Miata 1990-2005: Wheels and Tires
When shopping for new Miata wheels there are a couple critical issues to consider:
- Weight. The Mazda Miata is incredibly sensitive
to what is called unsprung weight (which can best be understood as what
hangs off the Miata suspension rather than what sits on it). I was
surprised when I bought my first Miata in the early 90s when I ended up not
enjoying the very first set of very nice wheels I picked for that Miata
because the ride quality became poor. Most Miata owners can feel a
deterioration of ride quality from a gain of as little as 2 to 3 pounds per
corner in unsprung weight. We therefore strongly recommend that you use
only light weight wheels for your Miata like those we sell here. Unlike
other vendors who rely on overly optimistic wheel weights as listed by the
wheel manufacturers, we weigh each wheel that we sell to verify the
lightness. For that reason, many of our listed weights here are slightly
higher than the marketing weight listed on the wheel manufacturers'
websites.
- Offset and Size. Miata wheel offset causes a lot of confusion. Here is a simple explanation. If the rim is 6 inches wide, and the mounting surface of that rim (backside of the bolt holes), is 3 inches from either outside edge, that rim has a 0 offset. To the extent that a rim's mounting plane is offset from that zero position, that offset is measured in millimeters for Japanese cars. For the 1990-2005 Mazda Miata the factory offsets are 45mm for 14 inch wheels and 40mm for factory 15s, 16s, and 17s. Street users should stick to the factory range of 38-45mm. Note that there is a popular book on the Mazda Miata still sold that indicates the factory offset is 45mm ONLY...that book is a decade out of date and should be discarded. Moreover, you will notice offsets in our wheel section of 35mm, 30mm, etc., the 30mm is a pure race application offset and the 35 is a compromise for the owners who will be using just one set of rims for both street and track work. Please consult with us by email if you have any questions on appropriate offset for your intended use.
| Shop our Miata 1990-2005 Wheels and Tires catalog by clicking below: |
|---|
| Miata Wheels and Tires - Accessories |
| Miata Wheels and Tires - Lugs, Hubcentric Rings, Caps |
| Miata Wheels and Tires - Tire Packages |
| Miata Wheels and Tires - Wheels |
Current Wheels and Tires Specials!
Mazda Miata
Re: Questions about aftermarket steering wheels for NC
rpmchris wrote:I have the Sparco 383 and LOVE IT. My car is prepped for CSP autocross, so I can lose the airbag AND the horn, which I did. The horn button I ...
Posted by nc4me
Re: Carbon flywheel & clutch over Fidanza and ACT clutch
rjsmith ... Thanks for your reply. Very lightweight indeed ... especially as a flywheel/clutch package.Flywheel weight in lbs:Fidanza.............7....
Posted by relentless
Re: Questions about aftermarket steering wheels for NC
Chris,Where did you get the Sparco hub and extension? Looks like the Sparco is about $100 cheaper than the OMP wheel.
Posted by MX-5 Track Dog
The Konig Lightspeeds are incredible. Perfect and the best price in the market. Thanks
Chris and Robbie
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