Thinking of running 18 inch wheels

[CX-5_2025]

So I love the handling of my 2025 CX-5 Turbo, but the rough ride from the stock tire/wheel combo causes me back pain (lumbar problem). It's fine for anything under an hour, so I think I just need a bit more smoothing out. Seems like the 17s would be going too far-I want to keep some of that great handling. I have tried running the OEM Toyos a bit low, like 32 instead of the 35 of the doorjamb. It helps a bit, but I need more. I looked at 18s on tire rack, and looks like there are no 7" wide ones, just 7.5 and 8. I am new at this: Do I need to match the OEM width and offset (45mm). That would seem to make sense to me. I also assume that the tire width stays the same, and that the profile goes to something like 60 instead of the stock 55.)

I guess the options are:

-18s (but how with the lack of 7" width?)

-17s (probably the easiest thing but big handling loss.)

-Some people say that the right tires on the 19s will make a big difference, but I find that hard to believe with the same amount of sidewall. (Pirelli Scorpion, Conti Crosscontact LX25)

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Mazdiod2]

-Some people say that the right tires on the 19s will make a big difference, but I find that hard to believe with the same amount of sidewall.

I think this is true of any size of wheel, and how stiff the sidewall is, how many/ what kind of belts, etc.
Some tires seem to be designed for light SUVs and crossovers and I wonder if they have slightly stiffer sidewalls. The LX25 for example.
Would looking at the load number be any indication? Reading lots of reviews on Tire rack?

 

[a69mach1377]

Whatever you do...keep at least the load rating as stock to prevent weird handling issues.

 

[N7turbo]

Rough ride is so subjective...

My car drove on pillows before, haha.

 

[N7turbo]

I looked at 18s on tire rack, and looks like there are no 7" wide ones, just 7.5 and 8. I am new at this: Do I need to match the OEM width and offset (45mm). That would seem to make sense to me. I also assume that the tire width stays the same, and that the profile goes to something like 60 instead of the stock 55.)

I guess the options are:

-18s (but how with the lack of 7" width?)

IMO, go with the common size of 8.5" and put a 235 or 245 tire on there.

Offset can stay at 45 so you don't poke out. If you stick with narrow wheels like 7" with 225s, a 35 offset can help flush out the wheels by bringing them out 10mm.

Some people say that the right tires on the 19s will make a big difference, but I find that hard to believe with the same amount of sidewall. (Pirelli Scorpion, Conti Crosscontact LX25)

Tires come in many flavors. High Performance tires will usually have a stiffer ride than Touring tires even if dimensions are identical.

 

[CX-5_2025]

I think this is true of any size of wheel, and how stiff the sidewall is, how many/ what kind of belts, etc.
Some tires seem to be designed for light SUVs and crossovers and I wonder if they have slightly stiffer sidewalls. The LX25 for example.
Would looking at the load number be any indication? Reading lots of reviews on Tire rack?

Thanks Mazdoid. Yeah, a good buddy suggested that. I have done exactly as you suggest re reading on Tire Rack: both the LX25 and the Scorpion have top marks for both ride comfort and noise. I would not mind selling the Toyos for 60% of cost or so to try that...I guess I would really have to buy the new tires, then try to sell on CL or something. Obviously the suspension has been tuned for the weight of the stock rims, and perhaps the offset and width matter too. Seems to me that offset might matter due to a change in leverage on the arm components, less so with wheel width, though that might affect tire characteristics. I really don't want to mess with the Mazda magic any more than needed.

Width is another thing. Another member mentioned using a wider rim with the same 225 width, but if you go wider on the wheel, that would expose the wheel edges more to curbs etc.

 

[CX-5_2025]

Whatever you do...keep at least the load rating as stock to prevent weird handling issues.

Oh yeah, crucial point. The stock wheels have a lot of burly spokes and are likely super strong. The CX-5 may not be a full-blown SUV, but it is clearly designed to handle way more surface variance than a typical car. (Like my old 2005 Acura TL- got 20 years out of it!) The more I think about it, the more I think I should avoid swapping wheels. If I have to, I will do as you suggest.

 

[Mazdiod2]

I 've got the 17 wheels and I like them ok. I always figure the OEM wheels should work well partly just because they were designed for it.

me back pain (lumbar problem)

Oh, you might want to look at the threads on seat cushions. CX 5s seem to have firmer foam than some people prefer.

Memory foam's what I use. It's a neccessity, for me anyway, for any driving longer than an hour or two.