Mazda5 Tires: Issues & Replacement Recommendations

[AO928]

This happens to any car with neg camber.

Did you up your tire pressure before the trip? How much of a load did you have?

The tire pressure plate on my Saab actually listed a higher inflation recommendation for loads over 750 pounds or more than 2 people.

I rotated Saab tires every 3000 miles.

BS. Negative camber alone will not cause this kind of wear in this short of time (unless it's cause by excessive load). I run 1 50' of negative camber on my Porsche and don't have any issues with inside wear.

It's the combination of negative camber and excessive toe out that usually casuses this condition. The excessive toe could be caused by a falty alighment or, depending on the geometry of the suspension, the load on the suspension. I haven't taken the time to study the 5's suspension geometry, but it would surprise me if it toe's out some under load, so I would suspect that the toe setting is probably out of spec or he was carrying an excessive load.

 

[AIMWO4]

Is your Porsche FWD?

Did his post say he was on a trip? Hence, excessive load? I had a BMW w/ neg camber that never had this wear problem.

And rear alignment toe-in does affect wear. This is common on FWD neg camber.

BS. Negative camber alone will not cause this kind of wear in this short of time (unless it's cause by excessive load). I run 1 50' of negative camber on my Porsche and don't have any issues with inside wear.

It's the combination of negative camber and excessive toe out that usually casuses this condition. The excessive toe could be caused by a falty alighment or, depending on the geometry of the suspension, the load on the suspension. I haven't taken the time to study the 5's suspension geometry, but it would surprise me if it toe's out some under load, so I would suspect that the toe setting is probably out of spec or he was carrying an excessive load.

 

[skyhawk]

Not enough data. We were fully loaded (4 adults and 2kids + belongings). No roof carrier (otherwise we would surely overload). km reading before trip 26000km after trip some 32000km. From alberta to Cali, tire pressure was at 38psi in the morning. I did not check rear tire wear while in CA. then I lower pressure to recommended 34psi, on the way back - just to feel the difference in ride. And yes with 34psi, the car rides smoother, less-suv-like. No idea which part of the trip wore the tire.

Anyway, I have another set for winter. And the worn pair of toyos are now in the front.
It will be city driving until the next years vacation. come winter the toyos will hibernate.

I will have the alignment checked.

 

[07MZ5SA]

Install airbags should fix the problem.

 

[AIMWO4]

It sounds like the same problem I had with my first Saab. Then I noticed the tire pressure tag that recommended increasing tire pressure with a greater load. I never had the problem after that.

The rear does get a neg camber and some toe-in for handling purposes. You could probably request less toe-in.

Not enough data. We were fully loaded (4 adults and 2kids + belongings). No roof carrier (otherwise we would surely overload). km reading before trip 26000km after trip some 32000km. From alberta to Cali, tire pressure was at 38psi in the morning. I did not check rear tire wear while in CA. then I lower pressure to recommended 34psi, on the way back - just to feel the difference in ride. And yes with 34psi, the car rides smoother, less-suv-like. No idea which part of the trip wore the tire.

Anyway, I have another set for winter. And the worn pair of toyos are now in the front.
It will be city driving until the next years vacation. come winter the toyos will hibernate.

I will have the alignment checked.

 

[coolmazda5]

And yes with 34psi, the car rides smoother, less-suv-like.

(boom08) SUV-like ride on a Mazda5? So the answer is yes, you need to change those tires!

 

[AO928]

Is your Porsche FWD?

Front engine (5.0L V8), rear wheel drive. ~480 RWHP (headbang)

 

[coolmazda5]

Front engine (5.0L V8), rear wheel drive. ~480 RWHP (headbang)

And fuel economy on the high 30s (LOL, just teasing, it's Friday )


Off-topic note:
The closest I've gotten to a car like that was a remote controlled one, 6 D size sucking batteries are an issue when you are kid (freak))

 

[AO928]

Last OT comment on the P-car:

On the highway I get about 18-20MPG. City about 13-14. If I flogg it, 9MPG.

