Change to 15" wheels?

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:22 pm

Well my tyres don't look like passing the next WOF in a month or so (7mm of tread gone in 10k km, whoops!) and I've got a trackday or 2 planned not long after that, so I'm pondering buying some second-hand 15" wheels instead of putting new rubber on the original 14"s.

Obviously I'll be looking for nice light wheels, and it looks cheaper buying a set with reasonable tyres from trademe than some new tyres.

Are there any downsides to 15" wheels on a Mk1? 195/50R15 or is another size closer?

WRW · Post by **WRW** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:49 pm

I've got 205/50/15 on my NA (Old ROH mags... prolly heavy as all h.... and Toyos) and I'm quite happy with the setup.

Edit: The ROH's are heavy as all h...

poison · Post by **poison** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:58 pm

I had 16’s on my NA and now have 17’s on my NB. I liked the 16’s and the 17’s look great but are probably more suited to the track rather than our undulating road surfaces. But for a gravel bomber I would be happy with 15’s to give you some rim and tyre wall safety. 14’s just look so small.
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Post by **jif** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:05 pm

195/50x15 is a bit shorter than stock, but you'd prob want that for track days.

The 205/50x15 Pirellis on the forged Volk TE37s (for sale!) are still heavier than stock (some rubbish Falkens on the forged BBS 14's) if that matters! Quite a bit firmer too.

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:20 pm

jif wrote:195/50x15 is a bit shorter than stock, but you'd prob want that for track days.

The 205/50x15 Pirellis on the forged Volk TE37s (for sale!) are still heavier than stock (some rubbish Falkens on the forged BBS 14's) if that matters! Quite a bit firmer too.

How much for the TE37s?

ETA: Have emailed you about it.

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:27 am

Tried different sizes in an online tyre size calculator gizmo...

195/50-15 is 0.35% small
205/50-15 is 1.38% big

so the 195 is actually closer but both a pretty good match.

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:23 pm

Found some freakishly cheap 2nd hand Enkei 15"s (not in great condition but cheap enough to more than make up for it), only catch is offset is +35, can I get away with that compared to the factory 40-45?

Mainly road use with some track coming up, not running sticky tyres, standard suspension.

I've read conflicting reports, some places saying anything other than 40-45 will adversely affect handling and wear things out, but plenty of folk on MX5nutz etc running 25-35, anyone tried it and noticed a difference?

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:29 pm

Ah well read enough on MX5nutz to convince me that ET35 will be fine , at $180 for 4 wheels with decent tyres (not sure of brand but directionals with plenty of tread left) its hard to go wrong really - cheaper than buying 2 new 14" tyres to replace the shagged rears.

This is them here:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =201413040

Should look a bit nicer than the standard 14"s too, I'll post some photos once they arrive and I get them on the car.

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:49 pm

Photos with new wheels and rollbar, I'm happy enough with the improvement

marinerbluemx5 · Post by **marinerbluemx5** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:22 pm

looks good, but needs a bit of a drop to get it out of 4x4 mode

i'm interested to moving to 15" rims since there doesn't seem to be much in the way of track-compound rubber available in the smaller stock size

marinerbluemx5 · Post by **marinerbluemx5** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:24 pm

oh and what track days will you be going to?

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:54 am

It does look very high in the photos (more so because the lower part of the sill is painted black for some reason) but I wouldn't want it any lower for the roads I drive on, has the occasional scrape as it is!

Doing 'Playdays' at Teretonga 5 April and hopefully Levels 8 April (on waiting list for that one). http://www.playdayontrack.co.nz/playdayweek.htm

Growler · Post by **Growler** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:39 am

Gravelben wrote: It does look very high in the photos (more so because the lower part of the sill is painted black for some reason)

The black sill is how they come from the factory...

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:22 am

Growler wrote:
Gravelben wrote: It does look very high in the photos (more so because the lower part of the sill is painted black for some reason)
The black sill is how they come from the factory...

Yeah I thought it looked original, still not sure why! Maybe just to stop the sill looking lower than the front and rear?

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:14 pm

Nice car.Who does your landscaping?

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:40 pm

WideOpenThrottle wrote:Who does your landscaping?

That would be a combined effort between the old Ministry of Works, and God.

MN · Post by MN » Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:26 pm

Gravelben wrote: Doing 'Playdays' at Teretonga 5 April and hopefully Levels 8 April (on waiting list for that one). http://www.playdayontrack.co.nz/playdayweek.htm

So am I but I'm doing Ruapuna as well - in for a penny in for a pound as the saying goes!

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:16 am

Will see you there then, glad I won't be the only MX5 getting eaten by fast stuff on the straights! Never driven on track before so quite looking forward to it.

MN · Post by MN » Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:21 pm

Its fabulous fun, now you'll really know why you bought a "5"

Habanero666 · Post by **Habanero666** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:47 pm

When designing a super lap or drift machine, big wheels are only used to allow bigger brakes! Don't be fooled by cosmetic hokus pokus or marketing cods! The bigger the wheel the opposite effect to performance.

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:15 pm

I agree with you up to a point, but its mainly because of weight and the wheel/tyre combination with the 15"s feels slightly lighter to the 'arm scales' than the original 14". Plus there is much less sidewall flex than before (still enough to help soak up bumps) so in this case the 15" is a better compromise.