Tire size comparison
dek...@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
Ken, you won't be able to fit 225-50-R14 tires on the stock 1990-93 5.5"
wheels, nor would you be able to fit them that big in the wheel-well's either.
The best you can do on the stock rims in possibly a 205-55-R14, which would
be taller in diameter. The Miata itself is too light a car to provide enough
heat in tires (street compound, not race) greater in width than 195 anyway.
The best thing to do is get a set of 195-50-R15 on 15x7" rims. Stability and
great handling. Save your stock wheels, or use then in winter when an all
out performance tire doesn't work too well (depending on where you are of
course).
Regards,
Richard Dekker, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, M-CLUB #90, MCofA #41997
Founder & President, Wild Rose Chapter - Miata Club of America
1990 MX-5 Miata - Mariner Blue with double white stripes
92 Red Miata
Thanks for your advice Mr. Dekker.
As this is my first
Miata, all help is appreciated.
I guess I'll stick with 195/60-14. Won't going to a 15" inch tire hurt my
acceleration
and my speedometer calibration, like when I put 31" tires on my 4x4?
And one more silly question, do all four tires have to remain the same
width?
I've noticed my mothers 911SC has narrower tires on the front than the
rear,
and it handles just superbly. Yet the few Miata's I've seen, have the same
size
of meats at all corners, why?
Thanks again for everything,
Kenn Stogner
Petaluma California sha...@webcom.com
92 Miata purchased 10/26/96 with 31,932 miles
As of 11/03/96 has 34,303/2 miles.
WaaaaaHOOOOO !
ThomasB411
Going to the larger tire shouldn't change acceleration or speedo cal as
long as both tires have approximately the same circumference when mounted.
The 50-series tire on a 15" rim should have about the same circumference
as the 60-series tire on a 14" rim; so the car travels the same distance
per tire revolution. The increase in rim size is reflected in the shorter
(therefore stiffer) tire sidewall.
A 911 is a rear-engine rear-drive car, so I'm not surprised that it uses a
smaller front tire, since less than half the car's weight is on the front
tires. Your Miata has very close to the theoretically 'ideal' 50/50
weight distribution beween ends and should have the same tires at either
end.
Tom
'94A Red
Keith Tanner
> I guess I'll stick with 195/60-14. Won't going to a 15" inch tire hurt my
> acceleration
> and my speedometer calibration, like when I put 31" tires on my 4x4?
No, not if you go to a lower profile tire. A 195/60 is larger than the
stock 185/60, so you'll find the lower acceleration etc with that size.
You could try a 195/55 if you want bigger rubber with the same wheels.
> And one more silly question, do all four tires have to remain the same
> width?
> I've noticed my mothers 911SC has narrower tires on the front than the
> rear,
> and it handles just superbly. Yet the few Miata's I've seen, have the same
> size
> of meats at all corners, why?
Your Miata has 50-50 weight distribution, and a very balanced chassis.
Your mother's 911 has a big chunk of metal hanging out over tha back
axle, and very little weight up front. Thus, the difference in tire
widths. Going to different size tires on a Miata will mess up your
handling - fat rubber at the back may look cool in a hot rod sort of
way, but you'll experience some bad understeer. Dragstrips don't have
corners :)
Keith
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