Wheels and Tires

[Sparky5e]

Tough call on the wheels. It's as personal a choice a buying a car. Been looking myself at many sites and still haven't found anything that says "buy me". Each color car looks good in certain rims and having a tough time deciding on a good chrome wheel that looks good with blue streak and the Solara lines. Living in the great lakes area I want to leave the stock rims for winter salty slush driving.

[MCOjerry]

It sure is a difficult decision...you could find out you hate them once you get them on your car...but I guess that's why rims go around this site so much

[JMSinMaryland]

Wow,
So many suggestions.

1. 2/32 is technically bald, there's no way of putting an exact mileage to how long they'll last.

2. There is nothing wrong with buying new tires at 4/32 (obviously you would want to buy a matching set of 4 at the same time, I'm using 4/32 because all 4 tires help with traction.

3. We are leasing our HL and besides changing out the drivers armrest to something wider I wouldn't put a penny besides oil changes, rotation and balance and alignments into a leased vehicle, you'll still be stuck with a set of wheels/tires at the end of the lease that might not fit your next vehicle.

4. Wheel purchases are based on individual aesthetics, it's better for you to come back with the brand/style you like and people can chime in with brand quality, there are hundreds of different companies out there. I for one, have always bought Konig's in 18s with a 225/40 18 tire and never had problems with them. If you do wind up upgrading I personally like the Yokohama Avid in 18, my 18" Avid H4s came with a 60k treadwear warranty.

5. The 90's called, they want these rims back, Niche misses them., btw OZ is a good brand, maybe look at TSW for some nice looking, good quality rims, in an OE style you like.


6. Even if you use the Miata Tire Calculator to keep your rolling diameter the same and therefore your odometer, an 18" wheel will still make your car look jacked up.

7. My perspective with modification is you do it right or not at all, if you put on rims you lower a car, if you do HIDs you do them in the proper housing, half @$$ modifications look like half @$$ modications. <~this last part is not directed at the original poster, just in general.

8. I would definitely go 18"+, I think my favorite wheels out there right now are the AT Italia Inox SS. My "ps" skills , I think they look damn good on your car though

[Sebas007]

SolaraBlue...why Konig is in your "not good" brand ? I have paint problem on 1 wheel (it is was a new model...not even 1 week old) but they are very very solid.

I would go with 19" MOJerry...espacially because you are from Florida ! You have nothing to worry. 19" is the little touch that give a good. Also for a specific wheeel size...w/ lip will always look smaller. I would suggest you to get the rims I didn'T get because was too expensive in shipping...I was buying in a Florida store online. The wheel is DONZ Columbo in 19X8 +40 offset it's around 300$. http://www.wheelsdirectonline.com/donz/columbo.htm
By the way, I call DONZ directly to know the specs...and there is no 19X8.5 on ly 18X8, 19X8 and 19X10 , 20X8 and 20X10

[MCOjerry]

Thanks JMS - those wheels you PSd pretty much look like my stock rims. If I didn't know you PSd the pic, I'd swear they were the stock rims.

Sebastian, 19" is too much rim for me. I'm sure it would lok good if I lowered the care, but I can't do that.

I guess I just need to wiegh the cost vs. the hassle of having the unload them after the lease is up and decide if it's worth it to me. Since I know I'd be stuck with them after, I'm asking for everyone's opinions...afterall, I'd need to sell them later

[PXLpainter]

Jerry -

Since you're not going to be seriously modding your car (like lowering, etc.) because it's a lease, then I'd stick with a less "sporty" wheel and go with something more stylish, since that seems to be your style anyway. An 18" rim with a beefier look will still be great on your car even if it isn't lowered, just keep your tire profile low enough to compensate going from 17" to 18" - using the tire size calculator, or course.