 

[dfskinner]

Matt, I checked a couple of places for tires today; I'm going to put the OEM size back on when I purchase the new ones...... Sams Club has a set of 205/50ZR17 89W BFGoodrich g-Force Sports for $119.52 per tire; little over 500 for everything.

Sears has a tire that's $90.45 per tire, but it carries no warranty.....

 

[orr4yaz8]

I replaced my originals with Toyo Versados 11k ago. I love them. They are much quieter, show very little wear, track nicely and handle just as well as originals. I run 36 psi, they are very comfortable.

 

[JMUDUKE90]

215/50/17's

Just got some Nexen N5000 for $80 each out the door from local dealer. So far so good. I didn't know much about them other than they are Korean but decided it was worth the chance. Dealer said the have sold a lot of them with little problems. Seem pretty quiet so far. Still handle pretty good but not quite as sure footed in the twistys. They are H rated instead of V but its my wife's car so I think 130 mph is still plenty plus car rides much better. I do miss the woop, woop, woop sound my stock toyo's made!

 

[fam]

nice 2nd post. nice tires.

 

[dfskinner]

Just replaced all 4 tires at 45,147 miles. Bought 205/50ZR17 89W BFGoodrich g-Force Sports from Sams Club. I'd measured them back at 39,000 miles, but I don't think I measured the tread right. All four tires mounted out the door 488.26 at Sams Club. Sams warranty is pretty good if you rotate the tires every 6-8000 miles.


http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=206339

 

[B16RacerN2NR]

I had to change the stock Toyo's at 25k but due to me not rotating them as often as I should have. I got a set of Achilles ATR Sports in the stock 205/50/17 size. I have rotated these tires roughly every 7500k miles and they still have TONS of meat left. I've got 25k on these already.

Tire noise is pretty much non existent. They have great dry traction. Wet traction seems to be on par with the stock Toyo's so it's not too bad but it's not a great improvement in terms of wet traction.

I got my set for $300 INSTALLED in doesn't hurt to have an aunt who owns a wheel and tire shop

If anyone who's local and wants to check'em out http://local.yahoo.com/info-20556783-ranchill-tire-wheel-bellflower

Sorry I can't help you guys get a discount though. She wouldn't be able to stay open if everyone got disconts

 

[dfskinner]

Some pic's of the new tires...... pretty smooth ride, alot less road noise than the OEM tires, seems a little more loose in the steering, but may not have the right pressure in the tires, checking that today...... I'll keep updating the site on how they wear........ Sam's has a 4 year warrenty on the tires......we'll see.....

205/50ZR17 89W BFGoodrich g-Force™ Sport

 

[dan4behr]

I had BFG g-force Sport's on the Focus I had prior to my Mz5. They seemed to be a great choice for the Focus (good handling, quieter than OEM Firestone's) and weren't too outrageously expensive - but isn't any 50-series tire expensive nowadays?
I sold the Focus after putting about 15K on the g-force tires and they were still going strong. The car was sold to an acquaintance of mine and they have another 15K or so now and she told me she was shopping for replacements. So, 30K wear on a Focus with regular rotation. I generally don't expect too much in the way of tire life from 50-series tires, but I am trying to make the OEM Toyo's last as long as possible (or I can stand them, they're getting noisy at 15k miles now...) and the g-force will be on my short list of replacement tires. Thanks for the info...(drinks)

 

[rweatherford]

Someone doesn't know how to mount tires..... Wonder how many weights there are on the inside of the wheel. I'm pretty sure you are supposed to line up the yellow (or red) dot with the valve stem. Motorcycle tires are that way.

 

[perfecto]

Just to follow up from my questions about "how would it be loaded down" on 215/50/17 - I have just loaded my 5 down with full camping gear + wife + 2 kids and it's just fine.

 

[ChadSpeed]

I will be getting my new set of 215/50/17's put on on Monday, its also going to an actual alignment shop, not the horrid dealer, to be checked to see if something is wrong or can be fixed to stop the cupping issues. I rotate every 5,000 with oil change and still had the issues, hopefully its just the Toyos.