Ars Technica talks grip and the ND Miata

Kinja'd!!! "yitznewton" (yitznewton)
09/22/2015 at 10:07 • Filed to: handling, miata

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Praises the ND, GT86 et al. on their adherence to traditional sporting values over statistics. Includes yet another interview with the ubiquitous, meticulous Dave Coleman.


DISCUSSION (3)


Kinja'd!!! SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > yitznewton
09/22/2015 at 10:09

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Overall grip’s just a number. Chassic dynamics are what matters. You can build a suspension/tire that will load up to 1G, but if it’s not dampened correctly then you won’t ever see it because the load exceeds that too quickly.


Kinja'd!!! EmbraceTheRasp > yitznewton
09/22/2015 at 10:16

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Thanks for the link. Missed this


Kinja'd!!! Justin Hughes > yitznewton
09/22/2015 at 10:34

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I agree, to a point. My BRZ is an amazing handling car. But the Michelin Primacy HP “Prius” tires it comes with hold it back from its true capabilities. Rather than enjoy the car, I felt like it was handicapped.

But rather than put on whatever the grippiest track/autocross tire of the week happens to be, I put on Michelin Pilot Super Sports. They’re certainly more grippy, but being true street performance tires they still lose their grip gradually, and not as at high Gs as a track tire. Since 99% of my driving is on the street, I’m willing to give up that extra grip, especially when I’m mainly doing HPDE events these days and not competing anyway. I haven’t driven an ND yet, but my sideways ride with an ex- Jalopnik editor (he might have something to do with Road & Track these days) convinced me that the Miata still has the fun and tossability we love about it.

I also have to say that the Mustang EcoBoost I’ve been driving for the past week has this as well. It has the Performance Package, with 255/40/19 Pirelli P Zeros. They grip well and allow me to use the car to its full potential, but it’s also easy to break them loose when I feel like it. On gravel rally stages it’s a different story, but I’m still writing that one...