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Best tyres for the Mazda MX-5 1.6 (NA)

The Mazda MX-5 1.6 (NA) is a rear-wheel drive car with 85 kW and a kerb weight of 940 kg. That’s 90 kW per tonne, in the everyday tier. Mainstream hatches, sedans and SUVs. Enough power to notice good tyres in the wet.

Power-to-weight

90kW/t

hp/t
121
kg/kW
11.1
lb/hp
18.2
0–100 est.
≈ 8.5 s

Likely under the P-plate limit. Under 130 kW/t on kerb weight. Legal eligibility uses tare mass, and engine modifications or a banned listing can still rule a car out. Check eligibility →

Your car sits at 90 kilowatts per tonne. Reference cars: Picanto 62, Corolla 93, MX-5 127, Golf GTI 136, Civic Type R 164, BMW M3 217, 911 GT3 261, Ferrari 296 396, Rimac Nevera 612 kilowatts per tonne.

MX-5 1.6 tyre size

Factory sizes, from one source or with a load/speed rating we couldn't confirm. Wheels get changed: your tyre placard, in the driver’s door jamb, is the authority on size, load index and speed rating.

Recommended tyres by how you drive

For a mild, wet climate. Cold and snowy climates are further down.

Daily driving

Grand touring

Everyday-tier power and daily driving is grand-touring territory: strong wet grip and comfort without paying for grip you'll never use.

Spirited road driving

Ultra-high performance summer

Everyday-tier power starts to overwhelm touring rubber, especially in the wet. UHP tyres add the braking and steering you need and still last.

Road + occasional track days

Ultra-high performance summer

Everyday-tier power starts to overwhelm touring rubber, especially in the wet. UHP tyres add the braking and steering you need and still last.

Also consider: optional track set, extreme 200TW.

What to look for on the sidewall

Speed rating
Typically H or V. H covers up to 210 km/h.
Load index
Whatever your placard shows: it is the authority. Our rough estimate for this car laden is 76 (400 kg per tyre).
Treadwear (UTQG)
400–600 for grand touring tyres; expect 40,000–65,000 km.

Estimates from power and weight. The tyre placard on the driver’s door jamb is the legal minimum.

Grand touring: character

Dry grip
3 out of 5
Wet grip
4 out of 5
Below 7 °C
3 out of 5
Snow & ice
1 out of 5
Quiet & comfort
5 out of 5
Tread life
4 out of 5
Efficiency
4 out of 5

In cold or snowy climates

Cold winters, little snow

  • Your tyre: All-season / all-weather

    Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 · Continental AllSeasonContact 2 · Michelin CrossClimate 2

  • If you'd rather run summer tyres: Grand touring

    Continental PremiumContact 7 · Michelin Primacy 4+ · Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2

Snow and ice

  • Summer set: Grand touring

    Continental PremiumContact 7 · Michelin Primacy 4+ · Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2

  • Winter set: Winter

    Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

  • If you want one set: All-season / all-weather

    Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3 · Continental AllSeasonContact 2 · Michelin CrossClimate 2

Things to know about the MX-5 1.6

  • Rear-wheel drive

    Your rears put down the power and wear a little faster. If both axles use the same size, rotate every 10,000 km.

  • Buying only two?

    Put the new pair on the rear axle, even on a front-driver. Grippy rears keep the car stable when braking or cornering in the wet; worn rears are what cause spins.

Quick answers

What size tyres does the Mazda MX-5 1.6 (NA) use?

From the factory: 185/60 R14 82H (1.6 14in). Wheels get changed, so check your car's tyre placard, in the driver's door jamb, before buying.

What is the power-to-weight ratio of the Mazda MX-5 1.6 (NA)?

90 kW per tonne (121 hp per tonne), from 85 kW and a 940 kg kerb weight. That puts it in ratio's Everyday tier.

What tyres should I buy for my Mazda MX-5 1.6 (NA)?

For everyday driving, grand touring tyres. Good options include the Continental PremiumContact 7, Michelin Primacy 4+, Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2. Always match or exceed the load index and speed rating on the car's tyre placard.

Can P-platers drive the Mazda MX-5 1.6 (NA)?

Likely, on power-to-weight: at 90 kW per tonne on kerb weight it is under the 130 kW/t limit for P-platers in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Legal eligibility uses tare mass, and engine modifications can still make a car off-limits.

What speed rating does the Mazda MX-5 1.6 (NA) need?

Cars in the Everyday tier typically run H or V-rated tyres. The legal minimum is whatever your placard, on the driver's door jamb, specifies.

Cars with a similar power-to-weight

All 90 cars ranked by power-to-weight