Need tire advice...

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03-14-2008, 06:52 AM
Rogue

I'm kinda late, but I have 2 Miata's with T1-R's and I am very pleased with them.

I'm sure they were a contributing factor to saving Barbara's tailfeathers, after she got plowed by that semi.

I got them when Onlinetires had them on sale, for what I could get crappy tires for. I wish they would do it again, I get another stack.
03-19-2008, 02:25 AM
icepenguin66

Wow, looks like everyone loves the T1-R's.

So far out of all the tires I've used and abuse in less than 12k miles, the BFG G-force sport was the longest lasting and probably the best performing tire I've used for everyday performance. I think they lasted almost 25k miles, which is phenomenal with my driving!:burnrubr: Trying to remember all the tires I've used to compare against...Yoko ES100, Falken 512, Falken 329, Bridgestone re750, Kumho 712, Kumho 710, Kumho ecta mx...

I'm thinking about trying the new Falken 912 for my next set, which will be in about 2000 miles.
03-19-2008, 09:40 AM
Walsted

Quote:

Originally Posted by icepenguin66

... I'm thinking about trying the new Falken 912 for my next set, which will be in about 2000 miles.

I've got the 912s on now. (205/50 15s on the stock 15x6 rim) They have a lot of tread left after about 10k worth of commuting miles. It could be the narrow rims, but they seemed to be on the edge of letting go when going around curves during hot days this summer, and that was when they were new. During the snow and ice day, they weren't terribly awful or real impressive. They held where it was dry and didn't do too bad on the sanded bridges. Going over unsanded overpasses was interesting - I held speed and a straight line, and the rear seemed to wag when I transitioned from the highway to the overpass and then again when I transitioned from the overpass to the highway.

I drove a friends NA with the 512s (215/50 15s on 15x7) and the warm weather traction was much better. I didn't have an opportunity to drive those in the rain or ice, though, since this was in the Mojave desert, and it didn't rain or snow much. I know others prefer the 912 over the 512, but I think I would prefer the 512.

Hope this helps.
03-24-2008, 06:52 PM
icepenguin66

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walsted

I've got the 912s on now. (205/50 15s on the stock 15x6 rim) They have a lot of tread left after about 10k worth of commuting miles. It could be the narrow rims, but they seemed to be on the edge of letting go when going around curves during hot days this summer, and that was when they were new. During the snow and ice day, they weren't terribly awful or real impressive. They held where it was dry and didn't do too bad on the sanded bridges. Going over unsanded overpasses was interesting - I held speed and a straight line, and the rear seemed to wag when I transitioned from the highway to the overpass and then again when I transitioned from the overpass to the highway.

I drove a friends NA with the 512s (215/50 15s on 15x7) and the warm weather traction was much better. I didn't have an opportunity to drive those in the rain or ice, though, since this was in the Mojave desert, and it didn't rain or snow much. I know others prefer the 912 over the 512, but I think I would prefer the 512.

Hope this helps.

Cool, I loved my first set of 512's. Great traction and lasted fairly long. The seconds set of 512's I burned up in only 9k miles somehow! I still have maybe another month of tread left to make up my mind what I'm gonna try next.
03-25-2008, 09:49 AM
mk2tmr2

Quote:

Originally Posted by icepenguin66

Wow, looks like everyone loves the T1-R's.

I love the T1-R's - especially for the price. However, I found that when they near the end of their lifespan they get VERY slippery. Even on dry pavement. It probably doesn't matter as much on a non-boosted Miata. But I was still slightly above the tread wear indicators on the rear tires and I couldn't get traction in 1st or 2nd gear. I would scratch in 3rd under hard acceleration.

I put some fresh T1-R's on and it was a night & day contrast. Loads more grip when they're fresh.

I used Sumitomo HTR Z-II's on my MR2's, WRX and C32 AMG in the past. That's a great bang for buck tire, as well. Has a good look to it, too.

EDIT: For reference - mine are 225/40-16
03-26-2008, 12:35 AM
Walsted

Quote:

Originally Posted by icepenguin66

Cool, I loved my first set of 512's. Great traction and lasted fairly long. The seconds set of 512's I burned up in only 9k miles somehow! I still have maybe another month of tread left to make up my mind what I'm gonna try next.

I'm thinking my next set will be Yokohama Avid T4s from tires-easy.com, $320 to the door. (http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/reifenb...120260&dsco=35) I haven't tried that shop before, but the price is right, I have quite a few months to research the shop, and the Avid S/Ts on my last car (Tbird TurboCoupe) were great three-season tires for the first two thirds of their alleged 60K treadlife - extreme hot or cold, standing water at interstate speeds, no problem. Set cruise for 65 at 635W, even in heavy rain, and if there wasn't traffic, not even need to shut off the cruise for the curve from 635W to 35E south, or 408 to 20W. (Not that I'm lazy, or anything like that.)

Once down to the last third of tread, though, the Avids would hydroplane like a speedboat on raceday. And if there is any ice or more than a tread depth of snow on the road, traction is lousy, no matter how much tire is left. I guess Yokohama's all season rating means all seasons in the desert, where there isn't any ice or snow, ever. But I figure there are more hot days in Texas than snow days, and since I was getting over 30K miles per set before they started to go squirrelly, I figure they will be worth it for me to try them on the Miata after the 912s wear down to the point of being unsafe.

Probably WAY more than you wanted to know, but hope it is helpful.

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