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March 4, 2009 9:04 p.m. Woody Dork

I was never really a fan of NB Miatas, but I always thought that the 2001-03 cars looked great on the optional 16 inch five spoke wheels. Over the weekend I picked up a set of them for my 96.

It finally warmed up enough around here (20 degrees this morning) to start working in the garage again. I needed to do some exhaust work and while I was out there, I put the new wheels on the to see how they would look. (No, I did not need all those tools just to change the wheels, and Yes, the car is going to be getting some lower springs in about a week).

I was surprised when I stepped back. The wheels that look so great on the later cars don't really work on the early ones. They have a little too much of a tuner look for my taste.

Looks like they will become my new track wheels.
March 4, 2009 9:09 p.m. jrw1621 HalfDork

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I stick with the classics.
15x7
March 4, 2009 9:14 p.m. Woody Dork

jrw1621 wrote:

I stick with the classics.
15x7

I agree. I still have two sets of these from my old car that I'll use on the street.
March 5, 2009 3:37 a.m. thatsnowinnebago HalfDork

gotta love the classics
March 5, 2009 7:07 a.m. redzcstandardhatch New Reader

i actaully think they look great though
March 5, 2009 7:15 a.m. John Brown MegaDork

I am with the CiViC Kid on this, I like them.
March 5, 2009 7:43 a.m. mistanfo Dork

I like 'em, just not on an NA. The classics are nice, but SOOOOO heavy. Of course, I'm considering selling my BBS' off to fund something even lighter.
March 5, 2009 8:48 a.m. psteav Reader

I like them on the NA as well...but I'm biased, because I did the same thing as the OP and bought a set without really looking. I agree they fit the character of the NB a little better than the NA, but they were cheap, guaranteed to fit, and of reputable quality.
March 5, 2009 12:45 p.m. kreb Dork

I like the 15" BBS basketweave.
March 5, 2009 1:06 p.m. Woody Dork

kreb wrote:

I like the 15" BB$ basketweave.

Fixed that for ya.
March 5, 2009 1:10 p.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

Woody wrote:

kreb wrote:

I like the 15" BB$ basketweave.

Fixed that for ya.

hahaha
March 5, 2009 1:12 p.m. jrw1621 HalfDork

psteav wrote: ...they were cheap, guaranteed to fit, and of reputable quality.

I agree with the statement above. I think his purchase of these 16's was smart. I bet he got a great price and the quality is high. I too have used the same logic in buying Miata rims. Here are my set of '96 M-edition 15's which are heavier than most Miata 15's but the price was fantasic.

In this photo the car was being used years back in my nieces wedding. (note: I still have the car, the husband another story.)

I also had some aftermarket 15" Konig's

Before all of these I had some 14" MX-3 alloys which replaced the factory steel rims. I have no pictures of the those. The digital camera had not been developed yet.

Just over 3 years ago I hit the jack pot and bought a true set of 15x7 Pannasports (with rubber) for $300. I have gotten 3 summers out of the tires.

John
'90 Miata
March 5, 2009 1:27 p.m. mistanfo Dork

Oh, I'll agree that you'll usually get a quality set of wheels at a good price, just saying that I prefer the styling of those wheels on an NB. Believe you me, if I came across a set at a good price, I'd rock 'em in a heartbeat. I'm trying to decide what I should replace my 14" BBS with though. I have numerous sets of 14" 7 spokes, want to get something in a 15" that's fairly light. No, I don't want to pony up the cash for the 15" BB$. They make my current set look more like British television (BBhow in the h e double hockey sticks do I put a cents symbol here)
March 5, 2009 3:24 p.m. Spinout007 New Reader

I like em. I think they would fit the lines of the car better with it lowered and a body colored spoiler, say the WW piece, just something to add to the back, Otherwise I would agree... Track em.
March 5, 2009 3:28 p.m. Spinout007 New Reader

On another note......How many impacts does it take to change tires? One per lug nut? looks like 3 pneumatic and an electric? At least the torque wrench was out. Had to ask.
March 5, 2009 4:22 p.m. blaze86vic Reader

I think it looks good actually. I think it looks better than the other two 5-spoke Miatas late in the thread. I too am a fan of old school styles, but a good clean looks is still nice.

It might look a lot better once you lower the car. Give them wheels a second chance once you get the car lowered.
March 5, 2009 4:47 p.m. mad_machine UltraDork

thatsnowinnebago wrote:

gotta love the classics

Makes me want a white Miata so bad
March 5, 2009 4:56 p.m. Woody Dork

Spinout007 wrote:

On another note......How many impacts does it take to change tires? One per lug nut? looks like 3 pneumatic and an electric? At least the torque wrench was out. Had to ask.

Oddly enough, I removed the lugnuts with breaker bar and socket.

The real reason that I was out in the garage in the first place was to remove the exhaust. It had one frozen locknut on the catalytic converter and the battery pack in the cordless gun was nearly dead. The spare was also dead and since I'm impatient, I broke out the 1/2" pneumatic rather than wait for them to recharge. The 3/8" pneumatic and the air ratchet were used to remove the bolts for the rear chassis brace as there wasn't enough clearance for the 1/2" gun.

As usual, I was going for maximum impact....
March 5, 2009 5:38 p.m. Keith UberDork

Man, it's been a while since I saw a 96 on stock suspension. Hee hee! Just for interest, can you measure the hub-to-fender distance for me?
March 5, 2009 5:57 p.m. Woody Dork

Keith wrote:

Man, it's been a while since I saw a 96 on stock suspension. Hee hee! Just for interest, can you measure the hub-to-fender distance for me?

The car has stock springs on Konis. I think that the spring perch is on the lowest slot.

Front: 13.5"

Rear: 14.5"

If I recall, stock 1996's sat a little higher than previous years, but I don't remember why.

New springs are in my basement. They'll go on after the butterfly brace is installed.
March 5, 2009 6:26 p.m. Keith UberDork

Yeah, the 1996 jumped in height compared to the 1995s. 1997 is the same. I remember the first time I saw one on the lot. And yours is lowered!
March 5, 2009 6:48 p.m. Woody Dork

Keith wrote:

Yeah, the 1996 jumped in height compared to the 1995s. 1997 is the same. I remember the first time I saw one on the lot. And yours is lowered!

Did they just use taller springs or were the perches different?
March 5, 2009 7:05 p.m. Spinout007 New Reader

Woody wrote:

As usual, I was going for maximum impact....

haha that's so funny, I'm serious. can't u tell.... lol funny story anyway, Sounds like one of our challenge car, quick we've only got 3 hours to get to the track, and we haven't even started the car yet, thrashes
March 5, 2009 7:21 p.m. fatallightning New Reader

i prefer a classic wheel of a different persuasion
March 5, 2009 11:30 p.m. Keith UberDork

Taller springs on the 96-97.

I'll try to get some good pictures of this bad boy tomorrow. Classic style Rota RBs, but in a 17x7.5 (17x8.5 for the rear is coming) and tires that are 25" high. The car looks like it's been shrinkwrapped over the drivetrain. Which is actually about right.

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