Steering Wheels...
Discussion
My car has a Momo wheel that it had as a standard part of a special edition (VR Ltd). It doesn't look rubbish - but it don't look great either. But the main reason I'm not over fond of it is that I pretty regularly catch my hands on my legs as I'm turning, damn thing's just too big!
I'm not freakishly tall, just a smidge under 6', so there must be a lot of you folk out there who've had similar problems.
This is the only pic I have of the wheel - only things I know about it are that it's a Momo, and that it's 360mm diameter.
Did you solve the problem by getting a smaller wheel? If so, what type and how small did you go? Is there another way of getting round the problem? Lots of wheels out there are only 10mm smaller than mine, is that enough to make a real difference?
I've looked at lots of wheels in the past days, most are 350mm diameter, and lots are absolutely hideous..
So what's a realistically good size to use on the road? Is a 280mm wheel madness? Will a 330mm one make all the difference?
Soz for the barrage of questions! But I'm sure that the PH/MX5 hive mind has all the answers!
And please feel free to post up pictures of your steering wheels, what size they are, and why they're good (or not!)
I'm not freakishly tall, just a smidge under 6', so there must be a lot of you folk out there who've had similar problems.
This is the only pic I have of the wheel - only things I know about it are that it's a Momo, and that it's 360mm diameter.
Did you solve the problem by getting a smaller wheel? If so, what type and how small did you go? Is there another way of getting round the problem? Lots of wheels out there are only 10mm smaller than mine, is that enough to make a real difference?
I've looked at lots of wheels in the past days, most are 350mm diameter, and lots are absolutely hideous..
So what's a realistically good size to use on the road? Is a 280mm wheel madness? Will a 330mm one make all the difference?
Soz for the barrage of questions! But I'm sure that the PH/MX5 hive mind has all the answers!
And please feel free to post up pictures of your steering wheels, what size they are, and why they're good (or not!)miniman said:
My 2 Berkeleys had that wheel and I always preferred them to the normal Momo (with the removable centre triangle) - it's slightly thinner and felt nicely delicate to me.
Having looked at your garage I guess you call yourself miniman because you like Minis, not because you're ikkle! 
You never had a problem with the wheel size? How tall are you?Having seen those Momos with the removable centre triangle, I took the centre part off mine today. Sadly, underneath that was just metal ugliness that was never meant to be seen..
Schmeeky said:
miniman said:
My 2 Berkeleys had that wheel and I always preferred them to the normal Momo (with the removable centre triangle) - it's slightly thinner and felt nicely delicate to me.
Having looked at your garage I guess you call yourself miniman because you like Minis, not because you're ikkle! You never had a problem with the wheel size? How tall are you?Having seen those Momos with the removable centre triangle, I took the centre part off mine today. Sadly, underneath that was just metal ugliness that was never meant to be seen..
Never had a problem with a Mk1, struggle with a Mk2 with the airbag and comfier seats.
miniman said:
Schmeeky said:
miniman said:
My 2 Berkeleys had that wheel and I always preferred them to the normal Momo (with the removable centre triangle) - it's slightly thinner and felt nicely delicate to me.
Having looked at your garage I guess you call yourself miniman because you like Minis, not because you're ikkle! You never had a problem with the wheel size? How tall are you?Having seen those Momos with the removable centre triangle, I took the centre part off mine today. Sadly, underneath that was just metal ugliness that was never meant to be seen..
Never had a problem with a Mk1, struggle with a Mk2 with the airbag and comfier seats.
miniman said:
Calling me a fat b
d? I resemble that remark
Nooo, you must big boned, is all! d? I resemble that remark MX-5 Lazza said:
I'm 6'2", 14st and also had a Berkeley with the same wheel. I did find my legs fouled on the wheel but changed the way I sat. I sat with my knees more apart and that was enough for me to be comfortable.
Have tried changing the way I sit - if my knees are that far apart to clear the wheel I find it really awkward with the pedals..MX-5 Lazza said:
I'd suggest a foamectomy as that Nardi wheel is quite sought after.
Can't do that - I need all the padding I can get under my skinny arse! And I thought it was a Momo?Mr MXT said:
280 would be way too small.
I ran a 300mm Momo Team which was a lovely wheel, but did obscure the dials.
So I'm thinking either 320mm or 330mm would do the job nicely..I ran a 300mm Momo Team which was a lovely wheel, but did obscure the dials.
Schmeeky said:
Oh yeah - would I need a boss kit given I'm after a Momo wheel and there's a Momo on there already?
Yes. The wheel you currently have doesn't need a boss and mounts directly to the end of the steering column. I had the same wheel on my car and needed a boss when replacing it with a smaller Tom's wheel. (Yes, I know some might consider it sacrilege to put a Toyota wheel in a Mazda...)beeblebrox said:
Yes. The wheel you currently have doesn't need a boss and mounts directly to the end of the steering column. I had the same wheel on my car and needed a boss when replacing it with a smaller Tom's wheel. (Yes, I know some might consider it sacrilege to put a Toyota wheel in a Mazda...)
I'd be more concerned about what Tom had to say about the whole thing. I'm 6' with long legs, and have a 340mm Momo Race (I have manual steering, so any smaller would be too much I think), and did a radical foamectomy. Also replaced door pulls with leather straps. Result is plenty of legspace, full view of the dials, and a comfortable driving position with better location of my skinny arse. I've also binned the door mirrors and fitted old school convex bullet mirrors further forward viewed through the quarter lights - much more useful information in them now, and peripheral vision is much better.
Edited by Sad Weevil on Saturday 9th February 02:14
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