6.5\" not wide enough?

[Alfadog]

I've found a set of wheels I am interested in, 14x6.5JJ +14.

1. Will this fit NA8?
2. What do you guys think in regards to the \"best\" width? Yes this is subjective, I'm asking for your opinions

[Fatty]

6.5 is plenty wide enough, i reckon. apparently width doesn't affect the size of the contact patch very much on an mx5 anyway, coz they are pretty lightweight cars. it more affects the shape of the contact patch, which as far as i know is no big deal really.

i'd be more concerned with getting the correct offset, than the width.
+14 does not seem ideal for an mx5.

comments guys? i'm no expert so i'm happy for anyone to correct me.

[Adam_NAclubman]

My 14x6.5 +14.5's fit perfectly

Feel much better than 15x7 +17's aswell

[manga_blue]

I've toggled between 14s and 15s for a while, but I've stayed around the 40-45 offset mark. B* all difference in performance.

Adam, what do you gain (or lose) by moving them out wider?

[StanTheMan]

I think.....

The center of gravity gets lowered very slightly.
it increases your track width
The rim becomes more dishy.
the bearings will wear slightly quicker.
the coppers will notice you more if you display a P plate.
the steering will feel a little different. someone described it here. could have been Adam clubman or Babaloui....wasn't all that long ago.

[Rob E]

Personally, i prefer a 15x7 at the moment i have +35 however would like to be in the +25 to +30 range. I see this as a happy medium for looks / steering feel.

With the 14 inch wheel you will have fewer tyre choices and will be running more sidewall - 60 profile instead of 50 profile on a 15 inch wheel. This counteracts the shorter gearing effect of the smaller wheels. 7 inch width is great for 185 / 195 / 205 depending on preference.

At the end of the day, i would still go a 14 inch wheel if i loved it....just bear in mind there are a few additional compromises.

[Adam_NAclubman]

14's are on the whole lighter than 15+. Light = Good, less rotational inertia, less revs needed to move off the line, less clutch slip needed to get off the line.

Taller sidewalls and crap tyres will let you feel when the tyres are getting near the edge of their grip, rather than the good good good gone that stickier tyres give. The MX5 is all about feel, and I've found with mine that while shoddy tyres don't have the same outright grip as stickier ones, theyre more fun and enjoyable to drive on. Plus the tail hangs out more :p

My widest offset wheels with decent tyres introduced a weird feeling in the steering where at about half lock on hairpins there was a point where the tyres felt like they went from sitting flat on the road with grip to sitting on an edge with far less grip, then back to sitting flat with grip again as you put just a bit more lock on, and in this second grippy bit it kind of pulled more lock on itself. Strangely enough my current 14's which sit just about as far out in the guards, but are half an inch narrower, have RE88 185's rather than A539 195's, don't give this feeling, so I don't know whats going on. Maybe its a combination of slightly changed steering geometry and tyres that have a prediliction to tramline.

The wider track will wear the bearing faster, but at least it won't look like a S13 whioe doing it :p