Miata Mailing List: November 1997, Message #13
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From: 	Brian Porter <porterb@ix.netcom.com>

Subject: Re: Wheels & tires question

Date: 	Sat, 1 Nov 1997 01:25:48 +0000



I'm running 195/55 SP8ks on stock 14" rims.. Since weather has been getting

a bit colder here in New England, I've noticed the SPs require a good

amount of warmup before the become sticky.. My RE-71s were also this way..

While half-asleep leaving work the other day, I ended up completely

sideways using very little throttle.. I've also been able to lock up the

front wheels while braking hard at 90+ while cold. It seems about 10

minutes of 40-50mph driving cures this.. 



All this is kinda fun now that I know about it (well, except for the wheel

locking).. Reminds of the 325s in the rain. (I've only had the SPs since

the summer so this is my first exposure to them in < 40 degree weather.) I

do like them very much but the next tires I buy will be R1s.. 



They don't really make a peep (unless you decide to light them up at a stop

light). They don't give any notice when you push a bit too far but I've

learned to anticipate well in advance. (call it my built-in G-Analyst..)

Once they've lost traction, I've found them (more Miata here) pathetically

easy to recover.. Turn in is very precise too.. Overall I like them a whole

lot but will probably buy R1s for the street next time around.



-Brian

95R 



At 09:24 PM 10/31/97 +0000, you wrote:

>Previously on Wheels & tires, Evelyn & Dennis Taylor <dataylor@tracy.com>

>said...

> 

>> Now, however, the car seems to have a fair amount of oversteer. 

>> Before the change, the car had loads of understeer...

>> Also, the breakaway on the SP8000's seems rather sudden

>> with little warning. Is this normal for these tires and could the switch

>> from stock to 15 X 7-inch wheels have that big of an effect on the car's

>> setup?

>

>Tires can make a significant difference in the handling of the car.  Just

>switching brands could affect the balance.  From what I've heard on the

>list, the only complaint WRT the SP8000s is that they hang on tight right

>to the bitter end and then let go without much warning, so what you are

>experiencing there is "normal" for them.

>

>	-John

>

>------------------------------------------------

>John Freas (jfreas@gte.net.nospam)

>Red '90 Base-ish #7690

>Deer Park, Long Island

>Team PBC

>Team Roebuck

>Team Voodoo

>Team "I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are

>for."

>------------------------------------------------

>

>

>

>