Help me decide!!!! 14" RPF1 or 15x9 6UL

[Paul B]

I feel weird doing this but I have gotten solid adult advice from MR.net before.

Here is my dilemma:


I made a deal late last season to trade my early-gen nickel 15x8 6UL wheels for a genuine GV taillight panel. Now the time has come to get rid of the wheels.

The wheels currently have 205/50 Dunlop Direzza dz101 tires on them with decent tread life left on them. The person getting the wheels does not need the tires.


Here is where I need help.

Do I buy set of 15x9 6ULs (up one size in width and maybe go width a dark color like Charcoal)? Id use current tires. Roughly have to spend $650.

Or

Do I buy a set of 14x7" Enkei RPF1 19mm in silver for roughly $650.....and then buy a set of 14" 185/55 tires for a few hundred bucks more.

Car is white. Both wheels look will great. Guess it really comes down to if I want to buy new 14" tires and then attempt to sell the old 15" tires.

So...please help. what does MR think?

Thanks!

Paul B

[RustRat]

Rpf1 in 14". Not the wisest choice, moneywise, though...

[—tsingson—]

I would actually choose the 6ULs. I am a fan of 15" wheels. I think they look perfect on miatas.

[Paul B]

I would actually choose the 6ULs. I am a fan of 15" wheels. I think they look perfect on miatas.

I do love the 6uls. and the extra width would look great. So would a bit darker color.

Such a hard decision.

[Paul B]

Rpf1 in 14". Not the wisest choice, moneywise, though...

The extra cost for tires is what might hold me back from the 14s.

[Greasemonkey2000]

VERY hard choice indeed, Paul! When i was looking at getting wheels over 3 years ago for my first miata, a nb1, i had the EXACT same dilemma but it was between the 14" RPF1's or 15x8's.

Ultimately it was a financial decision because the 15x8 +25 Konig Flatouts (12.4lbs) were only $109/each ($436 set of 4) vs $169/each (iirc, or $676 or 55% more) for the 14x7 Enkei RPF1's.

The other factor was tire choice which is slim to say the least for 14's. With 15's you have a pretty wide variety of tires ranging from mild all seasons to wild/"wide" track only super sticky tires.

Others say if you want to maintain its "tossable nature" to stay smaller but if you prefer more grip go 15s. I chose the latter and i am ADDICTED to grip and while at times i wish i had bought the 14" RPF1's i think the next set of wheels and tires will be 15x9 or x10 with the new Maxxis VR1 245s...so you can see where it can lead.

[HarryB]

15x8 RPF1's?

15"s for more tire options and more sensible prices, as well as space for brakes

14"s for a cooler retro look.

[MLambert19]

Paul, what are your long-term plans for the car? Turbo, V8, Naturally aspirated?

If big power is in the cards, bigger wheels allow for bigger brakes and bigger tires. Otherwise, I think there will always be a handful of decent tires for 14's.

What does your gut say? I've found that every time I compromise to save a buck, I end up regretting it and later spending more to do what I wanted the first time around.

-Matt

[mx54life]

Go get your 6UL 15x9 you know you want one since you already tried the 15x8. The 14x7 RPF1 will have to wait.......

[— kung fu jesus —]

The 15x9 limits your choice in tires as much as a 14x7. Sure you can put a 205 on the 9" wide wheel, but that is an odd stretch. 225/45 or 245/40 are unusual and rare tire sizes.

[Paul B]

Thank you for all of your opinions folks! I do appreciate it.

Long term plans are probably just a turbocharger. I miss my old turbo Miata Not going to V8 swap this car.

Since I currently have 205/50-15 tires I'm thinking I will go with the 15x9 6ULs. I do love the design and the extra width will look better and feel better.

The photos I've seen of 205/50 on the 15x9 look really good IMO.

The 14x7 may have to wait. Not the smartest idea right now. I will be able to afford them in the future.

well now all I have to do is sell this stupid Volkswagen I have in order to get some spending cash.

[— Phatmiata —]

I second the comment on 15x8 RPF1's, why not do that, and FWIW you can always powdercoat your wheels whatever color floats your boat, just saying.

[Paul B]

I second the comment on 15x8 RPF1's, why not do that, and FWIW you can always powdercoat your wheels whatever color floats your boat, just saying.

Never really thought of that.... but looking at photos comparing the 14" rpf1 to the 15", I like the look of the 14" rpf1 better. idk, cant explain it just something about the 14" wheels that look better. and the price per wheel is a big jump compared to the 15x9 6UL.

I feel like I need a size change too...either go wider or smaller. in Wheels....yes wheels.

Well I just sold the VW and that cash will be used to fund wheels so a lot of thinking left to do.

[jux]

I'm a bit late, but might as well throw in a few words.
I had a set of gen 1.5 bronze 15x8 6ULs on a white '90 w/o power steering. Ran them with 225-45 RS2s for a bit, then 205-50 Star Specs. Grip was nice, they looked good, and I couldn't feel much, if any, difference in effort compared to the 15x7 K1Rs I'd previously used.
Then Brian Goodwin offered up a limited run of the 14x7 +19 RPF1s. They were obviously MUCH lighter, and they looked great, so I bought in. I ended up with some of the last 195-55 T1Rs, making for a very light combination. I think it lost about 8lbs per corner, and that difference was very noticeable in steering effort and feedback.
Yeah, 14" tire selection is now very limited. No idea what I'll use next. But I love these wheels.
The 15x8 RPF1 might be a good compromise, as it offers the same flat spoke design with added width and a far greater tire selection albeit with a higher price point.