If MrGone makes it back with my car OK I am going to be getting new wheels and tires. I am sick of the stock sawblades and my tires are about 5 years old, even though they are still usuable at around 30-40 percent.

I am not looking for maximum performance/grip, but something functional. I will probably be getting a 215/50-17 tire since it matches up really close to the stock size and I don't wan anything rubbing.

I want to get 17s, but I would like to know the best size for the 3rd gen, as far as offset.

I found a set with 38mm offset, but the deal fell through.

Now, I was wondering if 38 40, 42 or 45mm is best for the 3rd gen?

Anyone that has 17s, please tell me what offset and size tire you run and pics if you have them.

BTW, I know I am going to be sporting some "4x4" wheel gap for a while, but eventually I am going to get Eibachs and upgraded struts (haven't decided which).

thanks,

chris

 

anything up to 45 mm 7.5 inches wide will work with no modifications

 

I would recommend going with at least a 225 wide tire as well.. 215 are just too narrow for any decent performance, and the prices aren't much different.

for maximum width, you can go with a 17x8, 32mm-38mm offset and you won't rub.

now you can go from there with the math.. go an inch narrower, and that's 12.5mm more clearance on both sides- so you could run a 17x7 with 20mm-50mm offset without rubbing.. that's based on the tire you put on it of course, but that's the wheel itself.
As long as you stay 17x7, you will be okay with any 35-45mm offsets... and that covers a huge chunk of the wheels out there.

 

OK, so I should go with the 235-45-17 if I get a 17x7 38 mm wheel? I think that's what I am looking at right now. Prices are higher, but bah...

Thanks a lot, Matt and Juan.

 

the 235 will more than likely fit in there without rubbing. but it may ever so slightly stick out of the guards. and that tire width may be a bit too wide to confidently fit on a 7" rim width. mind you, it will fit and mount to it and you can drive on it fine. but it may be compromised in the rim flanges when cornering. if you said "225," then there is no hesitation to say yes.

find a used pair of them at 235 and see what happens. this way, you have actually done it, and have not spent an arm and a leg. you can find used tires of this spec if you look around.

 

FWIW, We are running Falken 512 ZIEX (iirc) 235/45r17 on our 5th gen (17x7)

SR20DEN is running Bridgestone T-1S 245/45r17 on his 5th gen (same wheels)

 

I got on Kuhmo 215-45-ZR17 of ma 17" Chromes and they hug the road lik a champ...I have the Eibach springs installed and there it has not rubbed once. Nore have i ever had a better grip on the road!

 

i have 235 45 17 on intrax springs and it doesnt rub at all and the 235s hug the corners like a rail

 

Those are way too small. Way off as compared to the stock sized 205-65-17. For a 45 series 17" tire, it should be at a 235 sized width.

 

I have 17x8 wheels with a 30mm offset. With the 235/45/17 tires they rubbed a little in the rear during hard cornering, but rolling the fenders a bit solved that problem.

 

225/45/17's on a 17x7 rim w/ a 40mm offset is fine. I haven't had no problems with them and the sidewall looks good. 215/45 looks VERY narrow not to mention if you ever get near a curb the edge of the tire doesn't stick out and take the blow of the curb rash a lil. THE RIM DOES !! lol.... Plus the 225 gives the rims a nicer look for some reason

 

just so you all know...Jeff is right on the tire size, even though most of them aren't off by a whole lot.

I've been doing research (and checking the tire calculator on the Miata site) and 215-50-17 and 235-45-17 are the tires that most closely match the stock size in order to keep your speedos calibrated. Both are less than 1 percent, even though the 224-45-17s are only 2 percent off. That doesn't seem like much, but over time, it adds extra miles to your odometer and at freeway speeds, it might be the difference in getting a ticket or not.

I still haven't found wheels yet, but I am getting some kind of black, gunmetal or gunmetal with a polished lip with an offset around 38-40. I found some on ebay that are 17x7, but they would have to be pretty cheap for me to buy them.

Here are ones I am looking at:


when I get my car back from MrGone, I am going to take a look at what they look like at the tire shop in person.

 

Red, watch discount tire direct's website for sales there.. you can search their stuff by size, width, bolt pattern, and they have offset displayed on the results screen, so you can easily fish through their inventory. I found the wheels in my sig pic on sale there for cheapola- like $75 each or something..

And gunmetals look pretty good on a red car as well. These are my track wheels:

 

matt u got a clean *** max