What wheels should you be running on your MX5? it's a debate inspired by a recent swap on the silver Mk1 Eunos you'll have seen featured in our how-to videos which perfectly illustrates the sometimes opposing influences acting on this most crucial of decisions! Because, after all, wheel choice is one of the most important changes you can make to your Mazda, aesthetically AND functionally.
First point - so long as the wheel is the correct size and offset to fit your particular car there is no wrong answer and personal taste is, well, personal. And you'll find plenty of options both OE and aftermarket in the relevant wheel sections for Mk1, Mk2, Mk3 and Mk4 on the site. Whether you're looking to freshen up a newly-purchased MX5 or simply add a personalised finishing touch there are all sorts of options to consider, including inclusive wheel and tyre packages that can often work out as better value. Plus, you can keep your originals as spares. Note that all our wheel and tyre packages come with centre caps, fully balanced and ready to fit - just bolt on, adjust the pressures and you're good to go.
Accepting that the look of the wheel is down to personal preference are there any other considerations? Well, yes. Fashion generally dictates 'bigger is better' but, especially for a light car like an MX5, small changes can have big effects on the way the car drives. Take the silver Eunos for instance - the silver 15-inch OZs are a lovely looking wheel and fill the arches really nicely for a more aggressive stance. The wider tyres also mean greater precision in the steering and more grip in the corners. But the original 14--nch 'daisy' wheels are lighter and, with a bit more sidewall on the tyre, the car rides a lot better. Each to their own but think carefully about your priorities.
Mk2s were built with bigger wheels in mind and can comfortably run 15s, 16s or even 17s while Mk3s move the game on further and (on certain models) came with factory-fitted 17-inch wheels without compromising ride or handling. The Mk4's return to core MX5 values offers the broadest scope meanwhile, the car working well with 'anti-fashion' small wheels like the 16s supplied as standard on the 1.5. Equally though the car is happy on the more aggressive looking 17s, not least the gorgeous forged RAYS wheels as fitted to the 30th Anniversary Edition we drove recently.
Best bet? Consider your priorities and how you use the car to settle on the size you want first and THEN pick the style you like best. And if you're unsure about anything just give us a call!
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