mx5 wheel offset?

Badcat · Post by **Badcat** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:30 pm

hi all.
i've been toying with buying a second set of rims to mount some race rubber
- prob toyo FM9R in the std size - 185-60-14.
i'd like to get some cheap 14" rims that are resonably light and still look ok.
i see a lot of mazda 323 front drive rims on trademe etc for $150-200 a set.
i suspect the correct offset for the mx5 is 35mm - but was told a while that
the 323 has the same offset.
i'm skeptical of this at the 323 is front drive and the mx5 rear drive.
does anyone know the actual facts, as i don't.
failing that, does anyone have a set of std rims they want to sell cheap?
scuffs and curb marks are ok - just must be straight .
if anyone can help with the details - post here - or email me if you have a set
of rims cluttering your garage.
kind regards

ken

ken newell

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:35 pm

std offset is 45mm (negative?) , anything from 28mm - 45mm is OK. Less than
that it'll affect adversely scrub radius, and bearing life... and stick out
noticeably, now that's the dogs bollix!!

BTW Ken, have you had a cruise thru
http://www.specmiata.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi ? There's something there
about offsets.

Since you're on the Shore, have a breeze thru Advanced Imports sometime -
have a chat to Paul Webster in the workshop, his is the heavily Greddy'fied
red MX5 parked out the front (as opposed to the owner's stripped out blue
MX5 hidden away inside). He can get you a deal on Kumho tyres, they sponsor
the specmiata series in the USA, so can't be all bad...

cheers,
Jeff

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:52 pm

"The 45mm setting by Mazda is designed for cruise-control, hair fixing,
eyeliner applying, drink mixing, one handed driving by the masses. 30mm
offset will provide the additional grip and feedback more suitable and
desireable by race car drivers." - hehehe!

http://www.specmiata.com/cgi-bin/ultima ... /3/59.html

Simon Lord · Post by **Simon Lord** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:53 pm

Did anyone hear the comment on Top Gear the other night - "The MX5 is not
even a hairdresser's car any more - it's a hairdresser's receptionist's
car!"

Mind you, that is in the UK and referred to the NB model...

Simon
97 SR Ltd

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:32 pm

yeah, but he only says that cos Clarkson's Merc was 'out-ed' as one of the
top 10 gay cars!

(no offence to any alternative lifestylers out there)

BTW, I flat with a hairdresser - she drives an automatic Toyota Cynos :-p
... not even close!!

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:35 pm

I bought my MX5 from a hairdresser.

Thomas
thomas@thomasbeagle.net

[...]

Doug Matheson · Post by **Doug Matheson** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 10:35 pm

The comment was actually made by a guest on the show, a politician from
Liverpool called Anne Robinson. Like most politicians she doesn't know what
she is talking about. She did one of the slowest times around the celebrity
track so it looks like she doesn't know how to drive etheir

Simon Lord · Post by **Simon Lord** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 11:10 am

Actually, she's not a politician but a gameshow hostess renowned for her
acerbity. Her stock in trade is offending people, especially Welsh and US
citizens...

Simon

Matt Camp · Post by **Matt Camp** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 3:00 pm

In one of the later 4th series episodes of Top Gear (which hasn't yet
screened here in NZ... they're 2 seasons behind here), they do an actual
review of the MX5 series, and state that its STILL one of the best
handling little roadsters ever made, which is why they've barely changed
the design over the last 15 years.

They say it has the true essence of what a Roadster should be, and compare
it to the new MR2 and ... some other car which I forget... while the MX5
was less powerful than the others, they still favoured as the best
all-round roadster, especially in terms of bang-for-buck.

I'll see if I can extract the video clip and put it somewhere that people
can view it.

On Fri, 27 Aug 2004, Doug Matheson wrote:

[...]

Matt & Sarah Avery · Post by **Matt & Sarah Avery** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 5:11 pm

Good idea, I'd love to see the clip.

Voodoo · Post by **Voodoo** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 11:41 am

Late reply to this... std is 45mm. I have experience with a set of wheels at
35mm offset, then the present set at 45mm. The car is more solid and stable in
a straight line with the 45mm offset wheels. Previously it tended to wander
slightly and follow the road surface / camber. However other parameters have
changed as well such as ride height (springs) so it may not be all to do with
the offset.

On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 21:30:31 +1200, ken newell wrote:

hi all.
i've been toying with buying a second set of rims to mount some race rubber
- prob toyo FM9R in the std size - 185-60-14.
i'd like to get some cheap 14" rims that are resonably light and still look
ok.
i see a lot of mazda 323 front drive rims on trademe etc for $150-200 a set.
i suspect the correct offset for the mx5 is 35mm - but was told a while that
the 323 has the same offset.
i'm skeptical of this at the 323 is front drive and the mx5 rear drive.
does anyone know the actual facts, as i don't.
failing that, does anyone have a set of std rims they want to sell cheap?
scuffs and curb marks are ok - just must be straight .
if anyone can help with the details - post here - or email me if you have a
set
of rims cluttering your garage.
kind regards

ken

ken newell

dscotland · Post by **dscotland** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 11:22 am

Hi ken, another late reply. I've got standard rims at 45mm offset and
other rims at 35mm, both with similar 185/60/14 G-Grid tyres.

Would agree with the below comments about stability, but have raced at
Pukekohe on both sets of rims and bugger all difference in times or
handling.

One difference is that the 35mm offset makes for a wider track which fills
the guards more and looks better. However, my Miata book says that the
change in offset can upset things and increase wear on bearings
etc. Unless you've got a serious track racer with other suspension
changes, I'd try to keep the standard 45mm offset. Seems the simplest
thing to do.

If you are still looking for a set of rims I could sell either 45mm
(standard), or 35mm (5 spoke black rims). email me direct.

Duncan
|-----------------------------+-------------------------------------------|
| Voodoo | |
| <teamvoodoo@paradise.net.n| |
| z> | To|
| Sent by: | MX5List |
| e-admin@mx5club.org.nz | <mx5list@mx5c|
| | lub.org.nz> |
| 30/08/2004 11:41 a.m. | cc|
| | |
| Please respond to | Subject|
| MX5List<mx5list@mx5club| Re: mx5 wheel|
| .org.nz> | offset? |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
|-----------------------------+-------------------------------------------|

Late reply to this... std is 45mm. I have experience with a set of wheels
at 35mm offset, then the present set at 45mm. The car is more solid and
stable in a straight line with the 45mm offset wheels. Previously it tended
to wander slightly and follow the road surface / camber. However other
parameters have changed as well such as ride height (springs) so it may not
be all to do with the offset.

On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 21:30:31 +1200, ken newell wrote:

hi all.
i've been toying with buying a second set of rims to mount some race rubber
- prob toyo FM9R in the std size - 185-60-14.
i'd like to get some cheap 14" rims that are resonably light and still look
ok.
i see a lot of mazda 323 front drive rims on trademe etc for $150-200 a set.
i suspect the correct offset for the mx5 is 35mm - but was told a while that
the 323 has the same offset.
i'm skeptical of this at the 323 is front drive and the mx5 rear drive.
does anyone know the actual facts, as i don't.
failing that, does anyone have a set of std rims they want to sell cheap?
scuffs and curb marks are ok - just must be straight .
if anyone can help with the details - post here - or email me if you have a
set
of rims cluttering your garage.
kind regards

ken

ken newell

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