Mk3 Wheels

Discussion and technical advice for 84-89 AW10 & AW11 MR2. 3A-LU, 4A-GE, 4A-GZE.

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LeeHoochie
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Mk3 Wheels

Post by LeeHoochie »

Does anyone have Mk3 alloys on their Mk1? Do they fit straight on?

Im new to the forums and will be asking plenty of silly question, so hello to you all.
waynestoyotamr2
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by waynestoyotamr2 »

Straight swap.

Job Done.
"If in doubt - just make the numbers up!" ;)
LeeHoochie
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by LeeHoochie »

Do you have an idea of what size they are diameter and width?.
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Lauren
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by Lauren »

Early MK3 wheels are 15" width i think is 7J.

Only thing is you will want to ditch the stock tyre sizes which are IIRC 185s front and 225s rear.

this will make the car an understeering dog. I drove a car with this setup round rockingham and it was no fun at all.

stick 195/50s all round. F1s for road work only. S03s for road and track work. F1s overheat way too easily on track.
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aaronjb
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by aaronjb »

Pre 2003 wheels:

Front 15x6J, 185/55R15 tyres
Rear 15x6.5J, 205/50R15 tyres

Post 2003 wheels:

Front 15x6J, 185/55R15
Rear 16x6.5J, 215/45R16

I *think* the post 2003's are correct, pre 2003 definitely is (that's what's on my car).

You'll find that standard wheels will (assuming they're unmolested) have locating pegs on the rear (wider) tyres that need removing before you fit them - they just pull out with pliers.
LeeHoochie
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by LeeHoochie »

Ok this is me now sounding stupid, both set of wheels pre/post 2003 are different sizes front and back which ones would be best to get?

The wheels will come on their own (no tyres) so will stick will laurens recommendation. the tyres i wanted were either A539 or toyo proxes.

The mk3 wheels look very much like enkei's do you know if thats right? I wanted the white ones(red car, if anyone has seen them).
aaronjb
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by aaronjb »

Well tyres for the post '03s are harder to get hold of in stock sizes (but then you're not going for stock sizes anyhow) - going to be cheaper to get rubber for 15" wheels though. I'd probably go for pre '03 if I were you.

I've run Proxes (T1-S) on mine on the track and although I wasn't pushing 110%, knocked hardly any tread off after a day at Elvington.

The Mk3 wheels look like this..
Image

They only came in silver as standard, but the finish on them as standard sucks bigtime - everyones start peeling sooner or later and look like cack. Cheap enough to get recoated in a colour of your choice, though..
jimi
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by jimi »

Image
2002 wheels with Goodyear F1's 195/50/R15 all round. If you use the the standard 205/50/R15's on the rear then your speedo ( and gearing ) will be wrong and if you get the later wheels you will have to juggle the tyre sizes to keep your speedo and gearing correct. 195/50/R15's keep everything correct.
One thing you will have to do, the earlier wheels have a stud fitted to the inside of the centre of the rear wheels ( to stop you fitting the 6.5's on the front of the MK3) this will need removed, it just unscrews.
Last edited by jimi on Thu Sep 26, 2024 10:05 pm, edited 2 times in total.
LeeHoochie
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by LeeHoochie »

Cheers for the help peeps, the mk3 alloys really suit the mk1 as well as the mk3.
SySanguinary
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by SySanguinary »

Just to throw something else into the ring....
If you dont mind the speedo being slightly out, and I mean slightly as I use a GPS for my speed, try the 205 tyres on the back wheels. I have recently put these on mine with MK3 wheels and the extra grip coming out of corners is amazing....
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Lauren
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by Lauren »

SySanguinary wrote:Just to throw something else into the ring....
If you dont mind the speedo being slightly out, and I mean slightly as I use a GPS for my speed, try the 205 tyres on the back wheels. I have recently put these on mine with MK3 wheels and the extra grip coming out of corners is amazing....


It will just increase understeer though so it will not help the handling balance of the car at all.
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trunks_mk1
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by trunks_mk1 »

hi, I know this is an old question and I'm sorry if you are repeating yourselves. Just got some mk3 pre 2003 alloys, I read the offset for these are ET45 compared the standard ET38. Is it necessary to get some spacers? if so, can somebody recommend a good cheap place they have used? a link would be nice.

Also, how much am I looking at to put some rubber on these wheels? whats a good brand to go with? I am on a budget so I'm open to all recommendations/prices. (I have recently put some new goodyears on my standards so I am a bit annoyed, but these popped up and now I want to put them on!)

Thanks in advance!
jimi
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by jimi »

Mk3 wheels will fit fine, no spacers needed. Best bet it to fit 195 x 50 x 15 all round.
hth
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Lauren
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by Lauren »

trunks_mk1 wrote:hi, I know this is an old question and I'm sorry if you are repeating yourselves. Just got some mk3 pre 2003 alloys, I read the offset for these are ET45 compared the standard ET38. Is it necessary to get some spacers? if so, can somebody recommend a good cheap place they have used? a link would be nice.

Also, how much am I looking at to put some rubber on these wheels? whats a good brand to go with? I am on a budget so I'm open to all recommendations/prices. (I have recently put some new goodyears on my standards so I am a bit annoyed, but these popped up and now I want to put them on!)

Thanks in advance!


Eagle F1s
budget= A539s.
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JimGreen
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by JimGreen »

I can back lauren up on the understeer with the standard tyre setup. Mine is a dog atm, mainly because I just want to wear these tyres out before replacing.

Image
looks nice though
trunks_mk1
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by trunks_mk1 »

thanks all. Just a few more questions :)

1. Can I use the standard nuts?
2. Would I still be looking for tyres with a width of 6J at the front and 6.5J at the rear?
3. I gather most people have only four of the mk3 alloys. What do you use for your spare?
JimGreen
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by JimGreen »

standard nuts are a bit long and look funny, try to get the ones off the MR2 MK3 or get some more (jimi sent me an ebay link for some). I use foam for a spare - but mainly because I need the frunk for luggage space.
jimi
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by jimi »

As Jim says the MK1 nuts are too long, I got new ones from ebay ( around £25 for 20 ) just make sure you get the parallel ones with the flat washer ( not tapered ones) thread size is 12 x 1.5mm ( 1.5 being the thread pitch ) 195 x 50 tyres will be fine front and back. The back wheels ( 6.5J ) should have a locating pin on the inside of the wheel centre ( its to stop you fitting the rear wheels on the front of a MK3) just unscrew and discard it, you don't need it on the MK1. I carry a standard Mk1 teardrop as a spare, the RR is virtually identical to the 15's, so it will be fine for emergencies.
HTH
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Stuart Davidson
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mk3 wheels

Post by Stuart Davidson »

Or you could buy a 15" roadster wheel from me to use as a spare as I have two that are going to be up for sale. both as new, pm if interested, or if anybody else want"s one.
trunks_mk1
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Re: Mk3 Wheels

Post by trunks_mk1 »

Stuart, how much are looking for 1 of the 15"? its not necessary to have them all the same but nice, but all depends on price and location.

Is £164.88 for 4 NEW x Yokohama A539 195/50 R15 V fitted and balanced a good price?

Does the tyres for the rear not need to be slightly wider as the alloys are slightly wider at the rear? I asume not as everybody has said same tyres all round.

THANKS ALL!
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