About two weeks ago, I (William Loring) had a conversation about the upcoming Tire Rack One Lap of America event with one of my co-workers, wholesale sales specialist, Joe Woodward. Joe has run in the event four times before in his Miata and I briefly asked if he was participating again this year. I let him know that if he needed a co-driver that I'd love the opportunity to participate in this great and grueling event. It just so happened that Joe was in need of a partner and the Street Survivalists team was formed. A few years back, Joe and I were on a four-day trip in Mexico to drive "Baja 100" buggies in an event sponsored by Yokohama Tires, so this wasn't our first time as driver and co-driver.
As a long-time employee of Tire Rack, I've helped run the One Lap Skidpad Challenge many times. While it was fun to help out, it was always a little frustrating to see the drivers head out on their journey and just have to wait for them to return a week later - tired, dirty, laughing and full of stories. It was always in the back of my mind that I'd like to take part in One Lap.
With me getting my chance to participate, our team quickly traveled the first 1,000 miles of the event. And while it went by quickly, there are still over 2,000 miles left to go. We've had some problems along the way that caused us to get to our hotel in Iowa at 2:30 in the morning. Joe's heavily modified 2001 Miata encountered some complications that caused us to avoid using anything in the car that might stress the electrical system. Which meant, no AC, no radio and our GPS is powered by an auxiliary battery. Our team also had a major mechanical issue that caused us to miss one of the track sessions and lose precious points to our competitors.
Even with the trouble, I'm having a great time. The people are fabulous and there are some great cars to watch out on the track: ranging from a Honda CRX HF (which is currently in 11th place overall) to Nissan GTRs, a Ferrari and the meanest looking Honda Odyssey that you've ever seen. There's a camaraderie that is hard to beat. We even had drivers in our own class rush out to meet us along the highway in Oklahoma this morning, bringing us essential parts to fix our broken alternator. These are guys who would stand to gain from our breakdown, but they offered their help instantly, without hesitation!
This event is truly special and I'm grateful to Joe and Tire Rack for giving me the opportunity to take part in it. My back hurts and I'm sleepy, but I'm looking forward to the next 2,000+ miles and the adventure that awaits.
Since the warm weather has come upon most of the country earlier than normal this year, I've recently been receiving many inquiries for new performance tires and alloy wheels. While much of your wheel choice comes down to your own cosmetic taste and price, wheel weight and quality are also important factors to consider.
Lighter wheels can make a noticeable difference in the handling of low torque, lightweight vehicles, like my 1994 MAZDA Miata. Looking for a light, high quality and attractive performance alloy wheel for my vehicle, I took a look at the options available from Kosei. While many of their styles look great, I chose the K1 Racing. Below is a photo of my vehicle with the wheels.
Many racers, autocrossers and drivers in the SCCA STR use this wheel due to its great combination of durability, weight and affordable pricing.
When it came time to choose the right tire, I went with the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 due to its impressive ratings in our Tire Survey Results. I'm going on my seventh year with these wheels, and the silver paint with clearcoat finish still looks like new. I haven't had any issues with bent wheels and to me, the style still looks fresh.
The warm weather is here, so enhance your vehicle's look with a Tire & Wheel Package today!
In the se
cond quarter of last year, Michelin updated their product line to increase competitiveness in the Max Performance Summer tire replacement market. Replacing the popular Pilot Sport PS2, the Pilot Super Sport provides an increase in ultimate dry grip while maintaining superior performance in wet weather.
Although this tire may not turn lap times as fast as tires from our Extreme Performance Summer category, this tire does an excellent job of blending superb performance with daily livability. What's more, Michelin has such confidence in this tire's wear qualities that they're offering it with a 30,000-mile treadlife warranty. Owners of vehicles with staggered set-ups that do not allow for rotation will also be pleased with the 15,000-mile treadlife warranty.
For years the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 has been used on some of the world's most high-performance vehicles. The Pilot Super Sport continues that tradition with its first Original Equipment application being the Ferrari 458 Italia.
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport starts this season holding the number one spot in our Tire Survey Results. In addition to our unbiased, unedited survey results, this tire has also taken top honors in "Clash of the Titans: Testing Two New Max Performance Summer Heavy Hitters." Purchasers of this prestigious tire can expect razor sharp turn-in response, high levels of ultimate dry grip and inspiring wet performance.
Take a look at what some of our customers are saying about their experiences with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport:
"Wow! What a change in all aspects of driving." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2006 MAZDA MX-5 Miata Grand Touring
"I replaced the Original Equipment tires on my Infiniti M35 Sport. It was like day and night difference. My car drove and handled better than it did when it was new! I wish I had replaced them sooner!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2009 Infiniti M35 Sport
"Having owned many BMWs which I have driven daily, as well as an occasional track event, and having used many different tires on my cars, I can confidently say that no tire I have ever driven measures up to the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. These tires are simply phenomenal. The sense of confidence and connectedness that they give is unparalleled. They have superior turn-in, dry traction and wet traction. They are quiet and well-mannered on the road. They wear evenly, and as with other Michelins I have owned, I expect to get excellent overall life out of these. You can pay less for tires...or more. But you simply will not find a better summer high-performance tire." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2006 BMW 330Ci Coupe Performance Package
With most of the country experiencing warmer-than-average temperatures, many driving enthusiasts, including myself, have shed their winter / snow tires and wheels for "stickier" summer tire options. For the last few years, the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec has consistently been a staff favorite in our tests, as well as a best seller for those looking for a great balance of exceptional dry and wet traction.
Soon after the tire was introduced, we performed our internal tests, and more recently I had an opportunity to test the Z1 Star Spec at BMW's training and testing facility in South Carolina. All those who participated were very impressed.
In our wet skidpad and slalom testing, the Direzza Z1 was poised and very predictable right to the limit of the car which mirrored our customer's feedback and survey results. The tire also proved to be relatively quiet and expected life span is consistent with the competition.
Are you looking for Miata tires or something for your Honda Civic? Or maybe you're interested in M3 tires or a set of tires for your Porsche 911. Dunlop knows their customer base and that's why the Z1 Star Spec is offered in a wide range of sizes from 14" up to 18". This allows drivers with both smaller and larger applications to enjoy the race-like traction of the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec.
To see if the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is the right tire for you, enter your vehicle's information here.
2005 Mazda Miata LS
