Introduction

There are almost as many tyre preferences for barchetta as there are drivers...this is of course because everyone has different driving styles and more importantly different road conditions to contend with.

One impotant consideration when buying tyres is the speed rating. The barchetta comes with V speed rated tyres fitted as standard. Some manufacturers also state their H speed rated tyres are suitable for use on the barchetta. If you fit a tyres with too high a speed rating it can effect the cars steering, fitting a car with tyres rated too low increases the risk of a high speed blowout.

V - rated tyres can sustain speeds of 240kph (149mph)

H - rated tyres can sustain speeds of 210kph (130mph)

In theory the top speed of a barchetta is 210kph (130mph) but of course in most countries the maximum permitted speeds are far below this.

To read more about tyre ratings use the links below

http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyrspeed.html

http://www.goodyear.co.uk/services/guides/loadindex.html

http://www.michelin.com.au/tyres/tyr_pas_tyreGuide_54.cfm

Tyre size calculator, tells you how your speedo readings change with different size tyres. (Thanks to Jan Willem)

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

A few months ago (after extensively comparing/studying tests/talking to wintertyre users we decided to buy the recently launched Goodyear Ultra Grip GW3 195/15 H wintertyres and here are our conclusions:

Strongpoints:
-Absolutely quiet, smooth while driving and comfortable (it's really
amazing!).
-Excellent and superb grip and braking performance in snow and on icy roads
(we tried them 2 weeks ago in the snowy mountainroads in France).
-Good performance on dry road conditions and directness.
-Good water/aquaplaning capabilities (for the Dutch wheather conditions!).
-Nice to see!
Somewhat less and actually the only flaw (but you just have to adjust your
speed to a legitimate speed to solve this..):
-Slight vagueness of steering above 150/160km(!)during rain and wet road
conditions.
This tyre is only available in the H version for the barchetta thus
permitting you to speed up to a max of 210km...(the originals are as you
know V versions for 240km...(ever done that???).
Price in Holland 106 Euro per tyre (excl. balancing/led).

http://www.goodyear.com

Summer tyre - Eagle Ventura, Eagle NCT-5, Eagle F1 GS-D2 or Eagle F1 DS-G3

Mixed tyre - Eagle GA or Eagle Vector EV-2

Winter tyre - Eagle Ultragrip GW-2 or Eagle Ultragrip GW-3

http://www.pirelli.com

Summer tyre - P6000, P6 or P7

Winter tyre - Winter 210 Snowsport or Winter 190 Snowsport

http://www.bridgestone-eu.com/

Summer tyre - Potenza RE720 or Potenza S-02

Winter tyre - Blizzak LM22, Blizzak MZ-01 or Blizzak WS-50

Note: you have to choose 1995 as the model year to get a barchetta listed in the tyre selector

http://www.dunloptyres.co.uk

SP Sport 2000 E or SP Sport 01