I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __
I know there are often a lot of queries about lowering springs and wheel sizes so thought I would share pics and info from my recent changes to our NC1. Yes, it’s the same car, now with a black roof and a taken on a slightly cloudier day!
As shown in the pictures it has now been lowered using Eibach 30mm lowering springs on the original Bilstein shocks. This was done purely for aesthetics and am pretty pleased with how it looks. In terms of ride, it feels marginally flatter in corners and a little less “wallowy” but it certainly doesn’t feel harsh. By way of example, my old Mercedes A250 AMG was like driving on the rims and even minor bumps were a bang through the suspension. The MX-5 is nothing like this.
You can see I have also fitted different 17” wheels. The full wheel and tyre spec is shown and I have taken the before and after dimensions of this configuration. The wheels are only 0.5” wider but they really fill out in the arches (no chance of rubbing) almost as if there are spacers. It is worth checking out https://www.willtheyfit.com/ if you are thinking of adjusting wheel/tyre combos. It explains the impacts and provides a section thru the wheels so you can also visually see it.
No. It doesn’t mater though. these things just interest me.
If you want to know the detail, the suspension drop, so wheel centre to top of arch, don’t match the ride hight drops, even allowing for the extra sidewall height. E.G. You have a 30mm front arch drop, but only a 20mm front lip drop and so on. As I say, these things just interest me.
I did wonder, as I’d not seen that type of graphic on Willtheyfit before!
That seems to make sense, that a 30mm lowering spring has given you a 20mm overall drop, when factoring in your decision to swap to a 225/45/17 with an increased tyre sidewall height, compared with OEM rubber.
