Daily driving
Ultra-high performance summer
Warm-tier power starts to overwhelm touring rubber, especially in the wet. UHP tyres add the braking and steering you need and still last.
Best tyres for the Mazda MX-5 2.0 (ND)
The Mazda MX-5 2.0 (ND) is a rear-wheel drive car with 135 kW and a kerb weight of 1,060 kg. That’s 127 kW per tonne, in the warm tier. Warm hatches, roadsters and quicker EVs. Tyres start to shape how the car feels.
Power-to-weight
127kW/t
- hp/t
- 171
- kg/kW
- 7.9
- lb/hp
- 12.9
- 0–100 est.
- ≈ 6.2 s
Borderline for P-platers. Close to the 130 kW/t limit. The official test uses tare mass, which is lighter than kerb weight, so this car may be over it. Check the state lookup before buying. P-plate rules
Recommended tyres by how you drive
For a mild, wet climate. Cold and snowy climates are further down.
Spirited road driving
Ultra-high performance summer
Warm-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
Max performance summer
At 127 kW/t, your car leans hard on its tyres under power and braking. Max-performance tyres are what cars like this are engineered around.
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4SPremiumTyroola
- Continental SportContact 7PremiumTyroola
- Bridgestone Potenza SportPremiumTyroola
- Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSportPremiumTyroola
Also consider: optional track set, extreme 200TW.
What to look for on the sidewall
- Speed rating
- Typically V or W. V covers up to 240 km/h.
- Load index
- At least 78 (425 kg per tyre). Your placard may ask for more.
- Treadwear (UTQG)
- 300–400 for UHP summer tyres; expect 30,000–50,000 km.
Estimates from power and weight. The tyre placard on the driver’s door jamb is the legal minimum.
Ultra-high performance summer: character
- Dry grip
- 4 out of 5
- Wet grip
- 5 out of 5
- Below 7 °C
- 2 out of 5
- Snow & ice
- 0 out of 5
- Quiet & comfort
- 3 out of 5
- Tread life
- 3 out of 5
- Efficiency
- 3 out of 5
In cold or snowy climates
Cold winters, little snow
Summer set: Ultra-high performance summer
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 · Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Cold-season set: Winter
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
If you want one set: All-season / all-weather
Michelin CrossClimate 2 · Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 · Continental AllSeasonContact 2
Snow and ice
Summer set: Ultra-high performance summer
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 · Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Winter set: Winter
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
If you want one set: All-season / all-weather
Michelin CrossClimate 2 · Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 · Continental AllSeasonContact 2
Things to know about the MX-5 2.0
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 is the power-to-weight ratio of the Mazda MX-5 2.0 (ND)?
127 kW per tonne (171 hp per tonne), from 135 kW and a 1,060 kg kerb weight. That puts it in ratio's Warm tier.
What tyres should I buy for my Mazda MX-5 2.0 (ND)?
For everyday driving, ultra-high performance summer tyres. Good options include the Michelin Pilot Sport 5, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, Hankook Ventus S1 evo3. Always match or exceed the load index and speed rating on the car's tyre placard.
Can P-platers drive the Mazda MX-5 2.0 (ND)?
Possibly. At 127 kW per tonne on kerb weight it is close to the 130 kW/t P-plate limit, and the official test uses the lighter tare mass. Check your state's vehicle lookup before buying.
What speed rating does the Mazda MX-5 2.0 (ND) need?
Cars in the Warm tier typically run V or W-rated tyres. The legal minimum is whatever your placard, on the driver's door jamb, specifies.