Stock rims with 235/75R/17?

[dawhoo]

Stock rims with 235/70R/17?

Trying to get a little lift on the CX-5. Use mine on the beach a lot. Am thinking about getting some 235/70/17. The clearance for the width is OK, just wonder if anyone had tried this or has any insight or suggestion. Thank you

 

[leeharvey418]

Don't you want flotation for use in sand? I'm thinking a 255/60R17 would do a lot better for you. As an added bonus, you could just air them back up and they'd read right when you got back on pavement.

 

[inlinev]

At that size, you will gain 0.75 inches in ground clearance. Is that significant for you? Keep in mind the car will be traveling faster than the speedo says +3mph @60.

 

[piotrek91]

Don't you want flotation for use in sand? I'm thinking a 255/60R17 would do a lot better for you. As an added bonus, you could just air them back up and they'd read right when you got back on pavement.

Surprisingly, tire width has nothing to do with flotation on sand. The pressure in the tire is the only factor that really matters.
They do say that larger overall tire diameter is helpful, so the taller tires OP is considering might help a little with flotation and the extra ground clearance certainly won't hurt.
http://outbackjoe.com/macho-divertissement/macho-articles/why-wide-tyres-dont-help-in-sand/

 

[dawhoo]

Yes indeed, the height will help some, but I take pressure down to 10 psi when on the sand. The lower pressure makes all the difference. I've pulled Jeeps with mud tires out of the sand with my Toyota 4WD station wagon.

So stoked, didn't know if that size would rub or not. Firestone has the Destination LE2 on sale, going to stop by and see if I can get a set. I've always used street tires in the sand, once the air is out, they do as good a job in the sand as most AT tires, as long as I stay out of the powder sand, they work.

Thanks so much for the help!

 

[dawhoo]

Update: Went with 235/70/17 and they look much better IMO and fill out the wheel well a little better. Also, zero rub even on the tightest turn - very happy!!

 

[mazdadude]

Update: Went with 235/70/17 and they look much better IMO and fill out the wheel well a little better. Also, zero rub even on the tightest turn - very happy!!

Pictures PLEASE!

 

[frenchbiker]

Pictures PLEASE!

Yep. I'd love to see pictures too.

 

[erhayes]

Acceleration performance must suffer greatly when you increase the circumference that much. Ed

 

[starmagic]

Lets see some pics... I can't imaging having high profile tires on a cx-5.

 

[dawhoo]

I'll get some pics up once the sun comes out.

As for performance, I notice no difference at all, but I drive like an old man. I will say the new tires are much quieter Firestone Destination LE2

 

[dawhoo]

I like it, it's filthy, as we've had a lot of rain and cutting down trees, but gives you the overall idea, but still looks better when clean

 

[mazdadude]

I like it, it's filthy, as we've had a lot of rain and cutting down trees, but gives you the overall idea, but still looks better when clean

Wow! That extra height certainly is more noticeable than I expected. Looks like you are ready to hit the Rubicon Trail!

I like the look. Thank you very much for taking the time to post the pictures.

 

[MikeM.]

Update: Went with 235/70/17 and they look much better IMO and fill out the wheel well a little better. Also, zero rub even on the tightest turn - very happy!!

Do you have the 2.5L engine?

Because now I want to do a 0-60mph race against my 2.0L AWD (laugh)

 

[dawhoo]

I have the 2.5L FWD. since I rarely drive other than sand AWD isn't really needed for me. I did have the 2.0 the first year in a FWD and it was sluggish.

Now if I lived in a place with mountains or even hills, I might not have gone as high. However the wheel/tire combo is just about the same weight as the stock 19" on the GT.

But the cornering is just as good if not better but that may be the actual tires.

Once I get the bull bar installed then I will be a proper dune redneck.

Wanted to do it this week but cutting down trees instead.

 

[Buddywh2]

Have you calculated the gas mileage hit?

I wouldn't use the dash MPG gauge since it and speedo and odo are not accurate now.

Does anyone know if the dealer would re-calibrate the speedo to the new tire diameter? and how much it should cost.

 

[mazdadude]

Tire Size Comparison
Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile
235/70-17 6.5in 15.0in 30.0in 94.1in 673

225/65-17 5.8in 14.3in 28.5in 89.6in 707

225/55-19 4.9in 14.4in 28.7in 90.3in 702

 

[MikeM.]

Now if I lived in a place with mountains or even hills, I might not have gone as high. However the wheel/tire combo is just about the same weight as the stock 19" on the GT.

It's not the weight I would worry about so much, but where the weight is located coupled with the higher gearing.

Namely, the 10mm wider tread that is 5% larger in diameter is not only heavier than the tread of either of the OEM tires but the weight is further from the axle considerably increasing the moment of inertia. That, coupled with gearing the vehicle 5% higher are two changes, both in the wrong direction. So it will be more sluggish off the line while simultaneously using more fuel to accelerate. Also, the taller gearing might mess with the programmed shift points and you will find it harder to stay in 6th gear at equivalent speeds because, at a given rpm, your aerodynamic resistance has increased much more than 5% (drag goes up exponentially with increases in speed, not linearly). 6th gear is an overdrive ratio that is carefully tailored to the engines power band and aerodynamic characteristics so a tire 5% taller is not well matched unless you also change the transaxle ratios.

If being able to drive through dry sand is your primary goal, you would probably be better off choosing a tire in the same diameter as OEM but that was constructed such that it could be run at low pressures without damage.

 

[dawhoo]

Haven't even put 100 miles yet. I drive the same route all the time and the "current mileage" has taken a hit on a stretch I drive daily. With cruise control, at 38mph, I would get a reading of 42.4 mpg, for a two mile stretch. Now, on the same stretch, at 36mph, the reading is 37.4mpg. I've driven that stretch several times and each time it's the same.

I don't seem to have any issues with gearing at all, which I hadn't considered. At around 40-45, depending on the traffic and load, it still switches to 6th.

I did decide to "get on it" from a stop and I don't think it's as quick as it was before, but it's still a lot peppier than the 2013/2.0 I had.

Once I had more fuel data, I will report, but I've used less than 1/2 tank so far.

 

[dawhoo]

OK, so have gone through 1.5 tanks and after a refill on tank 2 mileage is 27.8mpg, but that's using the odometer, which is now about 5% off, for an 'actual' mileage loss of 1.12mpg. Much less that it seemed to be happening at first.

However, I'm also about 300 miles out from my 5K oil change.

I do think acceleration is effected negatively, however, that's OK with me.

Traction is greatly improved, both on sand and wet roads. On dry roads, I don't really notice much difference at all.

The ride is improved some, it's less 'bumpy' but almost imperceptible.

The .75" additional height is hardly noticed at all, but the clearance is noticed when I pull into my shop a little hot, I no longer bottom out - so that's nice.

Parked side by side with another CX-5, you can really see the difference between stock. The tires 'fill' the well a lot better and I think it actually looks better, but that's just my opinion.