New Rims Advice

[lambertius]

Howdy, I would like to buy a set of rims for my NB8B!

I've never bought after market rims before so I really could use some help!

My car is Sunlight Silver, and I would like to find either a nice polished set, or a black set. I don't want to roll any fenders and I'm happy with the standard 16" size. I'd just like something more stylised, and if I can get something staggered to stabalise the rear a little even better.

Please, let me know sizes that fit, offsets that work, reputable brands, designs you like and shops you recommend!

Thanks!

[Lokiel]

", and if I can get something staggered to stabalise the rear a little even better"

NO! MX5s weren't designed for staggerred wheels - if you have stability issues, fix the problem with shocks and sway bars.

Start by looking through the http://www.mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=33059 and http://www.mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=33060 threads to see what wheels are available (and which ones actually work).

Try and avoid getting rims that are heavier than what you already have too, they'll negatively impact performance and handling.

[lambertius]

Does anyone know what the OEM offset is?

[PaulF]

Keep offset as close to stock (+40) as possible - you don't want to ruin the suspension geometry that makes MX5s so good to begin with. My rule of thumb is to stay between +32 and +40. Stick to between 6" and 8" wide for easy fitment (no guard rolling) and maintaining standard-ish tyre width.

Consider going to 15s to improve the variety of performance tyres you can buy.

[rob_hun7]

Yeah what they said. Myself I have 15x8 and they suit the car perfectly and decent tyres are dirt cheap.

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[lambertius]

Thanks for that guys!

I don't want to change the profile of the wheel in the well so thanks for letting me know the offset - I don't want to change it.

I've no problem going down to 15", I just saw no problem with the 16" and I like the way it fills the well.

How wide can the wheels get front and back? Can you run a 8.5/9" in the rear? I figure 8" is probably max up front..?

[Luke]

Thanks for that guys!

I don't want to change the profile of the wheel in the well so thanks for letting me know the offset - I don't want to change it.

I've no problem going down to 15", I just saw no problem with the 16" and I like the way it fills the well.

How wide can the wheels get front and back? Can you run a 8.5/9" in the rear? I figure 8" is probably max up front..?

As said before. Don't go staggered.
Run a square setup.
That is how the car is supposed to run.

Don't bother with 16's. You end up having to run 205/45/16 tyres, so where you are right now. And you will likely end up with 16x7's.
To run 16x8's you will probably want 225/40/16 or 235/40/16 which is a very uncommon tyre size and very expensive or crap tyre if you do find something.

You can fit 15x9's front and rear on a NB with no rolling as long as you keep the offset very close to +35 and your camber has to be at least -1.5 degrees. That offset is very specific as the other problem is the inside of the wheel up front can hit the spring perch if you go to say a +40 offset.
Advanti Storm S1's or 6UL's both work.
You will have to run 225/45/15 tyres on them. You will be asking for trouble if your try 205/50/15(it has been done, but it is more for the slammed brigade).


I gather this is for your SP???
Realistically if it is not a track car, don't go wider than 15x8.
Either run 205/50/15 or 225/45/15 tyres on 15x8's. You can get good tyres for cheap in these sizes and the total rolling diameter is very similar to the stock 205/45/16 size.
As for which 15x8 rims, so many choices. Its more of a question of how much can you afford and how long do you want to wait as 15x8's are not an off the shelf product in Australia.

If you care about legalities technically the widest rim you are allowed to fit is 7.5 inches.
Only SE's can legally run 8 inch wide rims.

For reference on my previous SE(Sunlight Silver) I had Buddy Club P1 15x8 +32 with various 225/45/15 tyres and did not have rolled guards.
BTW, Grey coloured wheels look the best with Sunlight SIlver.
Polished looks weird on silver as there is not enough contrast, I had 2 sets of polished wheels with black painted parts on them.


Also as you have found out NB8B's are a little tail happy in stock form.
The cheap way to rectify it is, remove the rear sway bar. 8 Bolts and your done, Free to try.
Otherwise throw a 24mm adjustable front sway bar in up front. Leave the rear alone.
I ran my previous SE without a rear sway for many years.

[lambertius]

That is all very helpful - those are exactly the details I was hoping to get.

Yes it is for my SP - my other half used to have 10AE wheels on her car and she's never really liked that ordinary rims, so she wanted to get something nicer for it. I agree with you for the colour, I was looking at black and grey but my partner has fond memories of her first car that she bought.

I haven't found the car to be particularly tail happy, even with the extra power over standard. I've put in a TORSEN 2 and that has made a significant difference to the control-ability when loading up the rear.

[Luke]

That is all very helpful - those are exactly the details I was hoping to get.

Yes it is for my SP - my other half used to have 10AE wheels on her car and she's never really liked that ordinary rims, so she wanted to get something nicer for it. I agree with you for the colour, I was looking at black and grey but my partner has fond memories of her first car that she bought.

I haven't found the car to be particularly tail happy, even with the extra power over standard. I've put in a TORSEN 2 and that has made a significant difference to the control-ability when loading up the rear.

I'll post some pics up once I find them of the rims I have had on my Silver SE.

[lambertius]

Cheers!

[Luke]

Here we go

Factory SE 17x7 +40 Rims 205/40/17 Tyres


Advanti Appollo 16x7 +40 Rims 215/45/17 Tyres (SORRY Don't know why this link won't show the pic in the forum, same format as the others) CLICK INSTEAD.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QHf5C85A-xeyqmF_ffqY5CKKfdDVvEm_6RKrFlA2KJyeQWOboXGY27nnex7c0K8pIoU0p9jvWLkFP_G484o4mDIE7jg6ngiiTdHYpQhPUkdYmKJRP7MJkvTFXPQwu2kCOpOSVMHuYQ=w1594-h841-no

Buddy Club P1 15x8 +32 Rims 225/45/15 Tyres (Car on coil overs, don't have a pic of stock ride height)



I have 1 picture(only ever took 1) with the car fitted with Grey 15x8 +25 Advanti Storms S1s with 205/50/15 Tyres but I cannot find it.

[lambertius]

Cheers for sharing - that is pretty much what I'm going for with the Advanti storms. I'll probably try and find something a bit darker if I can, but that is the rim style I like!

[green_comet]

I ran Enkei RPf1's in 15x8 +28 with 225 Hankook RS3's on my SP, never had any rubbing issues and didn't have to roll anything. They're a very well made wheel for the price and look fantastic fitted up.

[ak_perth]

Those RPF's do look good!

[KevGoat]

Damn that SP looks nice .....

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