MR-2 wheels and tire questions

[richard_rsp]

Hey everybody! I picked up some pretty nice MR2 Spyder wheels today (unfortunately the tires are the wrong size, so I will be getting new ones, but that's ok, they were a great deal anyway)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/richard_rsp/b7ad9af4.jpg

As you may know, the MR2 wheels are 6" wide in the front and 6.5" wide in the back, so I will be running a staggered wheel set.

I am thinking I want to run the 6.5" up front and the 6" in the back with penguin 10mm spacers.

Anyway, I want to run the same size tire on both front and back and I'm trying to decide if I should go 195/55 or 205/55. On the 6.5" wheel, 205/55 should fit well, but I'm worried it might be a bit large for the 6" wheels. I could run 195/55, but the tire is about 2% fast and I want to try to get as much tire as possible in those wheel wells. I will be using these for daily drivers and occasional (non-competitive) autocross weekends.

So, what would you recommend?

Thanks! :-)

[tk-421]

205/55's fit OK on 6" wheels, but that size won't fill up the tire as nicely as 6.5".
I have PG spacers myself and 205 will rub on the rear passenger side fender unless you plan on removing the rear seat. Otherwise you may want to get a thinner spacer for the right side, which is something I plan on asking Joel@PG myself at some point. I also added a little camber to minimize the problem, and it got better but it's still not quite there yet.

[richard_rsp]

Hmmm...thanks for the info. What offset wheels are you running that they rub? Are they the 38mm in your garage?

[tk-421]

+38 offset. :thumbsup:

[richard_rsp]

Ok cool thanks... Hopefully these won't be a problem since they are 45mm... But maybe I can get them to work...

[tk-421]

I think you'll be fine. Rubbing is not terrible, but it is annoying. I'm looking to roll the fenders a bit, which should also help, but it's surprisingly difficult to find those around here...

[richard_rsp]

Well, I decided to go with the 195/55 R15 Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Firehawk+Wide+Oval+Indy+500&partnum=955WR5FHWI5&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes), more because it was what they have in stock since I have a coupon for $100 off in-stock tires over $500. So hopefully I won't have to worry about any scrubbing. I have an appointment tomorrow morning at 9am...

In related performance news: Also installing my TRD springs tomorrow. :)

[tk-421]

I think you made the right choice. Another advantage is that the tires will be a bit lighter as well. Less rolling resistance FTW. :thumbsup:

[richard_rsp]

They look great!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/richard_rsp/d5c734b3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/richard_rsp/2c7fe8da.jpg

[tk-421]

Nicely done! :thumbsup:

[enviri]

Man those rims match everything lol. I also own a set with 195/55r15 for strictly winter use

[Tamago]

a classic wheel. i used to have them on my corolla. i also used to have them for about 30 minutes on my MR2 spyder ;)

[detroiter]

Looks great!

Don't forget though that the staggered setup on the Mr2 Spyders was only for the 2nd revision of them. The first model year up until the 2002 models, had the same size rims and tires all the way around.

[Tamago]

Looks great!

Don't forget though that the staggered setup on the Mr2 Spyders was only for the 2nd revision of them. The first model year up until the 2002 models, had the same size rims and tires all the way around.

that's not the truth.

[enviri]

all mr2 spyders had staggered rims. the first version was just staggered width. Second version had 15" fronts and 16" rears.

[detroiter]

Really? Everything I've read on the mr2 spyder forums stated that first gen spyders had 15" rims and same size tires all of the way around. Second gen spyders is when they went 15" fronts and 16" rears with differeing tire widths as well. -shrugs-

[yarisugi]

This should sum it up.

2000-2002:
Front Wheels
Width 15x6
Offset = et45
PCD = 4 x 100
Front Tires = 185/55/15

Rear Wheels
Width 15x6.5
Offset = et45
PCD = 4 x 100
Rear Tires = 205/50/15

2003-2005:
Front Wheels
Width 15x6
Offset = et45
PCD = 4 x 100
Front Tires = 185/55/15

Rear Wheels
Width 16x7
Offset = et45
PCD = 4 x 100
Rear Tires = 215/45/16

[detroiter]

Wow well I stand corrected, I'm glad to know this. Thanks!

[lambros]

2 years later....we know the manufacturer of mr2 spyder wheels and the weight of 15 inch without tire?
I have a set of them (1st gen 15inch front rear) for my 09 hb and I want to try them on 185-60 r15....will see the combination of 6,5inch rim and 185cm tire....

[chapabig]

i have 15" MR-2 wheels. I hate my monster truck tires 195-60-15. Im really looking to get some 195-50-15 in the future

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa109/chapabig/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps68dc4f59.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/chapabig/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps68dc4f59.jpg.html)

[lambros]

Nice ride my friend...am gone to use them as spare set wheels and tires....
I have the corollas TS 16inch 10 spoke for daily drive

[BobTheYaris]

I used wheels from a 2nd gen Miata for two years. Only problem I found was that they hit the fender when I hit bigger bumps. I used them cause they had the right size winter tires and they bolt right on if anyones interested.


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[lambros]

I used wheels from a 2nd gen Miata for two years. Only problem I found was that they hit the fender when I hit bigger bumps. I used them cause they had the right size winter tires and they bolt right on if anyones interested.


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
Do you remember the size of the tires and the offset of the miata wheels...

[BobTheYaris]

They were 205/55R16, not sure about offset but they were stock '01 wheels so you could look it up


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[lambros]

205 is to wide I gone 185...

[gumby002]

i have 15" MR-2 wheels. I hate my monster truck tires 195-60-15. Im really looking to get some 195-50-15 in the future

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa109/chapabig/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps68dc4f59.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/chapabig/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps68dc4f59.jpg.html)

Chapabig,
We have the same year hatchback. I currently have stock rims and stock size tires 185 60 15 and I am actually thinking about getting bigger tires.

Can you tell me why you don't like your monster tires?

[chapabig]

Chapabig,
We have the same year hatchback. I currently have stock rims and stock size tires 185 60 15 and I am actually thinking about getting bigger tires.

Can you tell me why you don't like your monster tires?

They look TOO big for the wheels. makes my wheels look smaller than they are, plus, i want to lower my car and i dont want to tuck tires that much. by the way, the ride is confortable, but i have use 50 series tires on 15" wheels before and the ride quality is not bad

[gumby002]

So its not a performance issue rather than just a look you are going for.
Is your vehicle height stock now?
Are there any issues with clearance with the bigger tires?
Any issues at all?

[chapabig]

So its not a performance issue rather than just a look you are going for.
Is your vehicle height stock now?
Are there any issues with clearance with the bigger tires?
Any issues at all?

Its defenitely not a performance issue. Its more of a cosmetic one. My vehicle is currently stock height but if i where to lower it then i would have problems clearing the tires. im going to keep the same width of tires, im just going to lower the sidewalls