Mazda5 Tires: Issues & Replacement Recommendations

[Silentnoise713]

PSA:

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Going to buy the Ecsta 4X while the $50 manufacturer prepaid card is still good; $100 off, not too bad.

EDIT:
Kumho Ecsta 4X KU22
215/50R17XL 95W BSW
Total "Out the Door" Price
$501.00, includes warrantee and TPMS rebuild kit (not sure what this is really but $5 per wheel). -$50 Kumho rebate = $451

Don't need no stinking warrantee = $392!

 

[Silentnoise713]

Was told the Ecsta 4X are on 1.5 week back order. I am guessing they are in high demand!

They were willing to split the difference if I went with Conti DWS (one way to get a slight sale ) but in the end was still higher than what I wanted to pay. I can wait a week or two.

 

[phunky.buddha]

The new kid (Korean) on the block is Hankook, they seem to be subpar still. Also, why are you leery of the Korean origin? I'd take that over Mexico or Brazil (from a manufacturing standpoint).

Hankook is actually making some really good stuff right now. Go look at any of the race/competition forums, and you'll see that the Hanook RS-3 is one of the favorite street class tires. I run them on my S2000- crazy sticky and cheap too. The Ventus V12 Evo is also one of the best "max performance" tires for the money too.

As for Korean origin- seems like most of the best TVs and phones are coming out of Korea right now.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Finally got around to replacing the stock Toyos at 36k. I bought the car with 24.5k and have not rotated the tires. Front was down to 1/32 and the rears were a hair above 2/32. Overall wear did not look or feel uneven, but they were lound as heck At this point they have little to no grip wet but dry is ok with some squeel and wheel spin if i let off the clutch too eagerly -it was fun to abuse. I also feel some slight steering wheel shudder at highway speeds, which I though was due to the tire.

Had the Kumhos mounted via road force balancing (Hunter GSP9700 machine). Cost $100 at a place called Intercity Concepts around the phila area if anyone's interested. The tire tech had difficulty getting the valve out to replace the rubber components from the TPMS rebuild kit. The valve nut would not budge and the tech ES afraid of breaking the sensor. I told him to just leave it for now and he offered to take 80 for the job -tiped him 20 since he was a straight up and honest guy I'm sure the existing rubber components will last a little long and will take action if/when the little light starts going off. I was not expecting this so did not clean or prep the area. Anyone else have this problem ad is there some tip I can follow? Another reason for me to hate TPMS...

I have to let the new tires break-in a little bit before commenting on them. I will say they are slightly less noisy than the worn out Toyos :/

 

[twintrbo]

I would say to spray some liquid wrench on the valve nut, corrosion has to be pretty bad considering all the dirt and road salt the valve encounters. I am in the midst of putting the new set of TPMS sensors into my winter rims now. Why would you think you needed to rebuild yours anyway? I put the old TPMS rubber seals from the RX-8 wheels into a totally different set of Non- Mazda rims and they sealed just fine. I used the valve cores from the existing snow tire wheels since the sensors came without them for some reason. If you had no reason to remove them, I wouldn't touch it. If it aint broke, you know?

 

[Silentnoise713]

I would say to spray some liquid wrench on the valve nut, corrosion has to be pretty bad considering all the dirt and road salt the valve encounters. I am in the midst of putting the new set of TPMS sensors into my winter rims now. Why would you think you needed to rebuild yours anyway? I put the old TPMS rubber seals from the RX-8 wheels into a totally different set of Non- Mazda rims and they sealed just fine. I used the valve cores from the existing snow tire wheels since the sensors came without them for some reason. If you had no reason to remove them, I wouldn't touch it. If it aint broke, you know?

I agree and tend to live by this motto. I am not familiar with the technical details of the sensor (wear n tear manitenance necessary?). I do put on new valve stems when putting on new tire and though this is the equivalent of that. I am pretty confidenant the rubber is ok for now and the kit was cheap ($5 per wheel). If it cost more I prob wouldn't bother.

Do you know how much a replacement sensor cost?

 

[twintrbo]

Its only $5 because its just some new o-rings. Specialized ones with an aluminum insert but still an O-ring. New valve stems are simple enough so why not. I used to put new valves when my cars had the old rubber ones. With the ones on the 5, I'll probably not bother with it at all. Shraeder valves last forever and then some. I got the full set of 4 valves from Ebay for $80. I hope I dont have any issues with them as far as programming or batteries. I was hoping to change the batteries but there is nothing serviceable at all on them. The backs are epoxied shut with whatever is inside.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Its only $5 because its just some new o-rings. Specialized ones with an aluminum insert but still an O-ring. New valve stems are simple enough so why not. I used to put new valves when my cars had the old rubber ones. With the ones on the 5, I'll probably not bother with it at all. Shraeder valves last forever and then some. I got the full set of 4 valves from Ebay for $80. I hope I dont have any issues with them as far as programming or batteries. I was hoping to change the batteries but there is nothing serviceable at all on them. The backs are epoxied shut with whatever is inside.

