OMG, Miata + tires = insanity

[Fenixgoon]

Bought my roommate's 1996 miata because i wanted a lighter car. proceeded to replace the winter tires (michelin x-ice Xi2) with Dunlop ZII's (successor to the Star Spec). also increased the tire width from 185mm to 205mm.

SWEET MOTHER OF JESUS. THE GRIP!!!!!

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/fenixgoon/WP_000412.jpg

can't wait to get the Flyin Miata Stage2.5 suspension on

 

[lavaheadache]

Is that a monster truck You're right... suspension is in order.

 

[wirednuts]

my rangers tires are almost bald... I wont drive it on the highway when its rainy, but around town on wet streets its a HELL of a lot of fun I got all the suspension working proper too, so the thing actually handles good for a truck. I can scare the piss out of anyone riding with me... I can hold it sideways for as long as I want

 

[phucheneh]

Stance is too high. Correct immediately. Angle grinders are cheap.

Are those tires basically a DOT legal slick (real sticky compound) or just an aggressive street tire? I'm reading Tirerack's description and it's kind of muddy. How long do they last?

 

[jlee]

Hahahah....yes. Love my Star Specs - good to hear great things about the ZIIs as well.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Hahahah....yes. Love my Star Specs - good to hear great things about the ZIIs as well.

IIRC tirerack said they were better in every way

 

[iamwiz82]

That's the thing about a Miata, you can drive it at 125% of the limit and not worry. I had Ecsta XS on my MSM. It was fun but it neve really spoke to me. I have no idea why, but the car never made me feel like I needed to respect it. I could do whatever and it did it and that was that. It left me wanting more.

 

[jlee]

That's the thing about a Miata, you can drive it at 125% of the limit and not worry. I had Ecsta XS on my MSM. It was fun but it neve really spoke to me. I have no idea why, but the car never made me feel like I needed to respect it. I could do whatever and it did it and that was that. It left me wanting more.

That's what turbos are for. Or LS7s. :awe:

 

[thedarkwolf]

So when is your first autox meet?
Miatas are getting too popular now

One of the guys I autox with has a modded MSM. I road with him a couple times. I don't know how you could get bored with something like that.

 

[halik]

Bought my roommate's 1996 miata because i wanted a lighter car. proceeded to replace the winter tires (michelin x-ice Xi2) with Dunlop ZII's (successor to the Star Spec). also increased the tire width from 185mm to 205mm.

SWEET MOTHER OF JESUS. THE GRIP!!!!!

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/fenixgoon/WP_000412.jpg

can't wait to get the Flyin Miata Stage2.5 suspension on

Star Specs are great, aside from the road noise. The Z2s are supposed to be nutty-good.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Nice snag OP.

Stance is too high. Correct immediately. Angle grinders are cheap.

The FM 2.5 suspension will take care of that. Drops about half an inch all around.

 

[JCH13]

Bought my roommate's 1996 miata because i wanted a lighter car. proceeded to replace the winter tires (michelin x-ice Xi2) with Dunlop ZII's (successor to the Star Spec). also increased the tire width from 185mm to 205mm.

SWEET MOTHER OF JESUS. THE GRIP!!!!!

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/fenixgoon/WP_000412.jpg

can't wait to get the Flyin Miata Stage2.5 suspension on

Hooray! Another Miata convert! Soon we'll outnumber those pesky MR2 fanbois... :awe:

Just wait until you spring for 225/45-15 RS3s... then we'll talk about yer grip

Seriously though, good stuff. Ask questions/post thread when you do the 2.5 install! I learned a lot doing mine, including how much it sucks to use a spring compressor on the rear struts.

Stance is too high. Correct immediately. Angle grinders are cheap.

Are those tires basically a DOT legal slick (real sticky compound) or just an aggressive street tire? I'm reading Tirerack's description and it's kind of muddy. How long do they last?

The Dunlop ZIIs (and the Z1) are/were super aggressive street tires IMO. They still have a treadwear rating of 200... I think it's typical to get 20-30k miles out of them and 100-200 heat cycles.

 

[Throckmorton]

Too much grip and it won't be fun

 

[jlee]

Too much grip and it won't be fun

Just like it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Agree with op! So far my zii's have been a riot. I can still spin them if i want to, but mostly they hook up perfectly. My suspension needs work to compliment them though. Just wish the streets were a little cleaner for cornering.
That and they are not outrageously expensive.

 

[exdeath]

Too much grip and it won't be fun

You're new to this. Spinning is still fun and juvenile to you.


Once you start losing to slower cars in trivial pissing matches you'll start to loathe spinning.

When you start adding power and you have to keep babysitting your car instead of just point and shoot, youll hate it.

But with grip, and feeling 2Gs into the seat back completely unloading the front suspension on the street will put a smile back on your face.

Then its time for more power again...

 

[Throckmorton]

Just like it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

A Miata only has 130hp... you need to still be able to oversteer it. Likewise I wouldn't put race tires on my Mustang because that would defeat the purpose. Why not buy an AWD car if you don't want oversteer? Audi TT?

 

[Throckmorton]

You're new to this. Spinning is still fun and juvenile to you.


Once you start losing to slower cars in trivial pissing matches you'll start to loathe spinning.

When you start adding power and you have to keep babysitting your car instead of just point and shoot, youll hate it.

But with grip, and feeling 2Gs into the seat back completely unloading the front suspension on the street will put a smile back on your face.

Then its time for more power again...

Not spinning, oversteering at normal road speeds! I put RE960AS tires on my Miata and it was on the borderline of too much tire.

 

[JCH13]

A Miata only has 130hp... you need to still be able to oversteer it. Likewise I wouldn't put race tires on my Mustang because that would defeat the purpose. Why not buy an AWD car if you don't want oversteer? Audi TT?

I can oversteer a 140hp MR2 on Dunlop Z1s... 235/45-17 size at race-temperature too.

Pro-tip: I didn't need to push the accelerator down more.

 

[exdeath]

Not spinning, oversteering at normal road speeds! I put RE960AS tires on my Miata and it was on the borderline of too much tire.

I pogo sticked/pole vaulted my Cobra on the outside rear wheel trying to throttle oversteer on a U turn ; too much grip can definitely be just as fun.

G force is a drug.

 

[Black2na]

cars gonna be a whole new animal compared to when you got once the suspension goes in. one of the best mods to a miata outside of the tires and turbo look forward to your progression. and honestly only expect about 12-15k out of the ZII's less if you track it more. star spec ZI's only last about 1500-2000 miles at race speed.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Seriously though, good stuff. Ask questions/post thread when you do the 2.5 install! I learned a lot doing mine, including how much it sucks to use a spring compressor on the rear struts.

Adjustable coilovers make it easy as cake to install front and rear.

 

[7window]

fyi Turbo + miata = fast. I have seen a girl who has this and race the car. Puts the v8 to shame.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i also forgot, here are other goodies that are coming my way:

TRS FXR Stage III Bi-Xenon HID kit (arrived; spare headlights for mod on order)
FM Stage 2.5 suspension (as previously mentioned)
FM Little Big Brake Kit
Hard Dog Hard Core Hard Top (hard top compatible) roll bar
Corbeau Racing Seats (next weekend probably)

this thing will be amazing

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Get you some adjustable Koni's and a bigger front sway.. wrap you up a spare set of rims in some purple crack and go make everyone at the local autocrosses look stupid!

Miata's are fun.