Pablo's 2004 MSM Build

[bazooka joe]

Makes me wish I didn't give up on my car. LOL

you can always get another one!!!

 

[THE Phen]

No way in hell am I dumping as much money on mods on another as I did on this thing. New owner is getting one helluva deal. I'll never recoup that $2600 I dropped on the turbo upgrade.

 

[JamesCH]

I'll never recoup that $[any number] I dropped on the [any upgrade].

Just fill in the blanks for anything, ever. Hooray for modifying cars!

 

[princess peach]

Tell me about it, I cringe every time I think about how much I've spent. I feel better after driving it though, I just need to stop buying s***...

 

[princess peach]

Case in point: 15x9 TR Motorsports C series with 225/45/15 Rivals. This is why I'm always broke, and can't afford a girlfriend.

 

[WillD]

I'm jealous. I want to drive my Miata.

 

[o0n8]

Case in point: 15x9 TR Motorsports C series with 225/45/15 Rivals. This is why I'm always broke, and can't afford a girlfriend.

There's your problem, you're going about it all the wrong way. You're not supposed to buy girl friends, just a wife.

 

[Lewis7789]

Ooooh, new wheels? Very nice! The 17's just look too big.

 

[princess peach]

 

[WillD]

Ooooh, new wheels? Very nice! The 17's just look too big.

Very much agree.

 

[THE Phen]

Yup, 17's are much too large for the car. 16's are just about right, but you can't beat a good 15x8+

(I can't bring myself to say 15x9 since a 225 is still kinda stretch on that wheel)

 

[WillD]

(I can't bring myself to say 15x9 since a 225 is still kinda stretch on that wheel)

I disagree. 15x9 + 225 is faster than 15x8 + 225.

The 225 Rival has a tread width of 8.5". So you'd need a 9" wheel to use the tire to it's best potential.

 

[JamesCH]

Nice wheels/tires! Those were on the purchase list...

Then I decided to get married this summer, and that s*** is expensive. Worse yet...

...my fiance is annoyed that wedding commitments interfere with most of the local autox events this year.

 

[princess peach]

I use to be married, so I know how expensive it can be. s***, I'm still paying for the divorce...

 

[Lewis7789]

I'm glad we will always have each other, Peaches. -xoxo

 

[THE Phen]

I disagree. 15x9 + 225 is faster than 15x8 + 225.

The 225 Rival has a tread width of 8.5". So you'd need a 9" wheel to use the tire to it's best potential.

Well then I'm a ******. So much for all of those places that say 205-215 = 7" 225 = 8" 235= 9"

 

[WillD]

Meh, those places don't know s***. There is nothing wrong with those tire/wheel sizes you gave, but it's just not the fastest way to go.

This is something that I see Emilio from 949 Racing post on Miata.net quite frequently:

1. Increased tension on sidewall reduces unwanted deflection and distortion.
a. Quicker steering response
b. Reduce camber loss from sidewall deflection
c. More linear steering response at max slip angle

2. Increased air volume
a. Lower pressures allow tread to conform to road surface better, improving grip.
b. Increased air volume temperature fluctuates less with tread heating/cooling.

3. Contact patch is increased by decreasing psi loading per unit area (lower air pressure and wider rim). Imagine pressing hard inflated basketball onto ground or mostly deflated basketball onto ground.

a. By lowering loading per unit area, total friction potential per unit area is increased.
b. Tire wear pattern is more even
c. Tire wear rate is improved

In general, a Spec Miata with 205/50 NT01's on 15x7's will run around 39psi hot. The same car with 225/45's on 15x9's will run around 30psi hot
and generate about .25g more lateral grip

In short, the same answer I reply to about 5 emails a week: "9's are faster"

 

[THE Phen]

Thank God I won't have that car anymore to worry about it. Not like I could fit 9's on it anyway without coils.

 

[WillD]

I have no idea haha. I'm never going to put 9's on my car.

 

[princess peach]

good tip on the pressure when hot, these were shipped with 35PSI on them... I usually keep mine on 32 when cold for the street