Mythbusted:

Mazda has underpowered cars on paper and the dynos for years and years because they like going slow and spending lots of money trying to get a dud motor to stop burning oil, make **** gas mileage, and output decent power.

 

And we're grateful for that.

MiataTurbo.net is a hell of a lot more fun than MiataNaturallyAspiratedBecauseItMakesEntirelySuffi cientPowerWithJustAFewBoltOnModsLikeEveryHondaEver Made.net would have been.

 

 

why would anyone want to stuff a tire on an ND? mazda designed it to be the perfect roadster with the low-hp tiny tire combo that keeps it exciting!

 

How else are we supposed to get that swagstancetuck? I need to be able to shove a 15x10 0 offset XXR under there or I'll never be cool!

 

It's nice they used aluminum calipers to reduce weight. It's a shame they won't fit with lighter weight 15 inch wheels and tires, too.

I wonder what off the shelf 17's in 4x100 might fit? Not because I'm buying one, but because I'm bored.

 

Possibly the ones sized for the Mini Coopers?

Say... SSR Type Cs in a 17x7.5?

 

there's only like eleventy billion 17" wheels out there in every single configuration known to mankind.

 

I for one, welcome our 17" overlords.

 

I, for one, don't want a 17 inch something overlording me but you... I've met you so I understand.

 

Am i TOO welcoming for 17"?


15" is just right for you?

 

He rolls deep: 22's or go home. 20's if ribbed

 

17x9, 41 offset, 16.6 pounds, $259 apiece.

D-Force LTW5 17X9" Racing Wheel ET41 (E36/E46/E90) - Vorshlag LLC

I am unhappy about this. I really wanted 15's to fit. Maybe someone will come out with a brake kit that allows 15's?


***Note: I've just realized that the above post is our version of M.net. I am a horrible person.

 

Fear not, check the thread title and embrace your inner mnet

 

I guess I missed something. What's wrong with the stock wheels? Is this only for people that intend to track it?

 

The stock wheels are narrow and likely heavy.

 

It's not as though the move away from 15" fitment wasn't inevitable and unforeseeable.

There was a time 13" wheels were the de-facto standard on econoboxes, 14" was commonplace on Miatas and Miatalike vehicles, and 15" wheels were considered sporty and aggressive.

Try finding a good 13" summer tire today. Heck, try finding anything that isn't a Hoosier R6 in 13" today, for that matter.


These days, econoboxes are coming with 15" wheels and Mazda 3s are coming with 17s. Given time, the tire companies are going to start ignoring 15" wheels the same way they ignore 13s today.


I'm not going to get worked up about it. Windmills are too difficult to knock over.

 

If mazda engineers didn't think it needed wider tires, why would you want to change them? The wider contact patch and greater rolling resistance would just ruin the great fuel economy the car is expected to get.

 

I forgot where I was when I started to read that.

 

*ahem* the new 3 comes standard with 16" steelies, and the optional larger alloy wheels are 18"

Not really a fair comparison though. Econoboxes with the aforementioned 13" wheels were much, much smaller than today's cars. A current mazda3 is something like 2 feet longer than a 323 hatch from the early 90's, so it's not surprising that the wheels are bigger to match the proportions.

But the Miata... it's shorter than the 1990 original..

That being said, at least they have a good reason: big brakes. It could be much worse... look at the new Mazda6 for example: