TarkMalbot

Managed to order my new wheels last week. I am going for 17" by 8" wide with 235/40/17 Toyo T1-R Tyres. Offset of 48mm. These will be the same diameter as the standard wheels but with the extra width. I spent weeks deciding what wheels to get and what size and eventually decided on these. What a nightmare they were to get hold of. Don't pay any attention to any prices online as I phone up everywhere and the UK importer has stopped bringing them in so no-one seems ot have any in stock. They can import them but with the current exchange rates expect tp pay 30% more than they used to be! And when speaking to idiots it gets very frustrating when they can not write down simple things such os the rim width or diameter... "Do you have 17"x8" PCD114.3 ET48 Please?" "We dont have them but We could import them. Just one moment I will check our supplier for you. (puts me on hold for 5 mins)... Yes we have the 17" wheel" "Is that in the 8" Width?" "I will just check that for you. (another 5 mins on hold) Yes we have 18"x8"" "I asked for 17" x 8". I'm not getting anywhere here am I? Bye!" I eventually managed to find somewhere in the UK that had them in stock! Still a little more money that I had first though but I should have them in a few days. William Murphy of PerformanceAlloys.com was very helpful and even a MX-5 fan himself! Looking forward to getting them on the car friday hopefully. Just two questions. Should I be running the same tyre pressure of standard ie 29psi and when it comes to geometry would you set it any differently to a car running standard wheels? Thanks.

Stop being such a fanny and just buy some PMSL. I guess I asked for that. Litterly.

Going back down the 17" route now! 235/40/17 on 8" rim would keep the same diameter as the standard 205/40/17 although I think it is a bit wide for what I need! The 225 options on a 7.5" rim with the tyres I want (Toyo T1-R) is 225/45/17 which will increase the profile from standard and the diameter by 0.6". That shouldn't make too much difference I guess. They don't seem to have a 225/40/17? Maybe the most sensible option would be to go 7.5" rim with 215/40/17 tyres although this will reduce profile, the diameter by 0.5" and therfore more importantly show the gap between the wheel and arches! lol. Someone tell me to stop being such a fanny and just buy some!

Liking the look of these though: 225/40/18 Wheels are the same weight but the tyre will weight almost 2Kg more. I think 225/35/18 will be too low profile after looking at that photo!

I am starting to think maybe stick with 17" rims but go to 7.5" wide and increase the width of the tyre. Will still work out lighter than standard, more agressive offset and look different. And I might go back down the graphite route. Not to mention 17" is £500 cheaper than the 18" I used to be indecisive but now I am not sure!

I liked the idea of the Graphite wheels too for a while but when I see my car with its stainless grille and silver badges and stuff I go back to liking the silver wheels. lol. The missus has some say too when it comes to thigs like this. I have to pass it with her first! There doesn't seem that much point changing from the standard 17" to OZ 17" of similar design just to save weight. On the other hand £1300 is a lot of money just to have an inch bigger rims. lol

The good news is the OZ Ultraleggera 18x7.5" are lighter than the standard 17x7" and the Toyo 225/35/18 tyres are just the same weight as the 205/45/17 tyres! This keeps the same rolling diameter and overall the 18" package will be lighter than my current 17" package and it will look good too! 225 width will be ok on a 7.5" rims wont they?

I am still liking the Idea of Oz Superdoopers. Lighest wheels I have found so far. It is frustrating that all the 17" wheel packages come with 205/40/17 tyres and my standards are 205/45/17 so there would be more arch gap on show. And it costs a fortune to change the package to a different profile tyre! Although I am liking the look of an mx-5 I have seen with 18" Oz wheels on. Where can I find information regarding tyre weights though? I want to know the difference between the 18" tyre and 17" tyre to calculate the overall weights and see how different from standard it would be. Am I being OTT about un sprung weight and an extra kg make that much difference? If I was to go from a 17" rim with 205/45/17 tyres as standard to an 18" rim what size tyre shoud I be looking for? Options with alloy packages seem to be 225/40/18 as standard. Likely to be going with a Toyo upgrade. Should I go 225/35/18 but pay an extra £60 for it? Would that be better as the dia would be the same and radium only 3mm different? Thanks.

When? Have you done an MX-5.com meet yet?

