MX5 mk1 tuning

[k-ink]

Drums said:

if you can find a set of Wats then go for it!

"If"... bugger. So it's not a case of click and buy then Mmm...

[Drums]

k-ink said:

"If"... bugger. So it's not a case of click and buy then Mmm...

You can if you have a lot more money than I do!

http://rev9autosport.com/rs-watanabe-aluminum-b-ty...

[Rickyy]

Drums said:

k-ink said:

"If"... bugger. So it's not a case of click and buy then Mmm...

You can if you have a lot more money than I do!

http://rev9autosport.com/rs-watanabe-aluminum-b-ty...

Never has a set of aftermarket wheels looked sooo right on a car!

[k-ink]

Ok thanks! So I guess these are rare then. That ET of 14 looks small! Will they even fit without modifying the arches?



Right, I've found these. Are they crap?...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141742627011?_trksid=p20...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182196862147?_trksid=p20...



Or some Mazda rims, look ok...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252444505114?_trksid=p20...

[CABC]

beautiful Watanabes!

boring consideration is that much more tyre choice in 15"

[k-ink]

Looking at the link for the Wats, we have these sizes...

14x6.5 +14.5

14x7 +8

I presume the wheels above have an ET of 14.5 and 8. Is that correct?

Will they fit without modding the arches?

Which would you prefer, bearing in mind tyres and feel?

[eltax91]

k-ink said:

eltax91 said:

I've got a (nearly) rusty mk2. Might be persuaded to strip the full supercharger kit off for the right price.

I have been advised the supercharger kits can be fiddly to get running correctly. So I was going to stick to NA. I think. Dither, dither!


I do love the sound of the ITBs! Scuzzle said they can do two stages for me:

1, new cams, full exhaust system etc.
2, add the ITB later on (to spread the cost).

Skuzzle set mine up for me. Nick is excellent and has set up many turbo and supercharger kits.

He's got mine running almost perfectly. The only niggle that has not been fixed is a lumpy idle. Tried a few bits to sort it but can't be bothered.

RR at 206hp, but the nature of the delivery changes the car. I've added in HSD dual tech's and grooved discs with mintex pads.

It's bloody fantastic.

[k-ink]

ps

I just did a conversion from USD to GBP. Those wheels are mad expensive.

15" doesn't look so bad after all

[Drums]

k-ink said:

Ok thanks! So I guess these are rare then. That ET of 14 looks small! Will they even fit without modifying the arches?



Right, I've found these. Are they crap?...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141742627011?_trksid=p20...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182196862147?_trksid=p20...



Or some Mazda rims, look ok...


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252444505114?_trksid=p20...

Mine are also ET14 but 14x6 with 195/55/14 tyres and they fit with no modifications to the arch at all, I think there's room for another 5mm in there so I'd imagine 14x6.5 ET14 would fit with no mods at all. People get 15x8's with silly off sets under Mk1 arches with just a lip roll so 6.5" should give you no trouble. Photo of my fitment for reference (temptation).




Those JBW Wheels look quite a good ringer for the money!

[VladD]

k-ink said:

This will probably make your hair fall out...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Considering it hasn't the correct wheels on it, that's a lot of money.

[Drums]

CABC said:

beautiful Watanabes!

boring consideration is that much more tyre choice in 15"

15" wheels do offer a lot more variety in tyres. That said, there's more than enough choice if you opt for 14"s.

[k-ink]

^
Yours look great!

I can afford them. But not sure I can justify them!!

[k-ink]

Right, from the wheel fitting link...

I actually like these. Nothing new of course. But the size and value for money are good (sub £500)

4 by s_worksair, on Flickr

[Rickyy]

VladD said:

k-ink said:

This will probably make your hair fall out...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Considering it hasn't the correct wheels on it, that's a lot of money.

Granted, I don't know much about the special models, but a few things don't seem right about that. No chrome bezels on the dials, seats are the same as my boggo UK model and as you mentioned, the wheels don't seem like the right ones.

[k-ink]

I think these are my favourite wheels - ENKEI RPF1.

Simple, retro, look light...


5 by s_worksair, on Flickr


6 by s_worksair, on Flickr


I'd love some white lettering too


ps

I notice the ones on Ebay are replicas! The real ones are around £200 each.
http://hyper-sport.co.uk/store/alloy-wheels/enkei/...

Size chart is here...
http://enkei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/RPF1.p...

Can you help me chose a size please...

Edited by k-ink on Friday 15th July 09:37

[k-ink]

Just got off the phone to my local tyre experts. They said the same as people here, that 15" gives you a choice of decent manufacturers not available in 14". So that is it. Sensible hat on, it has to be 15".

The Enkei RPF1 15 x 7 is available with an ET of 35.

I also found this thread, so you can see where I am headed...

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=477289




So... tyres. I have always bought Michelin in the past. I want all round all weather usability. Thoughts?

Also tyre sizes. I presumed 195/50 would be the typical size on a 15x7 wheel. But some (many) MX5 owners are using 205. What do you think guys?

[Sway]

I'm running Bridgestone Re002, 195/50, on a 15x7.

They're superb. My daily commute is just over 100 miles, of sweeping A and B roads plus some dual carriageway over the South Downs in all weathers.

There may be better out there (especially if willing to go dry/track focused), but as an all round tyre I can't see anyone being disappointed.

[HorneyMX5]

195 50 R15 Kumho HS2s.

[k-ink]

Thanks guys. I definitely want an all weather tyre. It has to be capable in the rain, as even this summer has been damp a lot!

[Jobbo]

I'm running 15x6 Enkeis from a mk2 RS on my mk1, 195/50 tyres. Currently got Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tyres on them and I don't rate them; in the wet they don't give any confidence at all. Uniroyal Rainsport 2 seem to get good reviews on MX5Nutz, so I might replace them shortly. It's about £160 for a full set of tyres so it doesn't feel like I'm being a spendthrift

My wheels cost £150 (not inc. delivery because I collected them) on eBay. I'd suggest keeping a regular eye on eBay and being cunning with your searches (i.e. don't just search 'MX5 wheels') to get something at a sensible price.