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Tires & Brakes

Tires I knew that Windy would only be driven in warmer weather and usually not in the rain. I did the research + checked the forums/reviews and I considered 2-3 tires. Each tire has pros + cons. For now I am working with my 14" stock rims...they are fairly light, strong, and good for auto-crossing. So as long as I stay away from race tires or slicks, I will stay in the stock class.
Toyo TS-1's are probably over-all the best. Good for autoX + for street use. These seem to have a better life-span for a performance tire. Dry or wet conditions, very good tire. $75/tire
Falken Azenis RT 215 are the tires I chose. Great price. Very sticky for autoX + dry conditions. Not very good in the rain(not a concern for me). Not sure about life-span, but probably not very long(15K-20K) depends on driving habits. $232 shipped to my door, another $60 for balance + install. *Note-at my first autoX, saw 95% of the Miatas with these tires. See picture to the right. Look at the tread + look at the amount of rubber touching the pavement. (treadware=200...the lower, the stickier, race tires are usually below 160)
(Spring 2006)Purchased some RPF1's from a drifter on "Miata.net" for Windy. Boy do those wheels look good...and man-o-man are they light...under 10 pounds. Came with Copper ZPT tires. These are OK for street use, but I think I am going to get the new Azenis RT-615's when my 215's wear out. The Toyo RA-1's look interesting too.
Starting in 2005, Falken will stop shipping the RT-215's and replace them with RT-615's. New tread pattern, new compound, very sticky, but...more expensive. The new 14" RT-615 tire will cost about $78 per tire...thats about $380 shipped. The 15" RT-615 will cost about $82 per tire. Just lowered price in spring 2006.

Kumho Ecsta MX tire is sticky too. Treadware is 220 and a good price. All I found was 15" tire at $92 each and not sure about life-span. Hieght of tire is a little taller also. Heard they were noisier than other tires.
Other possibilities might include the Hankook Ventus RS-2 at $78 each or the Sumitomo HTR Z for $60 each.

Brakes & Lines(Spring 2006) I up-graded my pads to the Axxis Ultimates. They are a little better than stock and are not so rough on the rotor. Heard that the more aggressive you go for race pads...the harder they are on rotors. And some have to heat up on the street before they work properly. Also had local shop install stainless steel lines for a better pedal feel. Changed brake fluid also...to Super Blue.

Summer (2006) Like the brake set-up very much. Pads seem to have a little more bite to them + the SS lines give a little more feel to the pedal. I am switching wheels for each event now. During the week I run on my 15" RPF1's + my Cooper street tires. They are OK + came with the wheels. At AX events I switch to my 14" stockers w/ Azenis. I need these wheels for my own club to stay in the stock class. I am thinking about R-compound tires for my 15" wheels for other AX events...WCMC, CVO, etc... I am looking at Toyo RA-1's, Yokohama A032R's, or the Kumho Ecsta 700's. I know these are about $125-135 a tire, but what I really want is a race tire that I can drive to the event in. So...what do I do???

Summer (2006) Well...I tried something + it worked. I bought some used Toyo RA-1's with about 40-50% tread left, had them mounted on my RPF1's and they look + feel great! Auto-crossed them and WOW...what a difference. Beat two "professional drivers" and two super-charged miatas. I had never done that before. Can you imagine what a better race tire could do?

Summer (2007) Long time since last installment...I race on two tires now + with many clubs. One club is strict w/ modifacations + others are not. With the strict club...its the Azenis RT215s...remember, they dont make these anymore. They were replaced w/ the RT 615s which are supposed to be a little better than the 215s. My RA-1s are used when I race w/ the other clubs. They worked great 3 weeks ago at the WCMC avent at Maywood Park + worked well today at a local event. I placed 3rd out of 42 racers!!! I must admit, the course was very tight, which plays into the hands of Miata drivers.

Spring (2008) Thinking about getting some Konig Minuz wheels from GoodwinRacing. $84 per wheel + pretty light (11.5 pounds). I have some street tires ready to be installed on them. The Toyos are still looking good, but may need to be replaced this season...toying w/ some Kumho V700s...but not sure.

Summer (2008) Purchased 15 X 7 flat black Rota RB's. Put some 195/50/15's on them...these wheels look great! $440 shipped to my door. Also purchesed another used set of Toyo RA-1's from a guy in Lake Geneva. Not sure if my old RA-1's will make it thru the season. With the JRSC, I felt I neede more rubber touching the ground. Quite an improvement. Posted an add on Miata.net...gave stock wheels + Azenis to another AXer. If I really want to shave time off at auto-crosses, I need to step up to Kumho 710s. I am not to that point...those tires are pricey + need to be replaced often.