When you have an owners meet like this do you get the geometry done at the same time? And if so if a meet was organised and booked would you get a discount for doing like 8 cars or something? lol

My Standard wheels are Enkei. I don't know why I want to change them really. Some sort of modding infection I have!

The only time I could would be the week before my wedding. Not sure how well that would go down with the Wife to be! lol

I guess that is true. Maybe sticking with 17"s would give a better look for me anyway. I like dift/jap racer style at the min not really bling style. I think I will be going with toyo tyres. Is there much difference between in weight between tyre manufacturers.

300 miles in 5 hours according to RAC route planner. Maybe I could get that time down but I would want to stop some time for food. Knock off half hour for the turn around so maybe set off 4:30 and home by 15:30

7.7Kg 17"x7" I am looking at OZ Racing Ultraleggera and then I can even go to 18" rims and still be lighter than the Standard 17"! 7.38kg in 7x18, 7.92kg in 7.5x18. I have found most of the Rota wheels are about 7.7Kg for 17" too.

Check out here: http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp

300 miles from my door to yours! Set off at 4am back home by 4pm?

I like this style: And also liking the more multi spoke style too: I want something light weight though and I struggle to find weights for wheels other than Rota, Momo and Oz. I ahve sent a few places E-mails to ask if they could weight the rims for me but no-on replied.

Thanks. I have done plenty to it considering it is a 58 plate. I am waiting for the Hose kit for the Cosworth and then that will be fitted. I am hoping someone will design a set of headers and mid section to get the most out of the supercharger. I am half way through fitting the Air Dam side skirts but the original fasteners snapped so I am awiting for some new ones. Then after the rear skirt the exterior will be finished until I decide what wheels I want. The interior is finished as soon as I fit the leather gaiters I have and put the centre console back together after fitting the Ipod link and IL motorsport centre console. I seem to be doing things in reverse order as it looks like the Geometry will come last! That is not through choice though just due to you being so far away! I might have a blast down in the middle of the night to get to you by 9am and then blast back up home the same day. I will work out how long it will take now. How long would it take from start to finish to set the geometry?

My Missus got me this for Christmas! I love it Very well made and perfect fit. Not much extra weight as some of the Aluminium braces replace the standard thin steel braces. The one thing that is lost is a small plastic cover hat goes under the gearbox housing. Not really bothered about that though. The PPF brace does bolt to the diff housing so there is a slight increase in transmission noise but there is bushes between the fixing to the chassis so this will reduce the transfer of noise and vibration. It sounds pretty good. Not too loud but you can hear it. It sounds like a straight cut gearbox. There is slightly less ground clearance at the back end but the rear brace will also act as a guard when required to. This the most noticable mod I have done so far in regards to performance. I had the Eibach Pro Kit and IL Motorsport Sway bars fitted last month which did make a difference but this is another level. When driving round a bend the car feels more stable at the back end and overall stiffer. I have more confidence to push the car harder at the limit as you can feel what the tyres are suspension are doing more. The ride is slightly more harsh when you hit a hole in the road as the suspension and tyres are doing more work and the chassis isn't flexing as much. The Springs and Sways also contribute to this but I would still say it is a comfortable ride.

Thanks for that. I fitted the ARB with the wheels on the floor anyway as far as I remember as jacking the car up with the weight off the wheels just made it more difficult. It was not as fun as fitting the chassis brace kit that came with no instructions and I had no idea where the bits went rolling about on the drive in the dark ! lol. Feels great now though! I love it. Maybe another topic is required..

Offset shouldn't be a problem. I have been looking at wheels with offsets no lower than 45. I used to "roll" on ET42 which never caught once and did look pretty good too. I think the ET55 of the standard look too far set back into the Arches. What wheel manufacturers do you recommend for the Jap Racer/lightweight look?

I fitted the ARB on the rear myself as it looked straight forward enough but I got the front fitted at the same time as the springs. I was just wondering if there is anything special that needed to be donw when fitting the bar to the drop link as it always seems like the drop link rubbers are twisted? They are straight in the photo below as I moved them into place to get the bolts in. Have I dont it right as I wouldn't want to wear out the drop links or something? Also any news on the adjustable drop links yet?

I got a photoshop done of the wheels and I am not sure if I like them more than the originals. Any idea of what wheels would look good but are also light weight? I like the Jap racer style look at the moment.

PMSL! That was clever!