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Been thinking about what size tires and wheels go with my turbo Miata.

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Old 04-24-2010 | 01:42 PM
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Default Been thinking about what size tires and wheels go with my turbo Miata.

Well I was happy with 205/50/15's with 190 rear wheel horsepower, but considering the fact that I am wanting to run 260 rwhp, I just don't know how well those will hold up. I been looking at the 6ul 15x8 nickel wheels with 225/45/15's.

Thoughts comments on this? My car is a 10th anniversary with FM generation II springs? Any recommendations on tire and rim sizes that may be better suited for 250-270 rear wheel horsepower?
Old 04-24-2010 | 01:46 PM
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Of course i'm fully aware of the difference tire rates have on traction. I was running falken azenis RT-615's 205/50/15's. Excellent turn-in grip
Old 04-24-2010 | 01:47 PM
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The problem right now is finding tires in the size. Toyo R1Rs are about all you can get in 225 currently...happens every time the race season starts, because no one wants a tire in that size
Old 04-24-2010 | 07:01 PM
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Or you could get some 16s and run 245/35 T1Rs
Old 04-24-2010 | 10:15 PM
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I've found some 225/50/15's that are very affordable, but I doubt they will clear without significant rolling and all that bullshit...

Second, this may sound stupid, but can I run a 205/50/15 in the front and a 225/50/15 in the rear.... Kinda like a staggered setup? I if I recall, the only point in running a wider tire than 205 is if high torque is a factor, which is why I don't see why I need such a wide tire on the front.
Old 04-24-2010 | 11:26 PM
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that's how newbsauce's setup currently stands...

nothing wrong with the R1Rs, they are a great tire, but it's just all you can get right now. I hope you're not looking at ASTs.
Old 04-25-2010 | 01:10 AM
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Or, you could forget the tires, and buy a turbo kit.
Old 04-25-2010 | 05:50 AM
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patients on that, I gotta get sent back out on a new job before I buy anything :(

But I am aiming more towards the GT2860RS
Old 04-25-2010 | 09:53 AM
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We run R1Rs in 195/50R15 in our MaX5 (Spec Miata) Cup. They wear pretty fast with the 120hp we've got. I wouldn't run them on my turbo. We are happy with R888s in 225/45R15 in terms of grip and wear.
Old 04-25-2010 | 09:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Spookyfish
We run R1Rs in 195/50R15 in our MaX5 (Spec Miata) Cup. They wear pretty fast with the 120hp we've got. I wouldn't run them on my turbo. We are happy with R888s in 225/45R15 in terms of grip and wear.
Early data analysis shows we pull 1.25g on those R1Rs versus 1.35g on the wider R888s. Different car, different suspension however.
Old 04-25-2010 | 10:34 AM
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We've been running the Kumho XS with great success on our SM car while developing it at DE events. We're getting ready to move tot he R1R, but I'm very impressed with the Kumho for the money...

Mike
Old 04-26-2010 | 02:58 AM
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Heck no i've never considered ast tires, but aren't the r888 and r1r a 100 tread wear tire. My personal favorite is the rt-615. Who is newbysauce?
Old 04-26-2010 | 04:05 AM
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I wonder why one talked about the Nitto NT-01 available at onlinetires.com ? Bad tire or just not what people are searching for?
Old 04-26-2010 | 09:36 AM
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cause they are R-compounds and we aren't too found of having tires full of rocks by the time we get to work?
Old 04-26-2010 | 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Cody Strife
Heck no i've never considered ast tires, but aren't the r888 and r1r a 100 tread wear tire. My personal favorite is the rt-615. Who is newbysauce?
140 vs 200 of the RT-615Ks. Both an street/autox/performance tire.
Old 04-26-2010 | 05:46 PM
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No reason to do a 15x8 over a 15x9, especially with an NB.
Old 04-26-2010 | 10:39 PM
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Get 16's
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Old 04-27-2010 | 02:39 PM
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I've ran 16x7 before, 205/50/16's. I was set on 15x8, but if 15x9's are the way to go, then that is what i'll do...

Last edited by Cody Strife; 04-27-2010 at 03:47 PM.
Old 05-06-2010 | 06:21 PM
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I think tire design and compound is going to make more of a difference that switching between 205 and 225. I've run hankook tires in 225 and then switched to Kumho XS in 205, and the kumhos were far superior in grip.

running a staggered setup is probably not as big a deal as people would make it out to be, but it would probably throw off the car's balance a little since miatas aren't designed like that.
Old 08-01-2010 | 06:02 PM
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I recently bought a 2004 stock turbo car with Toyo proxes that need changing. These tires are cupped some on the outer edges and make A LOT of noise. Handling is OK but not my M5. Can / Should I put new OEM Proxes on the car or can I go to a Michelin PS2 205/45/17 that is a .75 taller tire without degrading the performance a lot? I have not seen any postings about anyone using Michelins and they don't make the stock tire size. I have Proxes on my M5 but they don't make this God awful noise. Thanks in advance for your advice.



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