Optional tire sizes for winters

[Slayer33]

Just researching winter tire options for my 2012 Mazda5. I know the stock tire size on my GT is 205/50R17 and the base models have 205/55R16s.

I'm looking to get a set of rims with tires, so I will get 16" wheels and tires. I don't know if 15" wheels/tires will clear the calipers.

If I go 16", does anyone know if it is so bad if I went with 205/60R16 over the 205/55R16 stock size?

The tire would be about 2.4" larger in diameter than the stock 17s, but I think it would give me a little more cushion as well as a bit more groudn clearance.

Anyone know if this size is ok? or should I just stick with the 205/55R16 size?

 

[phunky.buddha]

You must have been doing the math wrong... 205/60-16 is only 25.7 inches, which is barely larger than the stock 25.0 to 25.1 inch tire. You'll clear the wheel well fine. You could go with 195/60-16 (25.2 inches) also if you don't want to crowd the top of the wheel well.

 

[Slayer33]

sorry, didn't mean to say 2.4", actually meant 2.4%.

A 195/60R16 might be the best choice since I'd prefer to have skinnier tires in our winter climate..

Unfortunately there aren't very many options of tire in that size

205/60 or 55 series it is.

 

[Orangutan]

I used a set of 205/60/16s this "winter" on my Sport and it was fine. The speedometer was off so I used my GPS to watch my speed on the highway because the cops are thick on my commute and have quotas to fill. No problems otherwise though.

 

[njaremka]

we are running 205/55-16 winter tires on our 2008, and they work just fine.

 

[phunky.buddha]

sorry, didn't mean to say 2.4", actually meant 2.4%.

Gotcha. I run 255/40-17 all around with almost no tread grooves on a 2800 pound car for winter here... but I'm in Texas.

 

[Slayer33]

So does anyone know if a 15" rim and tire combo will fit on our 2012 5s? This would be the most ideal size for winter, but I can't find anything online that says it would fit.

 

[Orangutan]

The Japanese-market 5 (and I think British) is available with 15s.

 

[Slayer33]

hmmm this would be awesome if a 15" rim would fit on my 2012 5. I wonder if the JDM and EDM spec Mazda5s have smaller brakes than ours? That would be the difference in whether or not they would fit.

 

[mc33212]

Don't know if you were still looking, but I have a set of stock 16s I took off my 2012 Sport... will post in the classifieds.

 

[deisz001]

Over here in The Netherlands, 195/65R15 is the standard wheel/tire size for the 2012 Mazda5, my 2005 Mazda5 has them too.