My name is Steve Z, and I'm OCD (self diagnosed).
Even tho I knew the car had no spare tire, I thought I would be OK with it...but I'm not. True, there is always roadside assist & AAA, but if I slash a tire or break / bend a rim, the chance that I would be able to replace these items while away from home (or even at home) in a timely manner are slim to none. This would be one wonderful way of ruining a road trip. Even tho I have the Kicker, I don't think it would drown out the little woman's comments should this contingency occur!
I have the AS Goodyears on the car now. I have purchased 4 used 300C SRT8 wheels, and am trying to develop a plan. I have no problem keeping a spare rim & tire combo in the trunk, along with a scissor jack & lug wrench. I realize they take up space, but I don't need lots of room back there.
Plan 1. Buy 4 Pirelli Scorpion 255/45/20 tires and mount them on my spare rims. Keep one in the trunk as a spare, the other three in the garage. Come winter, put the Pirelli's on the car, and leave one OEM tire/wheel in the trunk as a spare.
Problem: The 245/45/20 is 0.3" smaller in diameter than the 255/55/20,
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
and I believe that may screw up the limited slip rear (am I mistaken?). Of course, if I get a flat in the rear, I could always move a tire from the front to the rear and put the odd size up front. That's a lot of work. Also a lot of money for four new tires.
Plan 2. Buy one OEM type Goodyear 245/45/20 tire, mount it on the rim, and keep it in the trunk. See for myself if these tires handle poorly on snow. If they do, work out a plan #3.
Am I the only one with these concerns? Am I in worse mental shape than I care to admit?
-Steve
