Star Specs are street tires. And techincally by way of the DOT approval so are Hoosiers and many other Rcomps.

Stahp.

I'm not even sure what you're trying to argue about. I stated my opinion of one of the tires that was brought up and compared them to another performance summer tire.

As of right now, if it's wet out or I see that it's going to rain, I leave the Miata at home and drive the truck, partially because of the tires.

Right now I'm gravitating towards 205/50 ZII star spec's on 15x8 advanti S2's in bronze. The S2's weigh 1.3 lbs more than the S1's, but I think the dark bronze is going to look tits on BRG. It's hard to believe the unsprung rotating mass penalty you get hit with going up in size so little. My current 195/50 on 15x7 combo weighs 28 lbs per corner. ZII's on S2's weigh 31.3 lbs per corner. That's 13.2 lb s total weight penalty! If I go up to the lightest tire in 225/45 (rival S) on a 9" S2, it weighs 33 lbs per corner, for a weight penalty of 20 lbs.

I have DZ102s on my car currently. Problem is these are the first tires I've had on this car so I cant really compare them against anything. I will say though that there have been several times i wish i had a stickier tire (autocross mainly). They just don't feel all that planted to me when pushing it and seem to slip/get loose quickly (could also have something to do with poor driver input). But again, I don't have much experience to go on.

This summer I would like to try more performance oriented tires as this is my fun car and not a DD. All that said, as mentioned previously, they are only like $65 a pop so it wouldn't be the end of the world if you didn't like them.

I've got RE71 225/50/15's on my 2003 Miata, making 215 rear wheel torque and 237 RWHP. These tires can handle the power far better than my DZ102's I had. The DZ102's spun in first and second at about any RPM. The RE71's rarely spin at all. DZ102's had 460 treadwear. The RE1's have 200 treadwear.

I'm sure the op already bought rims and tires, but 205/50/15 RE-71R on 15x8 6UL

Fantastic in rain. Best street tire and rim combo for responsiveness and grip, fact. IIRC for anything up to 250whp, except autocross.

Dz102 vs the ZII is worth ~6 seconds at our local track. Can't compare the 102 to re71s.

Spent my winter funny money going VVT/MSPNP pro. Looking at star spec II's for their balance of cost weight & grip unless the '17 season has a new surprise. Still debating between 8 & 9. Street use only. Going with advanti S2 bronze because vanity/poverty reasons.

I'd just do 8 for street. Little more tossable, usually cheaper, easily fits 205, can fit 225 if needed.

"Fantastic in the rain"...up to a point. Cannot channel deep water at high speed like a Conti DW or Michelin PSS.

Further, the RE71R compound will not work when its below about 50 degrees ambient and wet. In the dry, you can generate enough heat to make it work, but with constant water cooling the tire, it's "glass tabletop" lack of grip.

Several cars (including me) ran the Stones at One Lap last year and the first couple of events were 40's and wet...grip was awful. The PSS-shod cars destroyed us. The one wet event where it was about 70 ambient...no problem. And when it dried out later in the week, we kicked ass on the Stones.

But...the new schnizzle for the Miata world in "triple-threat" tire is this: http://www.continentaltire.com/produ...J8P8HAQ"=

I have been testing them on my ND vs the PSS for GRM, and they are very similar. Track, autocross, and street...does it all quite well. But the big news is the Sport will come in a 205/50-15 and 205/45-16..both 23" tall. I used to run the DW in that 16" size on my 92 Miata and it was epic...until they discontinued it. Now, you have two options for early Miata.

The best part is that these tires fill in the blanks around the RE71R. They will channel the deepest water at high speed, have excellent braking and dry/wet handling. Not as fast as RE71R in the dry, but better almost everywhere else. And way less noise on the street.

Truly a game-changer for NA/NB Miatas that are driven on the street. 205/50-15 on 15x8...or 205/45-16 on 16x8.

"One tire to rule them all". You heard it here first. :)

That's what I'm talkin about! I bought a subscription to GRM this year just to keep a finger on this pulse. Kinda cool to get the news straight from the horse's mouth. Looking forward to the full read.

Update => Just got from the track where we did wet testing today. Overnight light rain with fog in the am lent for fairly consistent "damp" testing. Results between PSS and Conti Sport were much more magnified in this condition. It was in the direction I expected, as suggested by the relative dry handling characteristics, but way more significant in magnitude.

Conti hit it outta the park with this one.

Even tier 2 UHP's like the VR-1 are a bit sketchy in the rain sub 50 degrees. Exact conditions we had yesterday, which combined with Austin's gripless asphalt had me spinning up in second gear as if I actually have horsepower (I don't).

So you are saying the Conti is a really good "all season" tire? Obviously not like a snow tire, but good for all 4 mild seasons?

How is sidewall stiffness?

What is the significance of the 23inch tire?

How does the dry grip compare to, say, the VR-1?

Thank you for your knowledge and willingness to share.

You are now getting into too much of what the GRM story will reveal, so I'll stay mum on that for now.

The 23" tall tire thing is because up until now, the best of the Max Performance Street Tire category (PSS and DW) were not available in a 23" tall tire...which is what an NA/NB Miata needs to fit in the fenderwells. Anything taller and it hits the top of the inner fender at typically lowered ride heights.

Oh ok, that makes sense.

I get the magazine, so I'll just see it there.

Thank you

OK, I just bought a set of the Conti extreme contact sports in 205/50 on a set of 15x8's. Thanks all for the input.

Thanks to Andy Hollis, I will be getting some 205/50/15's in the Conti Extreme Sports too.

Will be my next tire for the BRZ as well. The Star Specs are almost dead and I'm tired of the roar from Extreme Performance Summer tires when I've been to lazy to track or autox the car.

Thanks for the recommendation Andy. I'll be giving these a try at Homestead in a couple weeks and will report back.