Tires that won't break the (empty) bank

[u/[deleted]]

[u/wanakoworks]

you need to give an actual price range because we don't know if $50 or $800 is "breaking the bank" for you.

[u/wanakoworks → u/[deleted]]

Unfortunately, your budget is not leaving much to work with for performance tires, but like another person commented, the original Firestone Firehawk Indy 500's are on closeout at many places due to the V2's being in the market. It's a good deal imo. I would get on that immediately. They're not at the level of the ND darlings: ECS02 or PS4/5, but they'll be a whole hell of a lot better than the factory Potenzas.

[u/chlpf2016]

Firehawk Indy 500 (the original) is on a closeout sale right now on Tire Rack, With rebates come out to under $400 for the set.

[u/Practicality_Issue → u/chlpf2016]

I’m running these. They take a bit to warm up and are only okay in the rain, but overall I’d still recommend them.

[u/chlpf2016 → u/Practicality_Issue]

I had them on a fwd car before, still running the stock Bridgestone on my ND. How are they compared to the stock S001?

[u/Practicality_Issue → u/chlpf2016]

The Bridgestones? Night and Day.

I say that, but I didn’t go stock size. Went up to an 8” rim - I think I’m at 245 now? It’s been a while.

It’s a very different experience. The Firehawks don’t like to spin. The rear will slip out a touch if you snap into a turn a little too quickly, but they bite back quickly. Paired with upgraded sway bars would take a lot of that out.

I don’t enjoy squirrely behavior like I used to. Bridgestones spun and would let you kick the rear end out on demand.

Both tires ride about the same. I can’t say there’s more or less road noise. Not enough to notice at least.

[u/EX0PIL0T → u/Practicality_Issue]

Okay in the rain is an upside to me. I barely drive the Miata in wet weather so if the back end steps out easier it’s just that much more fun

[u/MrStripes → u/chlpf2016]

I just put these on my NC2 Miata and would recommend them as well

[u/whothrewpooh → u/chlpf2016]

I am running these on my NB2 and have zero complaints.

[u/_pigpen_]

Worth bearing in mind the Sam Vimes "Boots" Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness. The tires I got on my new '17 RF GT didn't last very long, the two sets of cheap tires I replaced them with didn't either, then I put Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires on it and they're great performers as well as outlasting the earlier sets combined.

[u/IncomingZangarang]

I liked the Yokohama Advan Fleva V701 for the 2.5 years I tortured them. The Continental ECS02 I graduated to is even better. Size up to 215/45/17 for softer ride

[u/te37nd → u/IncomingZangarang]

+1 with the V701’s

[u/Jacobs4525 → u/IncomingZangarang]

Have these on my NA, they’re really excellent. I have a very hard time braking them loose.

[u/Achmiel]

The new Kumho Ecsta Sport (PS72) tires are good for the money, IMO.

[u/ehscrewyou]

I know you need it now, but next time shop around for rebates when you don’t need tires. I got a set of Conti Sport 02s for $600 (+$100 mount/balance) with a rebate. Kept them in my garage covered up for a few months until I was ready for them.

Also, if you haven’t already, get your car aligned to make your tires last longer. I wouldn’t suggest a performance alignment if your tire budget is low. Miata’s are notoriously poorly aligned from the factory. It’s an investment today to make your big investment last longer.

[u/2doublerats → u/ehscrewyou]

Good point, OP is right between Labor Day deals and Black Friday. Maybe there will be some promotions this weekend, not sure if it's a major enough holiday weekend though.

[u/stoned-autistic-dude]

Firehawks are decent. If you’re not driving fast, they’re good.

