• From: Mini-so-ta
  • Registered: 2010-09-08
  • Posts: 1,181

Topic: 14" tire choice for street-driven Miata?

A good friend of mine just bought a '91 Miata, and the tires that came on it are old & starting to crack with age.  The car has aftermarket 14" wheels on it; not sure if they are 5.5" or 6" wide.  Are there any reasonably-priced, sporty street tires still available in 14" sizes?  He is looking for something with a treadwear around 300 or lower; his wife will be driving the car most of the time, but he still wants something grippy so he can take the car out and hoon it from time to time smile

Thanks for your suggestions!

Former chief proprietor and lead bad idea generator of Binford "More Power" Racing, 2010-2013: humbly self-proclaimed the best Chevy Beretta in Lemons history.
  • From: Sherman Oaks CA
  • Registered: 2009-08-16
  • Posts: 422

Re: 14" tire choice for street-driven Miata?

Direzza Star Specs!

  • RobL
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  • From: Philly area
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 2,721

Re: 14" tire choice for street-driven Miata?

^^^ This.

If the car is also going to see winter driving, get good snow tires too.

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We got screwed at The Real Hoopties of New Jersey  and we took cars down with us.
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  • From: Columbus, OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-26
  • Posts: 2,839

Re: 14" tire choice for street-driven Miata?

^^^This!  ;-)

Snow tires are required if you're gonna drive it in the white stuff.  And don't drive on those old tires, a Miata with old tires is a handful.  I spun mine twice before wising up and replacing the old, hardened tires.

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  • From: Mini-so-ta
  • Registered: 2010-09-08
  • Posts: 1,181

Re: 14" tire choice for street-driven Miata?

Won't be driven in the winter, no worries there.

What size, 185/60-14?  He seems to want something fatter with a lower aspect ratio, and is frustrated with the lack of choices.

Former chief proprietor and lead bad idea generator of Binford "More Power" Racing, 2010-2013: humbly self-proclaimed the best Chevy Beretta in Lemons history.
  • BoB
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  • From: Elmhurst, IL
  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 4,206

Re: 14" tire choice for street-driven Miata?

My guess would be  195/60 r14,  seems the more sporty 14" size.

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  • From: Safety Harbor, FL (Tampa)
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 668

Re: 14" tire choice for street-driven Miata?

Star Specs and Azenis are about the only "performance" tires you can get in 14", and 195/60 is pretty much it. Toyo may still make some 195/55's, they're not bad. (for purely street use)

Tell your friend to not get too wrapped up in low profile and wide and all that. It's a MIATA. It's a "true sports car". It's not fast, but all it takes is even a half-way decent set of tires and shocks that aren't dead and it will handle better than anything else he's ever driven. Accept it for what it is and have FUN with it!

Lemons South 2008 - Fail, Lemons South Spring 2009 - Fail, Lemons Detroit(ish) 2008 - Fail, Lemons South Fall 2009 - Fail, Lamest Day 2009 - Fail, Miami 2010 (Chump) - 2nd!, Sebring 2010 (Chump) - Fail, Cuba 2010 - Crew Chief, Roebling 2011 (Chump) - 8th!, Sebring 2011(Chump) - 19th!

8 Reply by EriktheAwful (edited by EriktheAwful 2011-08-20 06:03 AM)

  • From: Choctaw, Oklahoma
  • Registered: 2009-11-12
  • Posts: 2,145

Re: 14" tire choice for street-driven Miata?

Doh! I posted a link to a $48 tire, then realized it was a 70 series. Nevermind.