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SimonSaid
Original Poster
390 posts
56 months
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So, my 1990 UK MX5 has a very original look. Most of it has been resprayed relatively recently and the roof is nearly new - it looks very polished as a whole. Bit the original wheels are pitted and corroded, and impossible to get clean. They really let down the car's appearance.
I've been offered some very cheap Rota RB Drift wheels (15 inch). Will these ruin the original look of the car and make it look too mod/Barryboy, or is this minilite-style design just right for an original '5?
If anyone has pics of these wheels (silver colour) fitted to a non-lowered MX5 (all the pics I can find are on lowered cars!) it'd be really helpful to see.
Thanks!
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designforlife
242 posts
33 months
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Mx5s are very mod-friendly, and you'd have to go quite a way to "barry" one (think chrome,flip paint, giant spoilers and veilside bodykits). Nice aftermarket alloys will only compliment the car, as long as you pick the right ones  Rota RBs suit them well, but new wheels will draw attention to the stock arch gap, so you may want to follow with some lower springs/coilovers.
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Paddy_N_Murphy
15,249 posts
54 months
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My current 15's  Original 14's  Why don't you just have your current wheels refurbed ? IIRC it cost me about £140 inc. Balancing etc.
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SimonSaid
Original Poster
390 posts
56 months
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Thanks for the super-fast replies on this one! From my understanding, wheel refurbs generally cost around £60 per corner, so I make that £240 for the lot. I've been offered the Rotas for a tenner more than that, albeit with a small amount of kerb damage to the outer lip. But they're £530 on Rota's website, and these ones come with (part-worn) rubber. I've seen the wheels for sale IRL and inspected them, the actual body of the wheels is fine, just some clumsy rim damage. Why do people try to get so close to the kerb in such a narrow car!?  I really don't get it. I guess this really comes down to what looks better, refurbed original 14s or Rota 15s. It's fairly broad consensus that 15s are needed to fill the arches properly, but there is only an inch in it. Hmm...
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Paddy_N_Murphy
15,249 posts
54 months
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SimonSaid said: I guess this really comes down to what looks better, refurbed original 14s or Rota 15s. It's fairly broad consensus that 15s are needed to fill the arches properly, but there is only an inch in it. Hmm... and 15s are deemed to ride better.
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SimonSaid
Original Poster
390 posts
56 months
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Ah-ha - that'd be good, the ride on mine is pretty abysmal. I know polybushing would probably help more with that, but the cost is pretty scary.
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Paddy_N_Murphy
15,249 posts
54 months
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SimonSaid said: Ah-ha - that'd be good, the ride on mine is pretty abysmal. I know polybushing would probably help more with that, but the cost is pretty scary. Mmm, yet I have found that Polybushing has made it more 'crashey' on some of the bumps and poor surfaces.....
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SimonSaid
Original Poster
390 posts
56 months
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Really - interesting. I've had similarly divided opinions about the effects of suspension/chassis/strut braces affecting ride quality, and wheel size. It's so hard to know what will really make the best performance/comfort compromise IRL, but I certainly don't want a 'track day special' for the road that sounds like it's disassembling itself every time you hit a pothole (or, as this is London, read 'transplanted lunar crater').
EFA
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MX-5 Lazza
6,522 posts
89 months
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Chassis bracing can only help. A stiffer chassis allows the suspension to do it's job properly without the chassis flexing and ruining the ride.
14" wheels will generally "ride" better but 15" gives a better choice of quality tyres, look better (to most people) and many say it handles better 9though that might be due to the better choice of tyres).
15" is usually considered the best trade-off between ride, handling, looks, tyre choice & tyre cost.
On Mk2+ it's less of a problem due to the stiffer chassis and suspension tweaks so 17" aren't a problem as long as they aren't too heavy.
Polybushing usually uses stiffer bushes that standard so that will have an affect on ride. I'd expect it to feel sharper but rougher...
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KevSeymour
654 posts
43 months
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I like the Rota RB's a lot (had every intention of getting them for mine, but changed my mind at the last minute). I'm not sure i'd fit them to car i didn't intend to lower though, it would just look wrong i think - the polished lip is going to make them standout and really draw attention to the ride height.
You can get away with OE 15's on un-lowered cars, the designs are usually much more subtle. In your case i'd suggest a set of Mk2's like Paddy N Murphy posted above.
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vrsmxtb
1,222 posts
26 months
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Rota RB's would look fantastic, although I find 14" wheels suit the Mk1 better unless it has been lowered a bit. Here's mine on RS Wats, of which the Rotas are basically a copy with standard ride height. I'm biased but I think they look great without any lowering: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=114...
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Digby
3,179 posts
116 months
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I have RB's, but I just couldn't stand the 4x4 look so have dropped it a sensible 35mm approx. Not silver, but here is a pic on a non lowered car. 
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Evangelion
2,601 posts
48 months
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Mine is on RB's and has been lowered slightly.
Am at work now but will post a pic when I get home.
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SimonSaid
Original Poster
390 posts
56 months
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Agreed about the 4x4 look, does seem to be high. Looks like I may just get the stock wheels refurbed at this rate.
How are you guys doing the lowering? New springs and shocks, or is there a simpler bodge?
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KevSeymour
654 posts
43 months
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Most go for coilovers, there's a massive range available for the MX5, you can literally spend anything from £150 to £1500 on a set.
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Marvindodgers
573 posts
86 months
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hornetrider
41,162 posts
75 months
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Digby said: I have RB's, but I just couldn't stand the 4x4 look so have dropped it a sensible 35mm approx. Not silver, but here is a pic on a non lowered car. They look the dogs f  king b ks - not barry at all.
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SimonSaid
Original Poster
390 posts
56 months
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Marvindodgers said: Thanks so much - that's perfect, much cheaper than I expected, and really not far from me at all. I think I'll pop there on the weekend. Thanks to everyone for the advice here - clearly I'd have to lower, and that makes the whole proposition a lot more expensive, not something I can really justify right now. So refurbing it is.
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Digby
3,179 posts
116 months
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Don't be put off by standard shocks and lowered springs (even better if you can do it yourself) as you can pick a set up for reasonable money. I had two MX5's for a bit.My black one is running KYB shocks and Eibach springs and the other was on standard shocks and lowered the same amount as the black one on lowering springs.Real world difference in terms of handling and chuckability, was very little.Or, you could always spend £40 to £50 and clamp the springs you have 
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Eighteeteewhy
6,441 posts
38 months
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14s v 15s  I've recently picked up a set of fully refurbed original 14s for mine. I'll be trying them as soon as the rubber on my 15s is too low(not long) It'll be interesting to see how much difference there is. If any.
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