Miata Mailing List: September 1998, Message #31

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Previously on big city, small miata, jcantlon <jcantlon@alumni.uark.edu>
said...

> Yes, Miata (no name, yet) will see Big D. So, I am now going to get rid
> of the slippery OEM tires. My Miata has the 14" OEM alloy wheels (no
> upgrade here anytime soon). I will order tomorrow:
> Dunlop D60 A2 JLB in 185/60-14
> or
> Dunlop SP Sport 8000 in 195/55-14
> 
> Any comments regarding the two sizes?

There's more than a size choice there.  The two tires you mention are
vastly different in their design and intended use.  The D60 is a general
all season radial.  My experience is that it is not very far ahead of the
OEM Bridgestones in the dry.  They might be somewhat better in the wet,
but in no case are they to be confused with a sticky tire.

The SP8000s are a high performance tire, as are the Bridgestone RE71s that
Sonja mentioned.  Being in Dallas, and probably not expecting to see snow
more than a dusting once in awhile, I'd go with the SP8000s or the RE71s. 
I haven't driven on the Dunlops, but the REs are great in both wet and
dry.  Much better stick than the D60s.

As to the size, I went with 195/55-14 with my RE71s and I like 'em.  Are
they any better than a similar tire in the smaller size?  I don't know, is
there one?

	-John

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John Freas (jfreas@earthlink.net)
Red '90 Base-ish #7690
Birmingham, AL
Team LS1, SP, the Gap...
Team dlralt, PBC, Roebuck, Voodoo...
"I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are for."
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