Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires
August 13, 2012

This set of tires came on my Mazda dealer-installed set of 18" RX-8 wheels (they are a Pirelli dealer). Ride quality is acceptable on these low-profile tires; I would have preferred the stock 16" RX-7 wheels, but this rolling stock does give the car a more modern appearance. Driving on broken pavement is harsh with my suspension setup, but that is mainly because the car's previous owner installed performance springs and adjustable shocks for road racing.

On new, smooth roads, the Pirellis ride quietly and smoothly. They steer responsively and stop quickly on hard braking. Dry grip is plentiful and the breakaway characteristics are progressive and easily controllable. Wet grip is adequate, but you can get better rain tires for the money. Fuel economy is also surprisingly good on long freeway stretches – I am getting close to 30 mpg in my RX-7, which is near its theoretical ideal. I'm expecting to get about 15 - 20,000 miles on these tires.