Non Semi Slick wheels are downright dangerous.

[Rasputin]

Would just like to say that cars with cheap tyres are bloody dangerous.


I'm getting my new Work Meisters fitted up tomorrow with my old Federal 595RSR's, and so have chucked on my stock NB wheels back on in the mean time.


I gave it full gas entering a street in second gear, only to be greeted with my engine having revving its tits off and receiving some serious opposite lock; as I feathered the throttle to stop the fishtailing. (Yes, this scenario isn't "realistic" ; but I was just testing their breaking point in a safe environment... I checked for pedestrians and cars before. I only did this as I need to drive on these things for a few days...)

Not to mention, slamming the breaks with crappy tyres severely hinder your ability to stop suddenly. They break traction in an instant and skate around like you're on ice.


With the Fed 595RSR's, I can give it full throttle into a turn in ANY gear and receive little to no traction loss; AND slam the brakes and stop in an instant.

I will never EVER go back to "street" tyres, (albeit the 595RSR being a street tyre). These things are as close as you'll get to a semi slick, while maintaining street tyre treadwear. (140 Treadwear). For $175 a pop for 205/50/15's, you really can't go wrong. It's the only thing in between you and the road; and life and death.


Please, if you're running cheapies - Go get a set of good tyres, you are a danger to the general population (no matter how slow you drive). Loss of control is just too easy in these oversteer-happy cars...



End rant. Hope we've all had a good and productive day.

Dan.

[narita]

i also use the RSR's. fantastic tyres.

the tyres i previously had were 80% tread but on more than one occasion the car went sideways in the wet at mild throttle.

quite scary when you dont expect it!

[little decks]

You are in a lightweight rear wheel drive manual sports car that revs over 7,000 rpm... just be conscious of this & drive to the conditions...

[Rasputin]

While that is a valid point, Little Decks -

There's nothing better than a good defense.


We all make mistakes at times or are forced to make a quick and educated decisions. While we try and do our best, it usually comes down to luck.

You minimize your chances greatly and leave little to no room for error with cheap tyres. (Speaking in terms of an emergency situation... Accelerate and dodge; break and swerve... ETC).

That's where my beef is.


Countless times i've been in a position where i've had to make a quick choice... As we all have.

Each and every time - I thank god I bought the Federal 595's, (or any S compound semi slick tyre). Tonight just reaffirms that. If it were any different, it could have been my car; somebody elses car - or god forbid a life.


Dan.

[Trackphotos]

I have to say, you're asking a lot... Considering 25% of the cars I see stopped at traffic lights are on bald tyres, I don't think anyone is too concerned. It frustrates me to no end, seeing cops stop a Silvia for being a Silvia, and ignoring the ute with canvas showing through the rubber, or that VN with no tail/brake lights at 6:30pm. Tyres are the least of the general public's concern, same for the police. Unless you have shiny wheels.

[PaulF]

I'm the first guy to stress the importance of good tyres for both safety and performance, but high performance street tyres (as opposed to semi slicks, which are street-legal competition tyres) exist for a reason. I refer here to things like Dunlop Star Specs. These sorts of tyres will give you more predictable performance (less affected by heat) and better wet performance than most semi slicks. Apart from that, I totally agree with you.

The comment about driving to the conditions also rings true, and one should also ensure that they're not driving on tyres that are more than about 5 years old.

[little decks]

I just dont think people appreciate that even on virtually the worst tyre you could find the MX5 still handles and stops better than 99% of vehicles on the road, the fact that you can go easily sub 1:20 at wakefield park on road tyres that are nothing special is a good indication of that.

Bottom line is the car will never understeer at a sensible speed on the road and it will never oversteer without over applying the throttle with a high degree of lateral load.

[timk]

Be careful, those particular tyres (595RSR) become really ordinary quite quickly in the rain (when they are new they are awesome though). Also watch our for crack marks going across the tread. I won't be buying another set.

[Trackphotos]

I just dont think people appreciate that even on virtually the worst tyre you could find the MX5 still handles and stops better than 99% of vehicles on the road, the fact that you can go easily sub 1:20 at wakefield park on road tyres that are nothing special is a good indication of that.

I don't doubt that. I'm yet to replace the tyres that were on mine when I bought it 11,000km ago; Yokohama A.Drives. They've been replaced with the BluEarth tyres, for even better fuel economy... It's painful putting up with tyres that have absolutely no performance considered in their design. They're made for a Camry, and they're on my MX5 And yet, still extremely impressive compared to any other car I've dríven. I'm yet to go in an MX5 with good tyres on it, will have to do that some time.

[brendanstacey]

More of a track question, but would the (entry level r-spec) 595-RSR's have more ultimate dry grip than an extreme performance street tyre like the Star Specs?

My understanding is that the extreme performance street tyres are closing the gap to r-spec performance so it would be interesting to compare the two side-by-side (which I havent managed to find yet).

[little decks]

I'm yet to go in an MX5 with good tyres on it, will have to do that some time.

I warn you that if you put brand new slicks on, make sure you are wearing a helmet, because if you aren't when they come on after a couple of laps... your face will peel off hahaha.... well not quite.

[Trackphotos]

I warn you that if you put brand new slicks on, make sure you are wearing a helmet, because if you aren't when they come on after a couple of laps... your face will peel off hahaha.... well not quite.

Won't be switching to slicks or even semis any time soon Can't find money to replace the tyres now, let alone get a second set of rims to put good rubber on. Recently had some 59sec passenger laps around Lakeside in a Supra on semis, mechanical grip from that thing outclasses any car I've ever been in, in the dry it matched a Radical SR3 in the rain. Wouldn't have a chance in the dry of course.

[davekmoore]

Yup, cheap and nasty tyres on an MX5 will mean driving very carefully especially in the wet. Been there, done that, learned the lesson. It was fun though!

[Magpie]

R Spec tyres need heat to grip, the wet cools them down hence the lack of grip. Hence wet slicks are designed to heat up and will be destroyed if used in the dry. Further R Specs are designed for grip and not economy therefore do not expect them to last for as many km's as normal tyres.

Drive to suit conditions whilst knowing the limits of yourself and the car.

I agree with Timk about 595RSR's in the wet, possibly worse than R888's, however it is a case of changing the driving style as I mentioned.

[OurCognitiveSurplus]

I don't think tyres with seriously compromised wet performance should be used on public roads.