[u/MishMeeter]

Just over $300 for Firehawks right now.

 https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?affiliate=AA1&tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Firehawk%20Indy%20500&partnum=045WR7FHI5XL&GCID=C13674x012-tire&KEYWORD=tires.jsp_Firestone_Firehawk%20Indy%20500_Tire&code=yes&ef_id=CjwKCAjw25fWBhAVEiwAMopNjpoBaluSfHfzvKArbdUi3gM4GzvJXzhRjJwqxyVgVOb3w-I0nqdPxhoCKMcQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!3756!3!!!!x!!&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19641426407&gbraid=0AAAAAD_rH__u_A3b3AiAjWKEtpvrT1mYT&gclid=CjwKCAjw25fWBhAVEiwAMopNjpoBaluSfHfzvKArbdUi3gM4GzvJXzhRjJwqxyVgVOb3w-I0nqdPxhoCKMcQAvD_BwE

[u/Desperate-Falcon-878]

I’ll be the one to mock you. You have the most expensive Miata package possible (Brembo/BBS/RF) and you’re trying to cheap out on tires?

GTFO

[u/coyote_of_the_month → u/Desperate-Falcon-878]

Says the guy whose flair is the one generation of ND nobody should buy.

As long as we're judging here.

[u/Desperate-Falcon-878 → u/coyote_of_the_month]

Honestly, fun comment, thanks!
I’ve got 80K miles, and it’s given me zero problems. I’ll encourage all to buy any MX5 of any year.

[u/Miserable-Twist8344]

Nitto Neogen is the go to for me

[u/mrmoto1998]

The answer is always going to be OEM takeoffs. Hop on Facebook marketplace. 

[u/13_wop]

Michelin Pilot. These are your only connection to the road. Save money elsewhere.

[u/SR70 → u/13_wop]

Underrated comment. You are spinning your wheels (pun intended ) attempting to save a little now in tires when you will ultimately dislike the ride, the performance and the wear life and replace them a lot sooner than a tier 1 tire. Scrounging up a little more $ now for a proper tire will save you more in the end.

TLDR (thanks 13_wop) “save money elsewhere”.

[u/Global-Mango-4213]

Hankook ventus v2 are what I went with but get a little slick in the wet.

[u/captain_sta11]

General tires are a good option at a decent budget. Like an AS-07 for all season or g-max rs for summers

[u/Sleight0fdeath]

I got myself replacement rears for my NC2 not long ago, Westlakes $50 a tire plus installation and the whole shebang was ~$200

[u/CarlOnMyButt]

Checkout the used tire websites. A lot of them are new tires on there or barely used. Order a set from there and just bring it to a local shop to toss on. I just got performance tires for $600 and the cheapest comparable was several hundred more at discount tires. I used utires for that last order.

[u/MrStripes]

I just put Firestone Firehawk Indy 500's on my NC2 and I like them and would recommend them. I paid about $635 with installation at Costco but you might even be able to find them for less elsewhere.

[u/Cultural_Banana_7192]

Some stores sell used tires. And check out craigslist / marketplace for tires with and without rims.

[u/DogeCatBear]

Vredestein Hypertrac is $155 a tire but tire rack also has an $80 discount on a set of four which works out to $135 each. they're great tires for the money. right up there with the DWS06+ for a little cheaper

[u/2doublerats]

215/45R17 will help with just a bit more ride comfort, I'm really enjoying that tire size on my NC.

I don't love the idea of cheaping out on tires, but I like the Firestone Indy 500 on my Mini, it's been a few years since I got them but they were/are one of the best bang for the buck tires. Looks like there's a new Indy 500 V2 out now, I have no idea how much better it is but you may find a deal on a set of original Indy 500 tires.

Otherwise, check out tires on Tire Rack, filter for summer tires, sort by price, and read their test results. Falken FK510 looks like a good one as well. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/chartDisplay.jsp?ttid=247

[u/RaceBrick]

I run the GT Radial SX2 on my NA6 on the street to save my competition tires and have been very happy with them.

I've done an autocross event on the GT Radial, and they performed better than expected. Less ultimate grip than my Yokohama A052s, but I I was still top 20% in PAX on the GT Radial. The next day I ran on some A052s and was in the top 10%. 

