Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
These tires are replacements for replacements. The old tires were 14" Yokohama 388 Radials.
I didn't even realize how good they were until I had the tires rotated. I just replaced the rear tires, the front tires had plenty of tread left. I left them on the rear for a couple of months, then had them put on the front and the Yokohamas on the rear. I live in Florida, so my tires have to perform in extreme heat and on wet payments. After I rotated them, I noticed that I was breaking the rear end free pretty often on wet or dry roads. The car suddenly wasn't able to corner the way it had, and I didn't have the confidence in it the way I had. I swapped the tires again, and all the rear-end sway I had been experiencing had gone away. I was able to break the rear end free after really trying, but not for long and not much. I got a little bit of a skid, but it was back under control before I was able to react to it. Amazing.
I originally bought the tires because they were on sale, and I have always been impressed by Pirelli tires, even more so than Michelins. They were much cheaper than the same Yokohama tires I had, they had the proper speed rating, and was enamored of the tire pattern. I hope I can get another set, but I don't believe Pirelli makes them anymore.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
M&S rated all season tires in stock 185/65R14 size
These tires came with my 94 Miata when I bought it a couple months ago, and looked almost new at that point. I've put 2k miles on them so far in dry weather, rain and snow on both highways and back roads.
These tires are quiet and have a 400 tread life rating. They're ok in the dry, but on wet roads they're almost dangerous. I came off a highway and was doing 35-40mph on the off-ramp the morning after a rain. I used to be able to go that fast on the same exit in my old Camry w/Artic Alpine tires w/out a problem. I almost always feel like I'm going to slide in the rain in a corner- they're not confidence inspiring tires. They're not very good in the snow, either. They're better than summer only tires, but only by a small fraction. They don't accelerate in the snow at all, and don't even try to turn w/them- it's almost an instant spin-out. They do clear snow pretty well, though. So when you drive onto hard pavement from the snow, they do tend to regain grip pretty quickly. Overall, I wouldn't recommend these tires at all.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Tires
Went to NTB to buy Dunlop D60-A2's to replace my aging and dry rotting OE Bridgestone’s. Once at NTB the guy talked me into the Pirelli HP's. I drove on the HP's for three weeks before taking them back. The tires had good grip and were quiet running but on turn in they felt less than sharp. I returned to NTB and the manager replaced the Pirelli HP's with the Dunlop D60's at no cost. The D60's have much better turn in feel than the Pirellis giving back the sporty feel that was missing. The Dunlop’s do not have quite the ultimate grip that the Pirellis had but grip is much better than it was with the aging Bridgestone’s. I live on a really twisty back road and I have beaten these tires hard. After 5000 miles of near autocross type abuse the rear tires were half gone. The D60's on my Mazda Protege have around 5000 on them with little signs of wear so normal driving will get 30 to 40 thousand I think.
I would recommend the D60 for the Miata if you like a sharp turn in and do not want to shell out bucks for performance meats. If ride quality is more important than turn in characteristics then go for the Pirelli HP Tires.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to '99 +
195/50 15 tires
Purchased 9 months ago when the original Pilots started looking too much like racing slicks.
Much cheaper than the Pilots (around $50 a tire compared to over $100 for the Pilots). These tires are much quieter than the factory ones. They give traction as good in dry conditions and seem to give better traction in wet than the originals did. The only concern has been that they have a lower tread life number than the Pilots (140 for the Pirelli compared to 180 for the Pilots). Thus far they don't seem to be wearing any quicker (they have about 12,000 miles on them). And considering they cost half the price I would buy them again if they even last half as long as the factory tires (which seems likely considering the factory tires only held up to about 35,000 miles).
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Replacement tire for the Bridgestone OEM tires.
Outstanding tire! The HP's are a unidirectional tread design. They handle and grip better than the OEMs and seem to be quiter. It is very difficult to break them loose during hard acceleration and cornering. In an impromptu stoplight drag I got the jump on a C4 Vette as the tires held and the Vette's smoked. Of course, by the 1/2 block point my view of their plates changed from front to rear, but the fun of racing is in the launch, not that ho-hum finishing thing, right?
I got these at Sears where I was extremely satisfied with the experience. For more info on it please see my negative review of the Dunlop D60 where Sears went above and beyond to provide customer satisfaction.
Not an installed item
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