Finally mounted a set of 200 TW tires on the Miata. Up until now had not gone above 280, with the Kumho LE sport tires I had on it before. Those were a big jump over the Chinese made, obsidian compound rocks it had on it when I drove it home. How big a difference will it really make, WRT tire wear and grip? I am not talking about Rivals or RE71 pointy end of the stick tires, just lowly Falken 615K+
Will report back when I autocross them next weekend with my experience.
Several years ago and through a series of random events I went from Bridgestone re070's to some kumho regular off the shelf all seasons on the car I was autocrossing. I noticed a considerable slow down in every aspect of the car. Turn in was slower, transitions slower, braking, etc etc. It was enough of a difference I think the 200tw group is worth the extra $$$. I hope you enjoy the new tires as going faster is always more fun.
The difference between beer and whiskey.
In reply to z31maniac:
That depends on the beer! But, I'm a beer snob. I'm also a tire snob, so...
Well, tires are the most cost effective mod you can make, so...
When I had an NA Miata, I did a couple of autocrosses with the generic all-seasons that came with it, then I switched to a set of Star Specs. The car got faster, but less fun to drive, IMO. It lost some of it's balance and became more understeer-y. And I played with tire pressures to no end.
So, if you're looking to win trophies, get the sticky tires. If you just want to have fun, the harder tires can be just as good, if not better.
Hmm Tom I autocrossed a miata with 14" star specs on daisies for over a year and had no issues with rotation. Did you get it aligned for Autocross?
I then went to 15x9 wheels with maxxis RC-1s which was on another level entirely my car was open diff and I still didn't think it was too understeery
Jaynen wrote: Hmm Tom I autocrossed a miata with 14" star specs on daisies for over a year and had no issues with rotation. Did you get it aligned for Autocross?
Yep, I even had them align it with me sitting in it so the weight would be right.
The added grip can make the car understeery as has been noted. Quick and simple fix if to unbolt one end of the rear sway bar and see if it helps.
Most likely want around 28F/26R tire pressure, maybe a bit more depending on your alignment. More camber allows you to run less pressure without rolling onto the sidewall and get a greater contact patch and thus more grip.
I think you'll have fun, those are good tires!
The first time I used 200tw tires on a tighter road course I found my sense of equilibrium was a bit affected. I became accustomed to them, but there's a considerable difference compared to regular max performance/UHP tires.
Falken Azenises tend to heat cycle out before they wear out in my experience.
Some cars need weight transfer for their suspension to work, so they need good tires. My Locost was like that, it was a pig on bad tires. Most Miatas respond pretty well to grip.
This flavor of Azenis is ostensibly the same compound as the Dunlop Star Specs, how are they for heat cycling?
I autocrossed with 2 drivers for over a year and did a track day on my star specs. San Diego Region so like 10 events per year probably ran 14-15 events before I corded them and I don't think they heat cycled out. (NA Miata so easier on tires tho)
I heat cycled my own Azeniseses out using a Locost and a 1.6 Miata 
The Miata was the one hard on tires. They went off very dramatically.
Haven't had that sort of problem with any of the Star Spec Zx variants, though.
The new 615k+ is much closer to the pointy-end of the stick than the non "+"; probably in the top 4 or 5. They have come with quite good reviews in my circle of friends. I like the non "+" for my daily driver and will probably switch to the new compound or maybe BFG/Khumo on my next set.
Was worth about 4 seconds a lap at VIR full course for me in my Malibu which runs comparable lap times to my 96 miata.
200tw is the sweet spot. It's like dot-slick-lite. I've had some heat cycle out, and I've also abraded some to death by overdriving a front-heavy car. For street use, they're not faultless, Conti DW/whatever the new one is called and Michelin PSS are better mannered and significantly longer lasting. Plus the new Continentals have wet grip that isn't matched by anything short of purple crack rain tires.
I would not put 200tw rubber on a show car. They tend to pickup every loose pebble and send it straight into your paint.
Going from Comp 2s (320TW) to AD08s (180TW) was night and day. I'm not going back.
One of the other Miata guys is running the AD08, he really likes them, but it bumps him up a few classes. When he goes back to the 200tw, he will PAX my ass every time. I spoke to some of the Corvette guys running them, and they said they were not as heat tolerant as the old compound. Was triple digits out at Thunderhill Saturday and Sunday, so I needed to spray them with water after a few runs. We were autocrossing on the bypass on the West track. The grip was fairly astounding, on a very smooth surface. I am still learning the tires, ran them at 29 psi front and back, probably could have gone with less pressure.
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