What have you done to your Miata today?

I've been researching something for a while and I wanted to get some opinions. Since the car now has a roll bar, I can get it on track. However, I have no way of taking my extra set of wheels\tires with me. I would prefer to not get another trailer, so Marc suggested a tire tail. In case you don't know what it is, here is one:



The Hard Dog hitch has a rated tongue capacity of 200 lbs. Considering that, here's what I've got:

1. Have someone (Niles) make me something like the picture, apparently no one sells them anymore.

2. Get one of these. This particular one is raised, there are other options that are straight but I don't know how low to the ground it would end up one on the car and with the tires on. The total weight of this (including the wheels\tires) is around 190 lbs, each wheel weighs 39 lbs.

Things to consider:

- I have a set of Nittos mounted on my stock MSM wheels, 17". I don't feel like buying another set (lighter 15s), especially since I haven't been able to sell these. It could always be a possibility in the future though.

- I have limited storage capacity, so storing a trailer is not easy.

- I would like to avoid the extra cost of having a trailer: maintenance, plate (registration) and paying for an extra axle on tolls. The tire tail I would be able to keep inside the condo.

From what I've seen online, some people love them, some people are wary. Thoughts?
 
Having had a tire tail: get a trailer. Seriously. Or just trailer your car to autocrosses (since you've already got the truck & trailer). Driving a Miata with that much weight hanging off that far behind the axles is FRIGHTENING.

The bonus to trailering a car that's streetable (having done it) is that you can be a massive help to someone that lives near you that has a serious mechanical failure. Load their car on your rig, have them drive your car home, etc. Just a thought.
 
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While trailering the car is more convenient in cases like that, it is more expensive than having a small tire trailer so it goes against when I'm trying to achieve. I do have a box, guess I'll have to buy the trailer and customize it.
 
Sell the Nittos and use the Star Specs on the track.

NT-01s are only marginally better than a good extreme performance tire like the Star Spec. Plus how long have the Nittos been sitting around? R-comps and summer tires have a shelf life of 2-3 years before they get hard anyways no matter how much tread they have left.

Once you use up the Star Specs get a set of ZIIs or similar for the replacement and be happy. Not only that, you won't have to worry about a separate set for rain or changing tires at the track. You won't have to take all the tools required for tire changing! You get to sit back in the shade and laugh at all those suckers changing tires. ;)

For reference my NT-01s were 3 years old this year... I used them extensively at Mid-Ohio so I have a good benchmark time. This summer I did a lap within a tenth on 3 year old RE-11s with Evan in the car... I also did a lap within a couple tenths on a really hot day on R1Rs (R1Rs don't like heat), again with a passenger.

I know it's the cool thing to do to have a separate set of tires for track and autocross, plus "everyone is doing it". But given your situation it's not exactly what makes the most sense.

But anyways... I agree with aMaff though, terrible idea to put that much weight behind the back axle of a Miata. Not only that but it wouldn't be very fun to drive. A better option would be to use your truck and rent a U-Haul trailer. That way you have that trailer for the unlikely event that you put the car into a wall (not saying you will but it happens) or something else terrible happens.

If you are trying to achieve saving money the option I outlined is by far your best bet. Don't overthink it, multiple sets of tires are not necessary!
 
I got the Nitto's for free, that's the only reason I have em :)

I did have ZIIs planned once the ones I have wear out, and since I'm not planning to run on a competitive level any time soon then your options is fine with me.
 
princess peach said:
I got the Nitto's for free, that's the only reason I have em :)

I did have ZIIs planned once the ones I have wear out, and since I'm not planning to run on a competitive level any time soon then your options is fine with me.
Click to expand...

So you won't be out anything if you don't use them! ;) That's a good point you bring up, if you were doing TT I'd definitely be advocating having a tire trailer (although then you'd have the extra weight of the hitch), but if saving money is the goal run street tires and be happy. :)

I'd actually get Rivals over ZIIs, they're supposedly easier to drive (read easier to drive consistently). But the ZIIs are better in the rain if the reports are to be believed. Then there's the RE-11A that no one has talked about much yet... :)
 
I'll look into them again when I'm ready to buy. Unfortunately, I realized too late that it's not really worth running TT if you don't do the whole season. So the plan is to just go out and have fun, while working on eliminating my debt. I still want to take a trip\driving course to Europe and probably get my own place, I may reconsider TT after those 2 things happen.

I'll still work towards a license so I can maybe do an enduro or chump car or som', given the chance.
 
princess peach said:
I'll still work towards a license so I can maybe do ... chump car or som', given the chance.
Click to expand...

You are *severely* overestimating how much work it is to get a chump 'license'. It's more of a "can you write a $25 check?" affair than driver's schools and what not ;)
 
aMaff said:
You are *severely* overestimating how much work it is to get a chump 'license'. It's more of a "can you write a $25 check?" affair than driver's schools and what not ;)
Click to expand...

The first time I read that I assumed you were going to use chump car as practice towards getting a license... Yeah no license required for chump car racing.
 
yeah yeah, that was more for an enduro. That requires a real license. I'd rather find a group of guys to run an enduro than run a chump car, especially if I\we were to use the MSP. I'd be willing to pay more to run with people who actually have experience instead of a bunch of wannabes that run in chump car.
 
really? that's not what I've heard about chump car. I've heard its mostly people who don't have a lot of experience, drive bad lines and will most likely end up making contact with you.
 
princess peach said:
really? that's not what I've heard about chump car. I've heard its mostly people who don't have a lot of experience, drive bad lines and will most likely end up making contact with you.
Click to expand...

I have a handful of friends that have done, between them, close to a dozen races this year. Yeah, that's not at all the case. In fact, the ding-bat that does just suck is very much the exception.
 
It's not as cheap as it sounds to do chump car racing, I'm sure there are people who aren't super experienced but for the most part people know what's up.
 
Yeah, I've been researching and making notes. I'd be buying my own safety gear (will need a new helmet next year anyway), that alone is $2k. I have the car, just need the funds and some people to complete the group. And its good to hear about the people running know what they're doing, for the most part.
 
Randy Pobst, Mike Skeen, Will and Wayne Nonnamaker, Charles Espenlaub and Jeff Altenberg to name a few of the pro drivers that have run in Chump Car. In looking at the Enduros, like the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, like you they are looking for "Funded Drivers"! If you want to get into wheel to wheel racing, you should just continue to work your way of the HPDE ladder, get into TT, move to the Mid-Ohio School and then get a Spec Miata and go from there. Most of the drivers I know, went that route, SM is where you will have evenly matched cars, with large fields and it you can do well there, you can do well anywhere.

Look into to getting some coaching from a pro, like Tom Long, Eric Foss, Mark Miller or others.....it isn't cheap, but if you want it, you'll find a way to make it happen.
 
sooo... I lost the key to my garage, and I can't get my tools. Haven't been able to check my evap filter and see if I can get rid of the CEL. Also, I have no idea if the MSP is in the garage or if its been stolen :p
 
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