Christople

Test mules have 4 lug wheels. I think when I see a picture of a 5 lug "teaser" image I call BS.

Mazda has been trying to save weight everywhere on the car and 4 is going to be lighter than 5

berny2435

Never been a miata owner, but I'm sure some were pissed off at 5 lug when it came around. But mainly bc 15" tires are so damn cheap. the newer miatas have a huge selection of 5 lug wheels to choose from now. Would be a crime to go back to 4 lug IMO. Give it another 1.5hp to make up for the weight.. . give it more expensive optional wheels at 15lb 17x7.5s. leave the 5x114.3 alone!

Bullwings

At miata power levels and a proposed drop in miata weight, there's really no need for 5 lug and 17s.

I'm all for 4 lug with 15"s.

It'll be a huge savings to weight, and assuming proper engineering, a 15x8 to 15x9 wheel would work great with 205s to 225s (street tires). There's also plenty of 15x7 to 15x8 wheel options in 4 lug with a fair amount of options in 15x9.

I see no need to go beyond 15"s at miata weight and power levels. Brakes are more than adequate, and wilwood makes a BBK to fit that size. Obviously wheel well design will need to match the sizing correctly or it will look oddly out of proportion.

The move to bigger and bigger wheels is unnecessary. Boxsters and Caymans with 19"s and 20"s is not needed. 18" more than adequately accomplish the same performance goals. Hypercars are a different story.

Wheel width, wheel wells to accommodate them, and tire support are more important. 15s, 17s, and 18s have more than enough selection and sizes. A lot of higher performance cars coming out with 19s and 20s are coming from the factory with some sort of semi-rcompish type of tire with some sort of UTQG of 100 or below. At that point, 15s, 17s, and 18s also have plenty of options to accommodate wider tires if street tire sizes are no longer valid for the desired aftermarket wheel size.

CosmosMpower

I know of a "next gen" miata that's 1900 lbs and 190 hp. You can even get one for 25k right now! It's called a 05 Elise

2200 lbs and 180-200 hp sounds awfully boring. Heck even a NA Elise is pretty slow past 60 mph.

Mr.E.G.

The only Elises I could find for $25k had a zillion miles on them or had salvaged titles. The price has gone way up on them.

blkwidow

It's boring if you're only into "fast cars". Which is not what this car is about, obviously.

Christople

You want some good 4 lug miata wheels you buy 6UL's

http://949racing.com/15-wheels.aspx

11.8lbs for the 15x8
$158 a wheel

BOOM

Mr.E.G.

That's what I had on my Miata. I don't get the allure of a bolt pattern than isn't 4x100. I've owner a few cars with 4x100 bolt pattern and I never felt like my options were limited.

CosmosMpower

High mileage is not a big deal on an Elise. I almost pulled the trigger on a 100K mile one for 19K clean title but someone already beat me to it.

Marioshi

There is one near me for 29k. Has some miles on it but looks like its in perfect shape. Hardtop and soft-top included. If I didn't have my car money tied up in the C7 I might jump on it!

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4603748802.html