ms3 stock tire size..little options

Engineer420

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2007 Mazdaspeed3 GT Black Mica
Everyone is either upgrading their wheels or putting bigger tires on the stock rims ..are there any GOOD tires besides the stock bridestones that come in the stock size..Mazda seems to have stuck it to us bc there isn't s*** for choices in the stock tire size..I didn't want to get the bridestones again but its lookin more like it. Pirelli and kumho are bad.
 
Everyone is either upgrading their wheels or putting bigger tires on the stock rims ..are there any GOOD tires besides the stock bridestones that come in the stock size..Mazda seems to have stuck it to us bc there isn't s*** for choices in the stock tire size..I didn't want to get the bridestones again but its lookin more like it. Pirelli and kumho are bad.

Why not go a little wider? LIke 225's?
 
Only OEM size that I found which are good and fair priced are Toyo Proxes T1R. I plan on getting them soon and they are only about $141-$160 a tire. Thats $20 more then Khumo and $50 less then Potenzas.
 
225/45R18 fits stock rims (doesn't need to go to a 7.5 inch wide rim), is within about 1.5 % of stock tire diameter, and comes in the Falken RT-615 Azenis.
 
The KDW2's dont come in OEM size.

And when a 225/45/18 calls for a .5 wider rim I am not going to just ignore it and slap it on. If I cant buy new rims to do it right I will at least buy the correct tire.
 
Alright, are there any advantages or disadvantages to going with a 215/40 or 225/40?

Also, I've been searching around discout tire direct . com I used to have Kumho Ecsta AST all-weathers on my Integra and they held up REALLY well for a cheap tire. I am wondering if anyone has any experience using the Ecsta ASX or can recommend an all-weather tire that will fit our cars and WON'T cost me a ton of money??
 
There are a lot of options in 225/45 18. I bought a set of Bridgestone S03 for just over $100. I start looking for sales about a month or two before I NEED the tires and have always been able to find a cheap set of good tires. Try all the usual online spots. TR, DT, Edgeracing, etc.

Bought a set of Falken 615 for HPDE for under $130.

Good luck - too bad the stock size is so hard to find at reasonable prices.
 
225/45R18 DON'T call for the .5 inch wider rim, the 225/40R18's do. That's my point.

Check it out: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec....&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=0

So no, MS3077, 225/40R18 do not fit.

It says the measured rim was 7.5 but the range is 7-8. I am not going to risk it because we all know that a .5 wider rim is what we really need but are trying to find ways around it.

If you read the tech data about rim width it says that the measured rim width stated is what is required for the tire to perform properly. Therefore we need a .5 wider wheel to get out of OEM size tires. I am sure they will fit but it doesnt make it the best option and something is being sacrificed.
 
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225/45R18 DON'T call for the .5 inch wider rim, the 225/40R18's do. That's my point.

Check it out: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec....&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=0

So no, MS3077, 225/40R18 do not fit.
I have 225-40/18's that fit.

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It says the measured rim was 7.5 but the range is 7-8. I am not going to risk it because we all know that a .5 wider rim is what we really need but are trying to find ways around it.

If you read the tech data about rim width it says that the measured rim width stated is what is required for the tire to perform properly. Therefore we need a .5 wider wheel to get out of OEM size tires. I am sure they will fit but it doesnt make it the best option and something is being sacrificed.
Read those links on TireRack again.

The measured rim width is the rim width at which the tires will perform exactly to spec, with tread width and sidewall heights being exactly as advertised. Strictly speaking, we need a .5 inch wider wheel just to get to OEM tire sizes, if you're only going to fit to the measured rim width.

Rim width range is the width at which the tire will perform properly as designed, and safely, you just won't be getting EXACTLY 225mm wide contact patch and EXACTLY 45% sidewall height because of the way the sidewall is stretched/compressed in to fit various rim widths.

If you want to fit tires to your rims, check the rim width range. If your rim width falls in the range, the tire is fine for your rim. For us, with 18s, the best we can get is 225/45R18. 235 section widths or 40 aspect ratios push beyond our 7" rim.
 
I have 225-40/18's that fit.
They fit, but they are being stretched out on the rim beyond design spec, and that weakens the sidewall. You can force a tire onto a rim +/- .5 inches, sometimes a full inch, but that doesn't mean its safe. If your tires fail, the manufacturer will tell you to go to hell because you put them on rims that are narrower than specified.
 

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