Tyre and rim help for a new mx5 owner

[Vekt]

Hey guys

So as of a few weeks ago I am the very proud owner of a 1990 NA6 mx5 in classic red, and so far I've been absolutely loving it!

However, after giving it a full service, I'm now onto my second point to address with it, the rims and tyres. When I bought the car the previous owner was kind enough to change the rims on it from what he had to knock a bit off the price of it as I had the intention of changing them for something else anyways.

The rims that it's got on it now are some old, well I'm assuming old, ROH's in 16 by, something, with a fair amount of gutter rash and the tyres, while not being completely bald, are pretty past their prime.

This is going to be a two, or probably more, part question.

So after the past couple weeks of google searches and trawling through ebay, I had decided on a set of ROTA Grid Classics. However, in the past few days, I've discovered that a set of Enkei RPF1's aren't as crazy expensive as I had first though that they were going to be.

The sizes I was looking at are the following:

ROTA Grid Classic 15x7 +20 in Gloss Black/Polished Lip

Enkei RPF1 15x7 +35 in Matte Black

The price for a set of 4 of the ROTA's is basically $1000 with postage/freight and the price for a set of 4 RPF1's is $1200 + $130 for a set of Enkei Centre caps + whatever postage might be, though I can probably just go pick them up.

So my main questions regarding the rims are, should I just go with the Enkei rims for that little bit extra? And which of these fitments would work best/fit without having to roll fenders or anything other dramas like that?

The aim of the car is primarily for something to take out on back roads on the weekends, and possibly a little track time in the far future once I get a few other things sorted out on it.

The car has been lowered on shocks and springs by the previous owner, or at least by someone who's owned it at some point, however I couldn't tell you by how much exactly, it's not completely slammed or anything and the next upgrade after rims and tyres will be a set of BC Racing Coilovers, but thats a topic for another time.

Also, the company I'd be looking to buy the Enkei from is called Autotechnik, based out of Sydney, has anyone had any previous experience with them before?

So the next question is tyres!

I've decided that I'll most likely be going with a 195/50 for the 15 inch rim, which should fit on a 15x7 fine I'm assuming, feel free to tell me otherwise. However, I still can't decide on a brand/model of tyre to go with. As I said before the cars primary use will be on the street for some spirited driving on weekends and possible track days in the far future.

While I don't exactly want to break the bank on some Toyo Proxes R888's or anything around that price point, I still want good rubber as even with my daily driver Mazda 3, I try to buy the best quality tyres I can within my budget, since they are what holds you too the road.

So would anyone have some suggestions on good road tyres in this size?

And also, if anyone knows a good place around Newcastle to go for fitting/balancing and a wheel alignment I would very very very much appreciate being pointed in the direction of it, and maybe if you had a rough idea of the cost, that would be very helpful!

So there it is, hopefully I haven't bored you all too much!

Any info about any of this would be really helpful guys, and please remember, I'm a noob at mx5!

Thanks!

[Magpie]

Proverbial can of worms. What is your intended use? Track, motorkhana (hard, soft surfaces, grass, gravel), spirited driving, low noise, wear, budget?

If just for normal road use then almost anything (within reason).

[hks_kansei]

Wheel wise, the Enkeis would be my choice, nice look on an NA, and if in future you wish to sell they will hold a better value than the Rota.

Fitment wise, the 7inch width is perfect, offset on the enkei will be no problem, the Rota should also be ok (I had 15x8+25 wheels on my NB without issue, although the NB has a little more room available there)


For alignment and wheel balancing, whatever shop is convenient will be fine, the MX5 isn't particularly special in that respect. Cost wise, I paid $66 for an alignment the other week at my local shop, so it should be similar.
Wheel balancing is included in the tyre price when they are purchased and fitted. If done separately expect $10 to $20 per wheel for fitting and balancing.

[93_Clubman]

as of a few weeks ago I am the very proud owner of a 1990 NA6 mx5 in classic red...
after giving it a full service

Welcome, congrats, & well done on baselining it just after purchase.

[davekmoore]

You're right to give the R888s a miss if track work is some time away because they're horrible on the road. Noisy, crashy, harsh. Just bleurgh. Good on the track though.