mx5cartalk.com

90 model engine #B6614495, so I take it that it is an NA6 ?
Yes

Running 185x60 14s on orig minilite type rims which I presume are 14x 5.5 ins with 45mm offset.
Most probably

Although I've had it for 20 years, it's been hardly used for the last 10 and I've been in a diesel ford ranger (slow revving).
Now I've got the feeling that I want to drop the engine revs by putting 15in rims on it and 195x50 tyres (Ku31's?)
195/50r15 are effectively the same diameter as 185/60r14, so no change in revs/km

So if i want to buy some s/h rims I need to know:
Will 15x6 rims fit inside the guards?
Yes, within a normal range of offsets

Is + 45mm offset the max I can go to ?
I'd say go lower, around +35 to +40 is best

Understand the pcd is 100mm. Correct?
Yes, 4x100PCD

With the rims being 4 stud are these fairly scarce out on places like E bay?
No, quite common, also fit Civics, earlier Golfs, MR2s and a host of other cars.

Will NB rims fit? (think their offset is 40mm?)
Perfectly

Any ideas on where to source ?
here, ebay, gumtree, etc

Any advice/info would be much appreciated
I'd stay with what you already have. Original, light, cheap, probably the best setup for a stock road-going NA6.

People incorrectly understand and or incorrectly use english to explain offset often. Less offset is actually MORE dish. The more plus offset you go the less dish. The lower the offset the more dish, negative offset is stupid wanker dish.

Forget dropping the revs, Rev it. It wants to rev and so should you. Mine does 8000rpm+ every day. Although its modified. You shouldnt labour the engine. Really.

Stock NB wheels are very good in every way on an na6.

Dann

If it helps to understand the space in the guards, with just a roll done, the stock guards can accomodate 15x9'' rims. Patrick bramston has stock but rolled guards and runs 17x8 and 17x9s to fit his V8 supercar spec brakes under.

Dann

Welcome to the forum wot. I'm not totally sure I understand the problem you're trying to solve. It sounds like you're concerned about the noise level in your NA6 while using it for a very long drive, and you're attributing that noise to the engine revs you need to use in 5th gear at freeway cruising speed. I don't think changing wheels or tyres will solve your problem. Engine revs are only one source of noise in an NA6. My experience with long highway drives in my stock NA6 (including 1000km each-way trips), is that it is a noisy thing by modern standards. However, most of it is wind noise rather than engine noise (unless you have a cold-air intake or sports exhaust which can both create droning noise). You can cut the wind noise by driving with the soft-top & windows raised, or even better by fitting a hardtop ... but it's still a very raw experience (some say that's part of the charm). For long highway drives, I like to use in-ear earphones with an iPod to listen to music at low volume. It cuts the wind & engine noise almost completely and you don't get to the end of the trip with ringing in your ears. Noise-cancelling earphones are even better. I recommend you give it a try on your 1200km trip. Even better, look for some twisty roads to break up your journey and remind yourself why you bought the MX-5 in the first place.

You need to do it under the carpet, doing it on the hardtop will only make it louder.

Dann

NitroDann wrote:The lower the offset the more dish, negative offset is stupid wanker dish.

Dann

So when are you buying neg offset wheels to go along with your comment?

nanotech wrote:

NitroDann wrote:The lower the offset the more dish, negative offset is stupid wanker dish.

Dann

So when are you buying neg offset wheels to go along with your comment?

When are you buying some useful information to go along with your comment?

You should be pretty safe with anything from 1x6 +45to 15x8 +20 with appropriate tyres and very minor guard work. Sky is tge limit but tgose are tge sensible boundzries nost stick to on an na6 stock powered. Use willtheyfit.com to get an idea of sizing and comparison. On phone so this may come out as jibberish lol. The hit detection on my touvh screen is pretty poor lol

Show me a pic of NEGATIVE offset wheels that are anything but wanky looking.

Not low, not less than stock, negative.

Dann

Charlie dosnt look too bad and you were looking at the n2 flared car ty bought too remember. Good luck putting anything but negative on that and not looking wanky!

Shouldnt be neg offsets. Those look wanky. 10 inch wide rims dont.

Dann

The post wasnt aimed at anyone, merely to show the OP that going so low its in the negative is silly dish only used to try to impress people, not performance.

Dann

I wouldnt say impress people. maybe the Honda crew lol. But to be honest people do things for themself.

Low offset just looks better. High offset isn't pretty!