Discussion
Bigger wheels will raise the ride height and the centre of gravity as well as slightly increasing the unsprung weight, but as the MX-5 is so well-balanced anyway it shouldn't adversely affect the handling. 15's will be a good trade-off. 16's and bigger will make the car look like an off-roader without a set of lowering springs. TBH as it's such a small car 15's look big enough imo 
Make sure you keep the rolling circumference of the wheel/tyre the same, otherwise the sppedo wont be accurate and the gearing changes.
Its explained here:
www.performancetyresdirect.co.uk/faqs.htm
Use the converter here:
www.performancetyresdirect.co.uk/converter/converter.html
Its explained here:
www.performancetyresdirect.co.uk/faqs.htm
Use the converter here:
www.performancetyresdirect.co.uk/converter/converter.html
If you use something like :
www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
You can keep the circumfrence/diameter roughly the same - so shouldnt affect ride height or COG at all - and you did say lower profile tyres.
Benefits will be :
Less tyre wall slip, so more responsive cornering. Oh and looks.
But against that we have:
Poorer overall ride quality.
Heavier wheels.
More expensive tyres.
Change in tyre pressure I guess, and you may have to?
www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
You can keep the circumfrence/diameter roughly the same - so shouldnt affect ride height or COG at all - and you did say lower profile tyres.
Benefits will be :
Less tyre wall slip, so more responsive cornering. Oh and looks.
But against that we have:
Poorer overall ride quality.
Heavier wheels.
More expensive tyres.
Change in tyre pressure I guess, and you may have to?
Mine is on 15s with Toyo Proxy tyres. It is also lowered (I believe, with Eibach springs etc. according to my mechanic mate who has had the wheels off a few times). Be careful if you go down the lowering route. The clearance on mine is BAD and renders any kind of speedbump a virtually impossible obstacle.
wedge girl said:
Miniman, have you fitted polybushes to yours?
Couldn't tell you that! I haven't personally but it seems to have had quite a few suspension mods in the past. I had no idea
other than a suspicion that it looked a little lower than standard but I put that down to bigger wheels. I had some problems with the brake pads moving about and clunking so my mechanic mate has had the wheels off and mentioned the uprated springs etc. I'll ask him about the bushes. It certainly handles great. I did a track day at Castle Combe last month and it certainly sticks to the track - couldn't get the back end out despite significant efforts! However, wet roundabouts are a different matter altogether.
Budget-permitting, I will look at either a turbo or supercharger conversion at some point for a little extra
As said before, wheel weight is very important on an MX5. But remember that offset is important too. Mk1 cars had an offset of 45 as standard and Mk2 cars 40. Its best to be as close to those figues as possibe to avoid tramlining and bumpsteer and all other kinds of nastys.
Oz superlags 15" matt:
Oz superlags 15" matt:
flat_steve said:
Bigger wheels will raise the ride height and the centre of gravity as well as slightly increasing the unsprung weight, but as the MX-5 is so well-balanced anyway it shouldn't adversely affect the handling. 15's will be a good trade-off. 16's and bigger will make the car look like an off-roader without a set of lowering springs. TBH as it's such a small car 15's look big enough imo
Why will it make ride height bigger, and the centre of gravity higher?
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