Bought a 91 MX5 - need to spend money on it!

Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, -alex, miata

mikey mx5

Bought a 91 MX5 - need to spend money on it!

Postby mikey mx5 » Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:43 pm

Hi,
I just bought an MX5. I really don't have heaps of money, but I was thinking I might upgrade my 15 inch standard wheels with some Mag Wheels.
Looking on Ebay, there are wheels that range from 14 inch to 17 inch.

Can someone please explain to me, or direct me somewhere where I can learn about what I might need?

There are some cheap 14 inch wheels with tyres - $160 atm. Would these be any good?

I would like to have a safe car, that I could maybe also race in the MX5 club! (When I join).

Thanks,
Mike

Juffa
Racing Driver
Posts: 1751
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Bayside - Melbourne
Contact:

Postby Juffa » Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:44 pm

Hi Mikey,

Welcome to our obsession. If you have 15 inch wheels on your 91. these are not standard. From 1989 to 1998 the wheels were 14 inch. From 1998 to about 2001 they were 15 inch. From 2001 to 2005 they were 16 inch. All of the newer wheels a re a straight fit for the earlier models, but the earlier wheels do not fit the later (2001 onwards) models due to these having bigger brakes.

Also, the standard wheels on the MX-5 are amongest the lightest available and unless you pay for a decent set of replacement wheels you may affect the handling and ride comfort of your car for the worst.
Come along to a club run and have a chat to the guys and girls. Better to see what is best for your car than spend money only to go backwards. There is a run this Sunday (2 July) and one on the first Sunday of every month.

J
Former owner of Mailbu Stacey, Smurfette and Tweety.

User avatar
PT
Racing Driver
Posts: 1188
Joined: Sat May 21, 2005 7:11 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

Re:

Postby PT » Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:12 am

Juffa wrote:From 2001 to 2005 they were 16 inch. All of the newer wheels a re a straight fit for the earlier models, but the earlier wheels do not fit the later (2001 onwards) models due to these having bigger brakes.


The standard wheels on the SE's are 17" Racing Harts.
2001 Mazda MX-5 NB8B- http://www.mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=61506

Past:
2005 Mazda MX-5 SE
1991 Mazda MX-5 NA6

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: Bought a 91 MX5 - need to spend money on it!

Postby JBT » Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:56 am

mikey mx5 wrote:I really don't have heaps of money, but I was thinking I might upgrade my 15 inch standard wheels with some Mag Wheels.

Your financial position and automotive desires seem mutually exclusive. Save the money for a good set of tyres or the inevitable repairs to keep your 15 year old MX-5 running like a charm. :)
Image

mikey mx5

My wheels!

Postby mikey mx5 » Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:54 am

Thanks for your advice.

I have decided that I should wait and come to the club event this Sunday!

And I'll show you my beautiful car and maybe I should actually measure my wheels! I must have 14 inch's on it, as I am pretty sure they are the standard ones.

But I LOVE the wheels on PT's car! Can I buy them off you?!!!

Mike

User avatar
Mr_Q
Racing Driver
Posts: 814
Joined: Tue Aug 10, 2004 4:41 pm
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Sydney, Australia
Contact:

Re: My wheels!

Postby Mr_Q » Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:28 pm

mikey mx5 wrote:... maybe I should actually measure my wheels! I must have 14 inch's on it, as I am pretty sure they are the standard ones.

Just take a look at the tyres - they'll have the rim size as the last part of the size info, eg. 205/45R16 is 16".
Mister Q
Had: Red 2004 SE, Red 1993 NA8 Clubman, Green 1991 NA6 LE

Juffa
Racing Driver
Posts: 1751
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Bayside - Melbourne
Contact:

Re: My wheels!

Postby Juffa » Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:32 pm

mikey mx5 wrote:Thanks for your advice.

I have decided that I should wait and come to the club event this Sunday!

But I LOVE the wheels on PT's car! Can I buy them off you?!!!

Mike


The more the merrier for the Sunday run. The wheels on PT's SE are the 17 inch Racing Hart and can be bought from MX5Mania, just click on the link at the top of the page.

J
Former owner of Mailbu Stacey, Smurfette and Tweety.

User avatar
PT
Racing Driver
Posts: 1188
Joined: Sat May 21, 2005 7:11 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

Postby PT » Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:34 pm

Sorry Juffa...

Not the standard wheels on here matey...

And Mike, definately NOT for sale!!!
2001 Mazda MX-5 NB8B- http://www.mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=61506

Past:
2005 Mazda MX-5 SE
1991 Mazda MX-5 NA6

User avatar
Bevan
Speed Racer
Posts: 2599
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 8:18 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: N-West Sydney

Re:

Postby Bevan » Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:39 pm

PT wrote:Not the standard wheels on here matey...
Tell them why! :shock: Mikey, make sure you're sitting down when you look at the price. Over $400 per rim which is no good unless you have a never ending wallet, which you (nor I) don't. :cry:

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: My wheels!

Postby JBT » Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:51 pm

mikey mx5 wrote:But I LOVE the wheels on PT's car! Can I buy them off you?!!!

He may have a set of buckled Racing Harts there for sale :mrgreen:
Image

Juffa
Racing Driver
Posts: 1751
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Bayside - Melbourne
Contact:

Re:

Postby Juffa » Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:53 pm

PT wrote:Sorry Juffa...

Not the standard wheels on here matey...



oops.. I stand corrected. They are nice looking rims. What are they?

J
Former owner of Mailbu Stacey, Smurfette and Tweety.


Return to “MX5 Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 128 guests