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David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/11/23 3:59 p.m.
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We just came across this in the Coker Tire catalog: Michelin’s Pilot Exalto in a 185/60R14 size. That was the go-to size for so many favorites: Volkswagen GTI, Honda CRX, Toyota MR2 and, of course, Mazda Miata.

Why is this so important? Over the last decade or two, we have watched the offerings in this size dwindle.

Read the rest of the story

Tom1200
Tom1200 UberDork
1/11/23 4:01 p.m.

That's awesome news.

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/11/23 4:06 p.m.
Tom1200 said:

That's awesome news.

The only thing better would be Yokohama re-producing the AVS Intermediate.  But this will suffice!

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/11/23 4:08 p.m.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
Tom1200 said:

That's awesome news.

The only thing better would be Yokohama re-producing the AVS Intermediate.  But this will suffice!

That would also be very good news. I ran them on my Rabbit GTI in, of course, 185/60R14.

Woody (Forum Supportum)
Woody (Forum Supportum) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/11/23 4:18 p.m.

This is a Big Deal!

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/11/23 4:20 p.m.

While we're at it, can we also bring back some more offerings in 205/55R14?

tb
tb Dork
1/11/23 4:27 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
Tom1200 said:

That's awesome news.

The only thing better would be Yokohama re-producing the AVS Intermediate.  But this will suffice!

That would also be very good news. I ran them on my Rabbit GTI in, of course, 185/60R14.

Same. Good memories there, would buy both again if offered as new...

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/11/23 4:34 p.m.

I was looking for a different tire on Coker's site when I saw the 185/60R14 Michelin and was like, I gotta stop and tell the rest of the class about this. 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/11/23 4:44 p.m.

And are those tires still effective even though they sport plenty of tread?

Some related reading from the Classic Motorsports site: Testing the New Yokohama A-008P–And, Yes, Tires Do Stop the Car

singleslammer
singleslammer PowerDork
1/11/23 5:21 p.m.

I might sell my rs4s and 949s for factory wheels and these on my MR2. 

 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/11/23 5:29 p.m.

In reply to singleslammer :

Factory tri-spokes? 

CyberEric
CyberEric Dork
1/11/23 5:35 p.m.

Holy smokes that's good news! (Starts shopping for a car with 14s)

singleslammer
singleslammer PowerDork
1/11/23 5:39 p.m.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

I have those (preferred) or the factory superchargered saw blade things. I am definitely thinking trispokes.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/11/23 6:19 p.m.

In reply to singleslammer :

Can never go wrong with tri-spokes. JG and I might have once run a set on a ZX2 at an autocross, too. Might have. 

spitfirebill
spitfirebill MegaDork
1/11/23 7:16 p.m.

Wow.  That is enough to make me start searching for 14" wheels for a Spitfire.  

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/11/23 7:34 p.m.

And here I am with a 1990 Miata that needs a new set of 185/60-14s, but doesn't want Direzzas or 800TW all-seasons. Perfect.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/11/23 7:41 p.m.

So, they're out of stock without a solid ETA at this point, but they will take a backorder over the phone and charge your card when they ship. I'll get the first set :) Thanks for the heads up.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/12/23 9:16 a.m.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

That's rad that you're getting the first set. 

Ian F (Forum Supporter)
Ian F (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
1/12/23 9:22 a.m.

(sigh....) still no 175/70-13. sad

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/12/23 9:45 a.m.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

I mean, maybe not the FIRST set. But the first available set :)

msterbeau
msterbeau Reader
1/12/23 8:00 p.m.

You found that because of the 14" wheel/tire on a Caterham 7 thread I started didn't you?  laugh

msterbeau
msterbeau Reader
1/12/23 8:05 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:

While we're at it, can we also bring back some more offerings in 205/55R14?

That and a 185/60R14 would be perfect for the Caterham I envision.  Both from the same manufacture and tire line, please.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
1/17/23 10:43 a.m.

In reply to msterbeau :

That would be cool.

I once had a talk with someone in the industry about when a tire transitions from a commodity tire to a specialty tire–and, yes, there's a cost involved. But looks like our 14s are at that point. 

The harsh reality: It's really hard to make a tire at home. 

johndej
johndej SuperDork
1/17/23 10:51 a.m.

Might have to pull one of the old sets of daises out of the shed and put back in rotation on Miata!

Teh E36 M3
Teh E36 M3 UltraDork
1/17/23 11:00 a.m.

Next a008 in 13" sizes right?!? 

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