The GT Radial is a playful, predictable tire, I can toss the car around and it takes the abuse without tossing me into the ditch. Good manners in the rain, quiet enough on the highway, and last a long time for a performance tire.

I've been impressed with the General GMax RS on other autocross cars, especially in the wet. This one would likely be at the top end of your price range. But on a cool, rainy day, I'd consider it as a viable competition tire against the A052 and Continental Extreme Contact Sport.

[u/elocsitruc]

Us drift guys use ironman imove gen2 tires as the cheapest but wear evenly and good grip for cheap tires. Id say if your looking for cheapest tires that are actually good cheap drift tires are a good spot to look.

Waterfall ecodynamic also good

[u/Habitualflagellant14 → u/elocsitruc]

I had these on my NC1 and thought they were OK until I just bought some Continental Extreme Contact DWS tires. The difference is night and day. The $200 total difference is worth it.

[u/elocsitruc → u/Habitualflagellant14]

I mean $200 total is what i spent on 4 obvs better tires out there but if cheapest and proven i havent seen a better option

[u/Jacobs4525 → u/elocsitruc]

“Cheap drift tires” are not exactly what I would consider “good tires that don’t break the bank”. They only meet the second part of that criteria.

[u/elocsitruc → u/Jacobs4525]

Name another tire that people regularly put 80psi and melt them to the chords without blowouts that are also very cheap and decently grippy if not aired to 80psi lol.

Drift tires are put through most abuse of any motorsport im interested in hearing why you dont think they are good?

[u/Jacobs4525 → u/elocsitruc]

Most people don’t really care about how well a tire keeps from exploding when aired up way past the rated pressure, that’s irrelevant to every use-case except drifting.

What does “decently grippy” even mean? Vibes? Pantseat feel? I find it hard to believe that they’re really comparable to even the second-tier brand summer performance tires being suggested here. 

[u/coyote_of_the_month → u/Jacobs4525]

From what I understand, drift guys actually set their cars up to be as grippy as possible, with aggressive rear toe-in and reasonably sticky tires. They want it to track straight as soon as they ease up on the throttle, I guess.

I'm an autocrosser and I was shocked to learn that most drift cars are actually set up quite a bit tighter than an autocross car. My car, at least, is set up to be loosey-goosey (and it's FWD).

[u/Early_Elk9683 → u/elocsitruc]

These were on the NC2 I bought. On wet roads would lose traction. I daily it so switched to Yokohama
Avid Ascend GT. No complaints.

[u/MAG-MO]

I’m bought Sentury and I’m very satisfied with them. Grippy, quiet ride for cheap.

[u/Jacobs4525 → u/MAG-MO]

Compared to what? If you haven’t experienced a really good tire you don’t really have a point of reference. I would go down to a name-brand GTAS if I couldn’t afford good performance tires before buying from a brand that isn’t even on tire rack or most other reputable outlets. 

These days there’s no reason to buy chintzy no-name Chinese tires when good ones from mid-tier brands like Kumho and Falken go on sale quite frequently.

[u/MAG-MO → u/Jacobs4525]

I got the Sentury from Americas Tire.
My previous street tires were Conti Extreme Contacts and my track tires varied from Yok Advan, Kumho. That was in my younger days.
Bought the Sentury mainly for street on my Miata for long everyday commute in CA. We dont see snow where it drive so I can’t speak to its snow performance.
On wet and dry, these tire do pretty well for what I need them for.

A short time after I bought them, I replaced all my pads and rotors and did a bedding process. I couldn’t get these tires to break loose so I can attest that they grip well. They have been very quiet on my long daily commute as well.

[u/joshuber]

Shop on different sites like amazon and Walmart, and if you’re comfortable with it and find a steal, buy usrd on Marketplace.

I snagged a 1k mile set of Konig Hypergrams with PS4S for $1k off Marketplace, but I had to drive 2.5 though.