18" rims on GT without wheel alignment?

mzd

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Mazda CX-9 GT FWD 2012
My 2012 GT has 20" rims, obviously, and I like to get an additional and extra set of after market 18" wheels and tires to swap out the original set for a change when the wife starts complaining the ride is too stiff, back and forth. My questions are: do I need an alignment when going from 20" to 18" presumably the 18's are the same as the 18" on OEM, and if the new set has no TPMS will the warning light be on?
 
Looking at the alignment specifications from the 2008 shop manual, there are no differences that would warrant an alignment. I use the 2008, even though you have a 2012. Most of the CX-9 is virtually unchanged except for cosmetic differences. The TPMS system on the other hand will be on if it does not detect the wheel sensors.

Greg
 

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You do not need an alignment when taking wheels off / putting them back on. Alignment is only needed when replacing steering and/or suspension parts.
 
Curious. What about calibrating the inflation monitor? How would it know what size/profile/pressure is correct when you swap rims and tires?

Does this need to be coded in?
 
If you have an alternate set of wheels, you have 2 options. 1) buy 4 new tpms (tire pressure monitoring system) sensors which are adhesively sealed to the wheels and have them installed in the wheels and have them calibrated, or 2) cut the tpms wire in back of the instrument cluster to turn the light off or cut the wire and run it to a on/off switch or just live with an orange light on the dash.
 
it doesn't know anything about the tires other than one or more of them is low on pressure triggering the warning light. it also doesn't factor in ambient temperatures. Not a very sophisticated system and more of an annoyance and expense. I check my tires weekly, it takes less than a minute.

On my Passat, I ran snow tires on another set of wheels without TPMS. I turned it off with VAG COM so I wouldn't get the annoying warning dash light.

I scored a set of 18" CX-9 alloys off a local for sale site for $225.00 and am going to use them for snows without TPMS. I can live with the light on for a few months of the year.
 
VAG COM... brings back memories. Good ole' Windows 98 laptop, obd2 interface with long usb cord, failing volkswagen, good times.
 
troof. still have a win98laptop with VAG COm and the dongle. I only wish VW made their electronics as good as their software. I called the CEL in my Passat "the b*tch. My wife and I would be driving along and I'd say "guess what?" She'd say "the b*tch is back?" I'd say "yup". I kept the laptop in the car 24/7.
 
Lol. I had a obd access cover to the right of the cluster, so i rigged up a radio shack toggle switch to the cel wire behind the cluster and shut the b*tch off.
 
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