We'll admit it. This is not the sort of tire wear that you see in normal use. We've abused these tires. When you've got a few minutes after the testing schedule has been completed and there's all this empty asphalt, you just can't help yourself (or so one of our test crew reports).
No wonder. Since production began in April 1989, the Miata has become the most popular two-passenger sports car of all time by a large margin. It's become a standard of reference, a car that has taught an entire generation how to drive...
Of course, the driving skills that people learn seem to vary.
Last weekend, we drove our long-term MX-5 to Willow Springs International Raceway to see some friends run in an SCCA event, and there were 45 entries in the class devoted to Spec Miata. Every one of Spec Miata drivers seemed to have a different idea about the fast way around the track.
Over 1500 Spec Miatas have been built across the country, and so far as I've been able to tell, each one is driven by somebody with a different idea about the right way to get around the track.
The Miata might have taught everybody how to drive, but apparently not everybody learned the same things.
Michael Jordan, Executive Editor @ 18,400 miles
SubyTrojan says:
03:31 PM, 02/27/07
That would've been fun to watch! Was this at Big Willow or Streets, Michael? I can't imagine much door-to-door/wheel-to-wheel action taking place at Streets.
By the way, Peter Lyons' story on the 2007 Nissan 350Z NISMO mentions it has Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R tires. Those are the same tires I had put on the rex a few weeks ago (although mine aren't nearly as wide). :o)
bimmerjay says:
03:35 PM, 02/27/07
Wow, you guys really taught those sidewalls a lesson they won't soon forget!
carlisimo says:
04:05 PM, 02/27/07
I helped my tire wear in my '02 by getting an alignment at one of those performance-oriented shops. They put sandbags in the driver's seat to simulate my weight, and aligned it to specs that we agreed on previously. Lots of negative camber, basically - my tires have been wearing evenly ever since.
Right now people are suggesting equal camber front and rear on the NC (up to 1.5deg on stock suspension, but it sounds like some cars can't achieve that while stock), which is quite a bit different from the older Miatas.
mjordan68 says:
04:56 PM, 02/27/07
This happened to be a full SCCA club-racing event, so it was side-by-side racing on the long track, not time attack at the Streets of Willow. Full results at www.calclub.com.
A light car like the MX-5 is very, very sensitive to alignment, so I always recommend a full four-wheel setup at a shop familiar with high-performance cars. And the right guys will set up the ride height based on the weight of the driver.
Lots of useful info about Miata setup at www.miata.net.
stingray454 says:
08:49 AM, 02/28/07
Impressive times though for such a low powered car on a fast track. Driving skill makes a huge difference. First time ever on a track for me was the big track at Willow Springs. I was able to pull a 1:43 with my stock '02 Z06 which I thought was decent until I learned good drivers can pull 1:27's with the same car!
Further proof of what a difference a driver can make is the best Spec Miata time that day you listed was a 1:38 which would have blown me away in my Z06 with more than twice the horsepower!