LOL! About the Miata on Donuts Challenge! Some people are crazier than me.

Your big drop on the Prius MPG does a great job of demonstrating what a big difference rolling resistance has.

Thanks for the links to the tirerack tests I've seen some of that before and was familiar with some of the purposely lowest rolling resistance tires out there but I was initially just wondering if any of you all actually had good tire/wheel combo ideas for running on a Miata to be more efficient when not racing.

I guess a LRR question on this forum would be like asking if there's anything vegan on the menu at Ruth's Chris.

The Sumitomo HTR-200 is a partially sporty tire available in some thin small 14" sizes and with a very high (50psi) inflation pressure and low rolling resistance.

 

Here is a table of Miata wheel weights if that helps:
http://www.miata.net/faq/wheel_weights.html

Your best bet for super light wheels will be in the after market for sure.

 

Just a note on donuts... I wouldn't daily drive those if someone paid me and followed me with a tow truck. They're not designed for anything other than fitting in a trunk and holding up your car for a short period. They're not any kind of performance anything.

 

Makes me wonder: How much of an effect will air deflectors have mounted in front of the tires? I've seen this on a lot of other cars and have kinda been curious to make some for myself. They're not just on eco-boxes, but sports cars as well...I'd imagine that if Porsche puts them on the 911, they obviously do something good...

 

Narrow and light weight wheels with lrr tires, a front splitter that doesn't protrude past the chin of the bumper, spats at the leading edge of the tires, and possibly a bumper cut to cut down on drag. Drag is your enemy.

 

Ecopias are the way to go

Ride well to.

 

At >300HP and >400ft/lbs non-sticky tires will be like driving on ice.

 

In for "gluten free tires" for our Celiac stricken cars.