NC for road and track, keep 16 wheels if looks unimportant?

NC for road and track, keep 16 wheels if looks unimportant?

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ldn_mx5

Original Poster:

74 posts

47 months

Friday 30th April 2021
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Car is girlfriend's daily and my weekend (say 2x/month) track toy.
I bought it stock, so far only changed the brakes (new pads + brake lines + fluid).

Next are coilovers or lowered springs and wheel alignment, and tyres. If I want to change the rims it needs (?) to be done before all that, I guess (?).

People often comment about the lovely look of 17 inch wheels but I don't care much about the looks. As such, would you say are there any benefits to spending more on 17 inch wheels, or just keep the OE 16 inch ones and spend on other stuff?

roddo

573 posts

202 months

Friday 30th April 2021
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MeisterR suspension and 17" wheels with 215/45/17 tyres

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

250 months

Friday 30th April 2021
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Bigger wheels, less tyre = smaller amount of tyrewall = less flex, less heat, better feel, faster lap.
I'd go for a 225 on an 8"rim, but that's debateable wink

ldn_mx5

Original Poster:

74 posts

47 months

Saturday 1st May 2021
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roddo said:
MeisterR suspension and 17" wheels with 215/45/17 tyres
17 inch wheels that I see are recommended with 205 tyres, or can I buy something like these and still fit 215s?
https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/calibre-suzuka-metal-al...
These aren’t cheap btw.. If I wanted these wheels and say Michel Pilot Sports it’ll be £700 in total. Hence my question if there’s much benefit from going from 16 to 17 but now I understand there is.

Am I correct assuming wheels needs to be changed before I have coilovers put in and wheel alignment done?

drgoatboy

1,713 posts

214 months

Saturday 1st May 2021
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ldn_mx5 said:
17 inch wheels that I see are recommended with 205 tyres, or can I buy something like these and still fit 215s?
https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/calibre-suzuka-metal-al...
These aren’t cheap btw.. If I wanted these wheels and say Michel Pilot Sports it’ll be £700 in total. Hence my question if there’s much benefit from going from 16 to 17 but now I understand there is.

Am I correct assuming wheels needs to be changed before I have coilovers put in and wheel alignment done?
Look cheap to me! (Doesn't mean they aren't good mind, I have no idea either way). Yes ideally change everything you are going to change before doing the wheel alignment.

If it makes may difference I went from 16 to 17 and didn't find the ride quality changed much, many do say it does but to me it didn't make that much difference. If you fit Meister's or lowering springs the ride will be worse anyway

HighwayToHull

7,932 posts

185 months

Tuesday 4th May 2021
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I'd go for an 8x17 with ET40, and 225/40 tyres to keep the diameter the same as the original 16s with 205/50s.