MX-5 OC Forum

It feels like a year ago when I last saw my TSW Hockenheim's, But I finally got them back from the powder coaters.......

As you can see, I've already got my greasy palm prints all over them , And yes, I have put Imitation carbon fibre "Mazdaspeed" centre caps in them.

I had them acid dipped, Etch primed, Then done in a black powder cote thats slightly glossier than satin but not too shinny.

They're going on my BRG MK1. I'm bit by bit detailing things in yellow so thats the reason for the colour of the centre nuts. When I originally got these wheels off EBay they were dark anthracite gray. At first I wasn't so sure about the colour, But it wasn't long till the "dark wheel" look grew on me .

(I'm just going to preempt Geoff on the admin team here by saying "Style is a subjective thing........ So button it !" )

Anyway, What I'm wondering is what would be the best size tyres to put on them? I had 205/40/16's before. I didn't have any clearance problems and it stuck to the road like bird cr*p on mohair........ But, It took so long to get the original Goodyear's warm.

The wheels are 16 x 7.5, Would 195/45's go on there? The speedo under reads anyway so having an ever so slightly bigger diameter tyre shouldn't be a Major issue, But would 195's go on a 7.5" rim without the "Stretched tyre look" the VW boys seem to go so mad for ?

If I do go for 205/40/16's again, What tyres would you lot recommend? I don't want to spend astronomical amounts of cash on a set (Who does?), But I also don't intend running on unknown brand Chinese bakelite tyres.

Or is there a better size tyre I should be looking at (Remembering it's for a MK1)?

Lastly, If someone points out that I want brand "X" and they only cost "Y", Please include WHERE they only cost "Y". I've learnt over the years that tyre prices seem to bare no connection to what the fitters pay for them, There can be a 20 quid or more price difference for the same tyre from two different fast fit type dealers in the same road.

Reman.

Mr Reman:

(I'm just going to preempt Geoff on the admin team here by saying "Style is a subjective thing........ So button it !" )

I have always believed that Style is a subjective thing, however taste is a different matter..............................................................................................................

Remember I'm the style queen who painted my car to look like a boat

I think the wheels and the yellow details look great and will certainly make the drab old BRG a bit brighter. As to tyres, Goodyear Fi is the way to go mate, there's a dealer in Kawana Waters.  that I can recommend good price and of course free fitting and balancing.---

I just worked out (With a lot of estimating), Kawana Waters is about 10,500 miles away from here, I get about 190 miles to a tank so I would need about 56 tanks of fuel to get there...... But if I'm having fun I only get 7/8000 miles to a set of tyres so I'd only reach somewhere around Bangladesh before I needed new tyres (For the sake of safety lets just say somewhere in Nepal before I stop for them). But as I would be in the area (In the big scheme of things), It'd be rude of me not to nip over for a look around Japan for a bit, Subsequently the mileage would end up being around 14,000 miles there and 10,500 back. 24,500 miles means about 129 fuel stops. As I don't know the price of fuel anywhere else at the moment I'll just work with the local 104.9p a litre.

The tanks 45 litres, So 129 x 45L = 5805L x 104.9p =

£6089.50p.................

I have to point out that this set of calculations may have the odd hole in it that's best glossed over and forgot about (Like the bits of the trip that go over water) but I think unless the tyre fitter has the mother of all sales on at the moment, Well, I might just pass.

I'll keep an eye on the specials for you   ---

Do I take from the lack of sensible replyes that everyone else runs 15's and 17's?

Mr Reman:

Do I take from the lack of sensible replyes that everyone else runs 15's and 17's?

14" &15" I guess on Mk1s. Doesn't Ady [from Eastern] run 16s on his lovely black Mk1?---

Geoff Walton:

Doesn't Ady [from Eastern] run 16s on his lovely black Mk1?

I guess we'll never know .

Ady is an old mate, so I've PMd him---

 I used Marangoni Zeta Leana on my MR2 in 205/45R16 sizes. Very grippy wet or dry (as grippy as the Yokohama A048 track day tyres I had for the same car) and predicable at the limit. Also they were about 45 quid a corner, so cheap. I use the same tyre in 195/50R15 on the front of my MX5 for track stuff and am very happy with them.

They will wear quickly - I got maybe 10k of hard road use out of them on the MR2, but then that is a heavier car then the MX5.

Gooooood afternoon. I got here in the end.

I first ran with 15's, then went to 18's, then to 17's and i'm now on 16's. Personally think 16's are the best comprimise between them all.
They fill the arches a bit more than 15's but they still give you a good ride.

I run 195/45/16's. they're a little stretched but not to the extremes of the VW boys. Speedo does read slightly wrong ..... but on the right side of caution.
Handilng etc is top notch (ask Matt who was behind me in his Caterham the other night on our monthly meet)

As for brand ....... I hear Goodyears are often liked, and Toyos. Mine are not a well known brand (what came on the wheel) and they're just fine and dandy.

my 16s .......

Mr Reman:

The wheels are 16 x 7.5, Would 195/45's go on there? The speedo under reads anyway so having an ever so slightly bigger diameter tyre shouldn't be a Major issue, But would 195's go on a 7.5" rim without the "Stretched tyre look" the VW boys seem to go so mad for ?

195 on 7.5J rim is a fair stretch. If you are are going for the stretched look then fair enough, but the additional stress on the sidewalls would worry me.

235 is optimal for this rim width but 235 is a weird tyre size in 40/45 aspect ratios.

225/40R16 would give you a rolling circumference approx. 1.5% larger than the standard 185/60R14 tyre.

215/40R16 would give you a rolling circumference approx. 0.15% larger than the standard 185/60R14 tyre.

205/45R16 would give you a rolling circumference approx. 2.3% larger than the standard 185/60R14 tyre.

Toyo T1-R available in all the above sizes from Camskills (£58, £53 and £62 each, respectively). 215/40R16 is therefore cheapest and closest match in terms of rolling cirumference.

Mr Reman:

Geoff Walton:

Doesn't Ady [from Eastern] run 16s on his lovely black Mk1?

 

I guess we'll never know .

Oh ye of little faith---

Ady:

 I have to say, That is one stunning car. It's all the little detail's that do it for me, Wouldn't you agree Geoff?

Captain Muppet:

They will wear quickly

With what you use your black '5 for, I'd think most tyres would "wear quickly" .

Mr Reman:

I have to say, That is one stunning car. It's all the little detail's that do it for me, Wouldn't you agree Geoff?

I've always liked Ady's car, I've known it for most of the time that he has owned it. The only thing I don't like.........the front number plate, I think it looks like an afterthought. But to each his own, what a boring place it would be if we all liked the same thing. I'm not going to mention colours---