlops on my 14" BBS wheels and they offer good grip wet or dry and were £50 per corner fitted…
Nice one, thanks Nick.
I’ve found the Hankooks on Black Circles, £53 a corner or so, with a service centre fairly close to where the car is located. They do wheel alignment which it also needs so it’s looking like that will be a good plan. Will do a little more research before committing, but I do see all the above makes mentioned on the more recent posts as good options 
.
I did wonder with the Pirellis (which I think are P6000s) why I was a little underwhelmed with the handling when I first drove it in anger to get a proper feel for it - that will likely be why!
Thanks Snelly, I’ll take a look at the Dunlops before committing
While this will seem arrogant, it is not intended to be. You will tie yourself in knots looking at tyre reviews. Very few people have ever compared on tyre against another properly. Most reviews, even the ones quoted as including use on MX-5’s just means one person said they used them on an MX-5, while the 550 other contributors have totally different cars and tyre size. You have been on dire tyres, pick any one of those tyres and you will be happy.
Hi Nick,
It didn’t at all - this is all new to me, and it’s actually the first car I have purchased and owned outright for 13 years!
Any advice, ideas or help will be welcomed, and I’m sure I will have a lot of questions and problems to fix over the coming months.
I can get the Hankooks locally so will go for those. Hoping to get it booked in on 15th Aug with wheel alignment
Mike