Tires for SK2

[Thomas Smith]

So I'm thinking about running SK2 in my 99 Miata and am wondering what is the hot tire these days. I'll be running stock 15x6 wheels. I guess the choices are the Kumho XS, Bridgestone RE-11, Dunlop Star Spec and the Toyo (although I can't figure out who sells those). Will anyone mind if I just run my Hoosiers? Thanks.

[Jeff Wong]

http://www.onlinetires.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - for the Toyo's.

Tire Rack has great prices for the RE-11's and Dunlops, you don't have to pay sales tax as well.

[Chad Stubblefield]

at Tire Rack
I have noticed that the shipping always ends up less when I call and talk to a sales rep. (compared to buying online)
just fyi

[Nicole Wong]

at Tire Rack
I have noticed that the shipping always ends up less when I call and talk to a sales rep. (compared to buying online)
just fyi

and.. if you ask for California overnight, its cheaper then UPS ground

[Mako Koiwai]

typically using UPS Ground I get the tires overnight or two days from their Nevada warehouse

[Jeff Stuart]

I too am looking at getting new tires for my Cougar to run in SK2, and was wondering what you guys suggest I get.

My current tires are 205/60R15 and after browsing tire rack it seems that the usual tires I see suggested aren't available in that size. I considered for awhile getting larger wheels, but I think I want to just stick with these. I don't really want to dump a lot of money into this particular car, I would rather save it and put it towards a new car in the future.

[Mako Koiwai]

You can put very wide tires on relatively skinny rims ... like 275/285's on 6, 6.5, 7" rims. Tire width over rim width.

[Michael Palero]

What an awesome photo.

[Jeff Stuart]

So, you're saying I don't have to get 205/60R15s for these wheels, I can get larger tires? I don't know a whole lot about this (it was only yesterday I learned what the 60 even meant) so any help is greatly appreciated!

[Mako Koiwai]

typically you do want to get bigger wheels wheels and use the Plus 1 or Plus 2 concept to get reduced sidewalls ... but your class might not allow that ... so Stock Classes just use the oem size wheels with much wider tires.

Use this calculator to find equivalent tire sizes: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

For some cars one wants a slightly lower tire to be better gearing.

[Steve Lepper]

You can put very wide tires on relatively skinny rims ... like 275/285's on 6, 6.5, 7" rims. Tire width over rim width.

You should see the size of the shoehorn it takes to mount those!

[Dan Shaw]

I can't see a street tire wider than 205 getting much heat on a car like the Miata. Maybe something bigger/heavier? Never really seen any issues/lack of grip out of 205s. I prefer the RE11s, especially after running them this past weekend. The set I'm running isn't even new and did amazingly well!

+1 for RE-11s!

[Jeff Stuart]

So lets say I was going to get RE-11s, they only option that would fit my 15" wheel is 205/50s. According to the nifty little calculator Mako linked, my speedometer would then be off by 6.5% percent. Would I just get that adjusted somehow?

Looking on tire rack, there are a few options that are the same size as my current tires, does anyone have any opinion on these:

Bridgestone Potenza RE92
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... toModClar=
Pirelli P6000
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... toModClar=
Yokohama AVS EF1 E-Spec E105
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... toModClar=
Yokohama AVS ES100
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... toModClar=

[Max Hayter]

Looking on tire rack, there are a few options that are the same size as my current tires, does anyone have any opinion on these:

Bridgestone Potenza RE92
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... toModClar=
Pirelli P6000
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... toModClar=
Yokohama AVS EF1 E-Spec E105
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... toModClar=
Yokohama AVS ES100
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... toModClar=

Yes, they all suck.

Don't worry about your speedo.

[Mako Koiwai]

I can't see a street tire wider than 205 getting much heat on a car like the Miata.

That photo is of Tim A. National Championship winning CS Miata ... on 285's. Not sure if he had 285's or 275's on the car when it won Nationals?

[Dan Shaw]

Remember though, he is on slicks in CS. not SK2.

[Steve Lepper]

I can't see a street tire wider than 205 getting much heat on a car like the Miata.

That photo is of Tim A. National Championship winning CS Miata ... on 285's. Not sure if he had 285's or 275's on the car when it won Nationals?

He won on 225's... this last weekend was the first time on 275's.

[KJ Christopher]

Not that I know what he won on, but I'd swear I've seen that car before with wider than 225s.

[Jeff Stuart]

So, I'm leaning towards getting Kumho Ecsta XS 205/50R15s, but despite what Max said, I would like to have an accurate speedometer. How difficult is it to modify the speedo to be accurate with the new tire size, and how is it done?

[Jack Tsou]

So, I'm leaning towards getting Kumho Ecsta XS 205/50R15s, but despite what Max said, I would like to have an accurate speedometer. How difficult is it to modify the speedo to be accurate with the new tire size, and how is it done?

Wheel width? 6.5"?

[Mako Koiwai]

You can be Fast(er) or have an accurate speedo ... which way is you speedo going to be off? Could be a "safety" or ...

[Tom Denham]

So, I'm leaning towards getting Kumho Ecsta XS 205/50R15s, but despite what Max said, I would like to have an accurate speedometer. How difficult is it to modify the speedo to be accurate with the new tire size, and how is it done?

Your Speedo is not 100% accurate now. The differance is so little that you wouldnt notice .

[Dan Shaw]

He was planning to run 15x6 wheels, which I'm guessing are a stock 5 spoke? No volks/SSRs? :heyes:

This is kind of random, but I did do a comparison of my 14x6" wheels with stock size tires on it (Michelin Pilot, 185/60/14) to the current 15x6" wheels with 205/50/15 Bridgestone RE-11s on it. They were nearly exactly the same height, off by a couple mm at best. Stock size is 195/55/15 no? On 205/50/15s, the 50 profile drop should be enough to negate the difference.

If there is a perceived difference in speedo accuracy it would be invalid except what is already built into the car from factory...which to resolve would require some modification to the speedo potentiometer or to the transmission itself where the sensor bolts on.

[Jeff Stuart]

The Kumho will be smaller diameter (205/60 -> 205/50), so the speedometer will show a faster speed. I believe my wheels are 6 inches wide.

[Mako Koiwai]

5 spd or 6 ?