As long as you stick to a 215 wide tire you should be fine with the 17x8 45mm.

Nick,

Welcome to yet another Miata forum. I'm surprised you haven't posted here before, given that Brian seems to have the best selection of performance parts for the NC.

Anyway, it sounds like the wheel choice you've been struggling over is virtually made; the 17x8s will fit. As for tires, I'd suggest choosing between the 215/40 and 215/45 based on what you'd like to do to your effective gearing.

Good luck, and once you get the new setup, be sure to take the car to the next club meeting so I can check it out in person. I'm likely to be putting one of these two setups on my car eventually.

It's like I have my very own internet stalker With most forums, I read a lot more than I post.

Yep, it looks like the 17x8's with 215's will work fine. I PM'd a couple of guys on Miata.net that posted in this thread earlier. One had 17x7.5 with 235 width tires, and the other had the 17x8's with 225's and both of them said that they didn't have any clearance issues or rubbing (both were lowered too).

I don't know exactly when I would be ordering the wheels. I need them by MAMB, but I'd like to have them earlier so I can test fit/drive them around a bit. After I get them, you are more than welcome to come over and see them on the car, even if it would be too cold to drive around with the summer tires on.

As far as tires go, I wouldn't mind the lower gearing of the 215/40's, but I think I'm going to go with the 215/45's. I like the idea of the extra sidewall to protect the wheel, and I like the looks of the thicker sidewall. Besides, if the tire stretches at all as seen here ( http://www.good-win-racing.com/mazda-talk/viewtopic.php?t=1564&sid=9ac18ad238c1ad0a2c9fc04b2c745ccb ) then my effective sidewall will be lowered a bit anyhow.

Brian,

I'm liking the 18x9.5 option...what do you think about a 265/35/18 with fenders rolled? Would that fit easier than the 285 race setup I've seen? I would be using them on the street and for track days. Khumo Ecsta XS or Hankook Ventus RS3 perhaps. Plan on coilovers and fairly low.

Thanks,

Daniel

That 265 is actually a more difficult fit...because that is almost an inch more diameter. Consider a 255/35/18 as the alternative to 285/30/18 on that 18x9.5

Thanks, Brian.

Say...you wouldn't happen to know the exact wheel weight for a 2009 (NC2) 16" sport wheel would you? I can't find this anywhere and I haven't had a chance to remove mine to weigh them (don't have postage scale either). I have seen 16lb approximations for the NC1 16's but I'm looking for something more exact so I can compare to the RPF1 weights. Thanks!

I don't recall either....likely 16 to 17 pounds.

Here is it: http://www.jason-parker.net/images/wheels.htm

Is there anything like a 16" sport?

Thanks, I did see that though. The 2009 16" wheel design is different so I'm curious if there is a weight difference, not to mention the approx 16lbs is not exact enough for my tastes

I've tossed the 18" idea and now struggling to construct a 17x9 wheel/tire package that is lighter than the oem 16" package. I think Mazda really thought that out well. I know with other cars I owned, stock wheels even 15-16" were always heavy enough where even a nice 17" or 18" aftermarket wheel could come in lighter without too much effort.

Won't do better than 15.9 pound 17x9 RP-F1

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Pe ... 290NC.html

Yeah, I've searched up and down and that is as good as it gets short of *maybe* a tenth or two from a much more expensive Volk CE28N. Of course when I look at the low treadwear summer tires in 235/40/17 (Azenis etc...) all of them weigh 2lbs more than the stock 16" tires. So if the stock 16's weigh 16lbs and 22lbs for the advan tire that is 38lb versus 23.8 (azenis) + 15.9 for the rpf1 = 39.7lbs.

I'm thinking it's going to be impossible for me to get 17" + wider rim/tire + less weight versus the stock 16" setup no matter what I do. I'll eventually get over it but I was hoping to reduce unsprung weight at the same time or at least not increase it.

i just got the 18x9.5's and they look great. slight rub in back with 245's all the way around, but fenders will get rolled this week. now i just have to find a good drop to make it sit right.

anyone come across any decent side shots of the 17x8 GOLD wheels on the NC?

i'd sure like to see this

which way do the RPF1 CF center caps go in; from the back or from the front? the fit is really tight and cant seem to get the outter ring past the bore to seat