Miata Mailing List: June 1994, Message #159
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   From: Doug Hagerman 
Subject: Re: sticky tires
   Date: Wed, 8 Jun 1994 09:56:01 -0400

Thanks for all the info on tires. Summary seems to be that the two
sticky DOT tires are the BFG Comp T/A R1 (road race compound 230) and
the Yokohama A008RS or RS II, the RS II being the autocross version,
even stickier and shorter lived. Both available in 195/55VR14 or stock size.

I only got 8000 miles on my old Dunlop SP Sports tires on my MGB back in
college, so now that I'm in my dotage (and have another car, so my annual
mileage is low) I guess I can cope with fast wearout. I'm not too worried
about flat-spotting them as I never skid my tires--too conservative of a
driver.

One other question: Why do these tires "minimize the effect of caster"?
Is it because of the stiff sidewalls or the tread compound? I would
expect that if it's the sidewalls then 15" wheels would show this
effect even more, but I've never heard it mentioned.

Doug.

> And also don't forget that they minimize the effect of caster;
> you'll have to turn them back to straight rather than letting
> them drive themselves straight.  (I just put my summer set of
> shaved racing tires on last night and noticed this).