Protege's on 18's?

[markmdz89hatch]

Can someone post up pics of their Protege's on 18's? I've got a lead on a real sweet set of 18's, but I'm not sure if they're going to look too big. I've always been bent on going no larger than 18, but for these, I might make an exception.

 

[repthemazdas]

r u looking for power/racing or just a car to drive around???

 

[markmdz89hatch]

daily driver. Currently on stock ES (16") wheels. I have a lead on a set of '11 MS3 Y-spoke 18's for cheap.

I'll put a good set of snows on the stock ES wheels.

Only reason I'm in the market for a new set of wheels (or wheels/tires) is due to an '06 MZ6 front brake upgrade. My old snows were on 15" steelies, but now 16" is the absolute smallest I can go.

 

[repthemazdas]

ok cool cuz if u wanted it to race or just to have power well 18s r to fuken heavy for our little cars... but if u just goin to drive it for the hell of it go head sport it!!! try typeing in to google type 18s on 99-03 mazda protege and there should be some....

 

[CTt3P5]

Here ya go http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123738796-Marcs_sp20-s-project-SP20&p=5598131&viewfull=1#post5598131

 

[bikingpro5]

ok cool cuz if u wanted it to race or just to have power well 18s r to fuken heavy for our little cars... but if u just goin to drive it for the hell of it go head sport it!!! try typeing in to google type 18s on 99-03 mazda protege and there should be some....

i disagree, there are a lot of light 18" rims that fit our cars MP5T has a prime example of them, stock 18s will never be light.

 

[Lewis7789]

GramLight 18x7.5 w/ 225/40-18 Yokahama Parada Spec2's, BC Coilovers with -1.5 front camber -.8 rear camber and rear fenders rolled. No rubbing.

 

[markmdz89hatch]

very nice lewis. ...that's what I'm talking about.

The specs are a great help. Just 18" doesn't tell me much, but what you posted is exactly what I was looking for. One more quick one though... ...what offset are the wheels?

 

[repthemazdas]

i disagree, there are a lot of light 18" rims that fit our cars MP5T has a prime example of them, stock 18s will never be light.

true but it depends on his buget...

 

[markmdz89hatch]

budget is not the issue. ...for some reason, I'm bent on keeping the car with an "oem" look. So yeah, I know it'll be heavier with oem's, but I'm not tracking this car other than an occasional auto-x. The damn Mazda6 brake upgrade added a ton of unsprung weight to the front corners anyway. Not that I'm in a hurry to slow the car down, but I'd like to close the fender gaps a bit and step up the size of the wheels in the process. I love the way the MS3 wheels (any gen) and the CX7 wheels look on slightly dropped Pro's.

 

[bikingpro5]

budget is not the issue. ...for some reason, I'm bent on keeping the car with an "oem" look. So yeah, I know it'll be heavier with oem's, but I'm not tracking this car other than an occasional auto-x. The damn Mazda6 brake upgrade added a ton of unsprung weight to the front corners anyway. Not that I'm in a hurry to slow the car down, but I'd like to close the fender gaps a bit and step up the size of the wheels in the process. I love the way the MS3 wheels (any gen) and the CX7 wheels look on slightly dropped Pro's.

I feel the same way I like how some aftermarket rims look on our cars but some OEM mazda rims look great. I have the mazda6 front brakes with speed6 18s on my car, they are 18x7 +55 with a 5 mm spacer to move them out a bit.

 

[Lewis7789]

...what offset are the wheels?

Dang it, I knew I forgot a spec. They're +43 offset.

And I was wondering why you didn't post up pics of your MS6 wheels, bikingpro5. Your car is one of my top 5 favorites, man. SO CLEAN! (bowdown)

-edit- forgot some more pics to help.

And these are my roommates 18's. I believe they were 18x7 +45offset with 215/40-18 tires and I was lowered on Tein S-Techs and Tokico Blues (HP) in this pic. It was just for S&G's though, I didn't drive with them on. But his sister has them on her lowered P5 without any issues I believe.

The OEM brake discs do look super small with 18's but I personally don't see the point to upgrade to the Mazda6 brakes simply for the appearance aspect. I've got Brembo blanks, Hawk HP pads and StopTech SS lines all around and haven't had the need to upgrade. yet.

 

[joka1]

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

theres a local in my town with a silver pro5 on OEM mazdaspeed3 18's. and his car is sitting perfect! looks so good.

 

[markmdz89hatch]

Dang it, I knew I forgot a spec. They're +43 offset.

Very cool. thank you. ...so do you think you'd rub if you didn't roll the fenders? They look pretty tight, but due to the sh!tty salted roads around here, I don't want to start rolling the fenders as they tend to cause the crud to cake up in the 'gutter' they create.

 

[Lewis7789]

IMHO, yeah, you would rub. I rubbed with my Enkeis (17x7 +45 offset) with 215/40-17 tires. After the fender roll, no more rubbing.

I'm in Ohio so we have bad roads and salt in the winter too. But if you rent a good fender roller and heat gun, take your time and have a friend help you out you can roll your fenders without cracking the paint. Just use plenty of heat. We had a fender rolling party at my house a year back and the cats who took their time didn't get any cracking.

 

[markmdz89hatch]

well now that blows, but I'm glad to hear about it now rather than after I shelled out the $$ to mount/balance the tires only to find out they won't fit very well.

 

[Lewis7789]

That's just my one opinion though, mate. Maybe other cats have had better luck. Are you lowered? If so, what suspension are you on? If not, you can probably rock the 18's just fine. A lot of it is about the offset of the wheels you are putting on.

 

[markmdz89hatch]

yep, slightly lowered on Toki Illlumina's and stock MSP R/B springs with a single bottom coil cut off the fronts.