I didn't know to expect at first but it is more than just o-rings. Package has 5 parts and they appear to be 1) replacemt valve needle/insert core (I think), 2) rubber o-ring, 3) metal gasket/I-ring, 4) metal valve casing/nut (I think), and 5) replacement valve cap. Package is labeled Dill 1050K kit www.dillvalves.com to check it out.

http://dillaircontrols.com/dill/tpms-lookup/?ts=Mazda--5--06-10

 

[pwrpf01]

ok folks......I just want to make sure a 215/50-17 tire will work on my stock 2009 Mazda 5. I think it will (from seeing a post here before). I just don't want to click "process order" without knowing FOR SURE!!

Thanks!!

 

[Rockin03mp5]

215/50-17's are on my stock 2008 Mz5 wheels. Works just fine.

 

[pwrpf01]

215/50-17's are on my stock 2008 Mz5 wheels. Works just fine.

thx Rockin!! I found the Kumho Ecsta LX's on Tirebuyer.com for $132/tire + free shipping + a $50 rebate if you buy before 1/31/2012!! Which means they are sent to my tire guy's garage for $478.96 after the rebate!! That is $68 cheaper than anywhere else I found the Ecsta LX's!!!

I'm excited because we have yet to get a snow storm in the St. Louis area - so we are due and I'll be ready!! I think Mother Nature knew I was procrastinating on getting these!!

 

[twintrbo]

Just an FYI, you will have an ever so slight speedo error with that size. Less than one mph faster at 60 than indicated. Good luck with the Kumho's but remember, they are all seasons, not snow tires............

 

[phunky.buddha]

The speedometer reads a little slow from the factory (most cars do), and with the slight increase in diameter, you'll actually be dead on with the indicated speed on the 215/50 tires. You can verify it with GPS.

 

[SuperJETT]

Ditto, we went from just below to just above indicated speed by putting the 215's on.

 

[5for3]

I bought a set of Yokohama YK580 tires today. I was on a road trip today from San Diego to Hollywood but only made it to Carson City when one of the Sumitomo's went flat on me and was unrepairable by the time I pulled off the road. After I put the spare on I drove to the nearest America's Tire Store (Discount Tire Co.) and they examined the four Sumi's and found them to be dry rotting and cracking and suspected that's what caused the one blow out. I stayed with the factory 205/50/17 size but now have a 93 load rating vs. 89 on the sumi's. The Sumi's only had 19K miles on them. I will review the Yokohama's once I get some miles on them.

 

[richardmayo]

I ordered Altimax HPs (215/50R17 as well) from Tire Rack, and they were just delivered to me (2 days!)

Time for an update.

33 months and 30,000 miles later, the well documented negative camber / toe in in the rear has eaten through the inner sides of my General Altimax HPs. It's a bummer, since the center and outer sides of the tires still look great.

Tires were rotated regularly, and our 5 is not driven hard -- it's primarily used for shuttling the kids around suburbia, and weekend trips on the highway to visit the inlaws.

Just ordered a replacement set of Altimax HPs from Tire Rack.

 

[RyaninBrooklyn]

Hi Everyone.

I'm getting ready to replace the factory tires on my 07 Mazda5. This thread has been very helpful.

But since I don't really know much about tires, I'm unsure on one point. A lot of people are recommending 215's over the factory size 205's. What's the reason for this and should I do it? I live in Brooklyn NY, so basically I'm driving mainly short distances, a lot of stop and go, on really terrible streets (lucky me. I guess I just want to be sure I'm doing the right thing if I were to deviate from the factory size.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[mazdadude]

Hi Everyone.

I'm getting ready to replace the factory tires on my 07 Mazda5. This thread has been very helpful.

But since I don't really know much about tires, I'm unsure on one point. A lot of people are recommending 215's over the factory size 205's. What's the reason for this and should I do it? I live in Brooklyn NY, so basically I'm driving mainly short distances, a lot of stop and go, on really terrible streets (lucky me. I guess I just want to be sure I'm doing the right thing if I were to deviate from the factory size.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Ryan

If you stay with the same aspect ratio, a 215 over the stock 205 will give you a slightly wider and slightly taller sidewall. This is better for those who drive in streets that have lots of bumps/potholes, and who wouldn't mind giving up a touch of sportiness for comfort. The steering response will be deadened a bit, but the ride will be quieter, smoother, and less jarring over bad roads.

 

[GBean]

If you stay with the same aspect ratio, a 215 over the stock 205 will give you a slightly wider and slightly taller sidewall. This is better for those who drive in streets that have lots of bumps/potholes, and who wouldn't mind giving up a touch of sportiness for comfort. The steering response will be deadened a bit, but the ride will be quieter, smoother, and less jarring over bad roads.

Exactly what he said. Had this experience when goign from 195 to 205 on our old 2002 Protege.

Sidenote: how do you like the CX5 mazdadude? Thinking about getting one if they launch the diesel here.

 

[mazdadude]

Exactly what he said. Had this experience when goign from 195 to 205 on our old 2002 Protege.

Sidenote: how do you like the CX5 mazdadude? Thinking about getting one if they launch the diesel here.

No regrets! Go sit in and/or test drive one. Impressive fit and finish, quality of materials, handles like a dream, MPG's, and sexy curves!