MR2 Owners Club

A 2003/53 MR2 Mk III (first reg. 2004) I am considering to buy is fitted with a set of after-market multi-spoke 17" alloys which are not my preference. I want to revert to a staggered 15"/16" setup, but none of the most readily Google-discoverable wheel suppliers offer staggered sets. Where am I likely to find a set, even if they need refurb?

As a secondary question, if it turns out that this car was originally fitted with 15" wheels at all 4 corners, will the fitting of a staggered set detract from the handling?

"staggered" is normally associated with wheel/tyre width rather than diameter. Even the PFL (pre-face lift) setup of 15" all round are "staggered" ie wider on the rear
Tyres: 185 x 55 x 15 Front. 205 x 50 x 15 Rear
Size: 15 x 6J front 15 x 6.5J rear
PCD: 4 x 100mm
Offset: 45mm
Centre Bore: 54.1mm
Changing to a 15" front 16" rear setup ( even if it was originally a 15" / 15" setup) shouldn't detract from the handling, if anything it may improve on a 17" setup (in my opinion)

Thanks for this clarification/correction - you have pointed out a distinction I was not previously aware of.

With 16" rears, should the recommended tyre size still be 205/50/16 on a 6.5J rim, rather than 215/45/16 ( as I have seen quoted elsewhere), which would, ideally, require a 7J rim ?

Offset still 45 mm irrespective of rim width ?

Standard wheel/tyre sizes
1999 - September 2002 (facelift cars took over for the 2003 model year starting in September 2002)
Front Wheels
Width 15" x 6"
Offset = et45
PCD = 4 x 100
Weight = 14.6 lbs

Rear Wheels
Width 15" x 6.5"
Offset = et45
PCD = 4 x 100
Weight = 15.2 lbs

Front Tyres
185/55/15
Rear Tyres
205/50/15

September 2002 - End of line
Front Wheels
Width 15" x 6"
Offset = et45
PCD = 4 x 100
Weight = 14.6 lbs

Rear Wheels
Width 16" x 7"
Offset = et45
PCD = 4 x 100
Weight =?

Front Tyres
185/55/15
Rear Tyres
215/45/16