Mazda Talk Forums

Irlrules wrote:How about if I maintain full ride height? I am looking for an effective gearing drop with a larger dia. tire. Fenders will be cut open under flares.....

Diameter is the issue, doesn't matter that flares on there, just don't have space above the tire for 24.3 inch diameter, it has no place to go. That car designed for tire about 22.7 inches give or take. Max diameter at stock height we have seen is 225/50/15 (about 23.6 inch) and even that limits your suspension travel, too easily rips into area above the tire to the inside of the space.

Even with offset at about 20mm, spacing the tire out more? Just not a fan of how 50 series on 15s look

Maybe 215/40R17?

Dug around in my memory and files and remember a V8 conversion owner, went to 5 lug hubs to make it happen but got 17 inch 235 at the rear and 225/45 at the front. Roll/pull. Looks cleaner than I recall. These days we have 4x100 17x8 and 17x9 in our ND section wheels that didn't exist back then. Sorry, I don't recall what was done on suspension to keep tires from rubbing from issues with diameter, and I expect there was some rub.

So, what offset to fill my 30mm flares? 15? 20?

I realize not many folks do 17s but, I like that look

Irlrules wrote:I realize not many folks do 17s but, I like that look

Okay, just understand our feedback from customers putting 17 inch wheels on NA/NB is generally not positive. We have certainly had customers do it, but usually they don't like actually driving the result on NA/NB (ride quality complaints mostly). Those cars not designed for 17 inch, tends not to work out and most customers going 17 inch on those early years tend to dump the 17 inch setup sooner or later. Nonetheless, because the latest ND generation Miata is designed for 17 inch, it means we have an ever growing list of 17x8 and 17x9 in 4x100 that can be used on the NA/NB. With your flares you likely want an offset in the 25 to 30mm range, all our ND 17 inch stuff is 35 to 45mm offset range. Could use a spacer but that's another reason to consider staying with 15 inch, we have good wide choices in the offset range that works with your flares.

Picture Courtesy Customer William McCullough
Advanti Racing Storm S1 15x7.

Picture Courtesy Customer Andrew Hall
Konig Dial In 15x8 Gloss Black Miata Wheels

Thank you for the info, sir.