205 45 16 for NA?

[Evoman]

1. My model of MX-5 is: 1.8NA
2. I’m based near: Glasgow
3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Wheels / tyres

I realise unsprung mass is important and finding a good light wheel that is right for the car is important. A question though tyre size, is 205 45 16 possible on the NA without any rubbing issues?
Standard fit I understand is 195 50 15 so perhaps may loose a little nimbleness too?
But if a really light weight 16 inch wheel was used with this wider (and heavier) tyre compared to a 195 50 15 profile I wonder would much be lost in feel and agility?
Any experience / input welcomed

[Scottishfiver]

16 Inch wheels on MK1. Good or bad idea/will they fit without modification?

I’m buying a 1992 V special that’s coming with 15 inch mk2 wheels, I wanted to know if I could fit 16 inch wheels and what the affects could be/what up/downsides there will be? Also open to recommendations for wheels, thank you.

[ast]

16" Mk2.5 wheels have been fited to a fair number of Mk1s; they won’t rub (but beware powdercoated wheels. These wheels had corrosion problems and a lot were refiished with powdercoat, with a significant ate of cracking as a result).

Its not just wheel weight, but wheel plus tyre weight.

The 16x6.5 factory wheel (40mm offset) has a weight 15.5lbs, compared to the 11.5lbs of the 14" wheel the Mk1 1.8 was supposed to have.

The factory 15" wheels for the Mk1 were the 15" BBS (12lbs) or the fairly lardy Enkei (14.5lbs)

Tyre weights:
185/60 14; 15-21lbs (so overall weight is 26.5-32.5lbs)
195/40 15; 16.5-18.5;bs (so overall weight 28.5-30.5lbs, with BBS, add 1lb if using a Mk2 15" wheel
205/35 16; 18.7-21.3lbs (so overall weight 34.2-36.8lbs)

So while a 15" wheel, if you get a light one, falls well within the unsprung weight spec of the original factory fitment, the 16" wheel is getting significantly beyond that. And the Mazda 16" wheel is pretty light for a 16" wheel anyhow.

My experience of a 17" wheel, 205/40 tyre, on a Mk1, was pretty awful. The steering was heavy, the car was lowered, and the increased weight I think ruined the springs, causing sag.

My experience of a Mk1 with the 16" Mk2 wheel is more limited, but my recollection is still heavier steering, and less wheel crash.

I suggest sticking with 15" wheels. The 16" offers no tangible benefit.

Note, tyre weights are less recorded, so these are estimates.

[Evoman]

Super helpful as ever thanks @ast
I have found some more information on an Enkei wheel 16x7 with 32 offset weighing in at 4.9kg (less than 11lbs) which seems astonishing for a 16 inch wheel. So I suppose even taking into account the penalty of a heavier larger tyre this would be largely offset by the lighter 11lb wheel. Bigger offset but I guess 32 will push the wheel out a little more than a 40ET.

[martin]

205 45 16 fit fine on an NA. These are my NB sport 16s fitted to a sadly departed NA, which ws also quite low. Didn’t notice any rubbing or impact on handling or anything.