Miata 15" Street Tires for AutoX

[Clive]

Hi Guys.

I need to buy a set of 15" street tires for my '99 Sports Package Miata. (Stock class.) I already wore out a good set of Goodyear F1 GS D3s autocrossing last year. They were great tires for the street and very good in the wet but much too soft for autocross.

I originally thought of Azenis RT615 but they only come in 205/50 rather than the 195/50 original size. Some folks say there are better tires available now anyway, and Azenis also seem hard to find at the moment.

So what other tires would be worth consideration? Bridgestone RE-01R, Hankook RS-Z212? Any others? (I need all the help I can get.)

[Agent]

Its not going to be a big deal to put the 205's on your wheel.

[Native]

You've already listed the top three choices...and Agent is right, too.

You could look at the high end of the Kumho Ecsta line - MX, SPT. Couple of guys using Toyo T1-R.

That's all I can come up with off the top of my head...

[Loren]

They were great tires for the street and very good in the wet but much too soft for autocross.

That's not possible. The problem with the F1's is not that they're too soft, it's that the tread design doesn't support the outer tread blocks enough, so they chunk when driven too agressively.

Compare their tread design to that of the Azenis and some of the others. Note how the outer tread blocks on the most recommended autox/street tires are very large, and wrap around the tire. They don't chunk and behave a lot more like a racing slick in hard cornering.

The short answer: Get the 205/50 Azenis or the Hankook Z212.

The only true street tire that I've driven on that MIGHT be better than the Azenis (it's at least as good) is the Bridgestone RE-01R. But... unless they've broadened their market, you can't get those in any 15" size. They're also WAY pricier than an Azenis.

[marsh]

Bridgestone RE-01R are the fastest. PERIOD. This is from a few SCCA national level STS competitors I know. Apperently they feel greasy and are frustrating to setup but they win.

Hankook Z212 and the Azenis are so close that you'll get mixed opinions about which is better. I ran Z212s as my street tires last year and liked them.

As for size I say 195/50-15. I know that in the states everyone is addicted to wider is better, but don't forget gearing. In a stock powered miata using shorter tire will greatly improve your acceleration. You would be AMAZED what 13" tires do for the straight line speed in my 1990 base model.

[Loren]

But, again, RE-01R's aren't availble in 15" sizes.

I'm with you on the width, though. I always ran 195's on my Miata.

But, given the current crop of available 15" tires... I'd probably run the 205 Azenis if I were looking for 15's.

[Clive]

Thanks guys. I haven't personally tried any of these tires yet, so this information is a big help.

For inexpensive tires, it looks like a toss-up between the Azenis and the Hankooks. Some say the Kooks are better in the wet, so maybe more suitable for general use, plus they are 2-3lbs lighter than the Azenis in my size. But I'm aware of the cornering benefit of asymmetric tires from way back with Michelin XAS on an MGB, probably one of the first.

Loren, the Bridgestone RE01R are now available in 195/50-15, and all reports do say they are great (thanks for confirming that too, Marsh) but they are much pricier. $106 at the Tire Rack. Still tempting.

I'd like to get some tires while I'm still here in Florida so I can do some autocross when I get back up north. (In Ontario, Rt615s would cost me over $500 last time I checked.) I regret not bringing my Miata here this winter so maybe I will next year.

[Loren]

Loren, the Bridgestone RE01R are now available in 195/50-15, and all reports do say they are great (thanks for confirming that too, Marsh) but they are much pricier. $106 at the Tire Rack. Still tempting.

Cool! Last I checked, they didn't make anything less than a 17" 01R.

Definitely pricey, depending on how you look at it. Back before Street Tire autocrossing became popular, I remember sampling several high-end street tires at up to $120/tire... and that was 10-12 years ago! With inflation... $106/tire really isn't so bad. Falken has spoiled us with the Azenis.

[snookwheel]

I can't speak specifically for 15" wheels or any of the above mentioned tires except for the Azenis 615's. We put a set of Azenis tires on our Solstice and the handling improvement vs stock tires was very noticeable.

They handle very well in the wet . Even with a pretty aggressive alignment seem to be wearing OK. Don't expect huge mileage from them, they are fairly soft. But, as a street/autocross tire... I have been happy with them and would buy them again!

I found a good price on line, added shipping and gave that amount as a target to a local tire store. They matched it (+tax). Always good to give the business to local folks when you can

[deadmeat]

I have a set of Hankook Z212's on the car right now, in 225 flavor. A bit wide for the Miata, but once you roll your fenders, no problem

I also had a set of Toyo T1-R's, and really enjoyed those quite a bit.

This time around, I might be looking at a set of Yokohama's if I can find a tire that I like in my size.

Or I may just get the Hankooks again. Not sure yet.

But DAMN, Ron Croft is FAST on his Hankooks, that's what helped me in buying mine

-meaty

[Clive]

But DAMN, Ron Croft is FAST on his Hankooks, that's what helped me in buying mine
-meaty

But on Hankook Z212's ? I thought he was using race tires. I had a ride in his car with Kenny at the Endurocross and it was on race rubber then.

[Loren]

Yeah, I think Ron is on Hoosiers. It they are Hankook's, they are Z211 race tires, not Z212 street tires.

[WAFlowers]

For inexpensive tires, it looks like a toss-up between the Azenis and the Hankooks. Some say the Kooks are better in the wet, so maybe more suitable for general use, plus they are 2-3lbs lighter than the Azenis in my size.

I've had the old Azenis, the newer Azeni 615's and Hankook Z212 for a year now.

I'd say the Azeni 615's and Hanook Z212 are pretty much equal in the rain and both are much superior to the older design Azeni. In the dry the Azeni has a slight edge esp. at autoX, IMHO.

If the Azenis were available in a size for my S2000 AP1 wheels (or if I could afford a set of AP2 wheels) that's what I'd be running!

[Native]

In the dry the Azeni has a slight edge over the z212 esp. at autoX, IMHO.

I agree. The 615s might be heavier that the z212, but it's proabably a good sacrifice. But, a 205 azenis is wider than a 205 Hankook, so extra rubber might be the reason. I wonder if a 205 azenis is any different than a 225 hankook?