I hate the idea of having the incorrect diameter tire for the spare, especially when most other countries get a spare that has the correct diameter. Australia, Mexico, and most of Europe get a 185/80R17, which is still a temporary use spare, but it has an outside diameter of 28.7", which is exactly the same as the factory 225/55R19 (the 17" tires are 28.5" which is basically the same thing). In the US, we are given a tiny 145/90/16, which has an outside diameter of 26.3". A difference of 2.4". This small spare will go 68 more revolutions per mile than the stock tires when in use, which would be more important to AWD owners, but I think could also create problems for FWD if you have to put it on the front. Plus it is so damn skinny I don't trust how long this thing could actually hold up if you needed it to. I'm sure Mazda did this to save the 11.6 LB weight difference, but how much fuel can that save really?
You can't get the 185/70R17 tire available in other countries anywhere in the US. I tried a lot of places and you can't. But I did find a 165/90R17 from Tire Rack that also has the perfect diameter of 28.7". This picture shows the factory tire, the new spare from Tire Rack, and the original spare for comparison. Which spare would you rather use if you were in the middle of nowhere?
Now the best part is that even though it is a much wider and larger diameter tire tire, it will fit in the spare storage area and still keep your floor perfectly flat. Here are pics of the original spare first, and the new, correct size spare second. Bose subwoofer will still fit perfectly.
The only real "mod" you have to do, besides ordering a new spare wheel and tire, is to remove the foam blocks that Mazda installs in the floor board to make up the space created by giving us this incorrect sized tire. So you simply pull off these 2" thick foam pieces in the picture and the rear floor will rest perfectly on the new wider spare.
One final pic of new spare vs original spare.
Parts needed:
17" X 5.5" steel wheel from Med Center Mazda https://www.shopmazdaparts.com/oem-...re-9965025570/?c=aT01NDY1MTcwNSZyPWxheWVyXzE= $119.31
T165/90R17 Kumho T121 from Tire Rack https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...m=69R7KH&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes $79.10
Weight of original spare and tire 24.4 LB. Weight of new spare and wheel 36.0 LB.
You can also use a true factory aluminum wheel and full size tire and it will fit diameter-wise, but the thickness will raise the floor level about 2.5".
You can't get the 185/70R17 tire available in other countries anywhere in the US. I tried a lot of places and you can't. But I did find a 165/90R17 from Tire Rack that also has the perfect diameter of 28.7". This picture shows the factory tire, the new spare from Tire Rack, and the original spare for comparison. Which spare would you rather use if you were in the middle of nowhere?
Now the best part is that even though it is a much wider and larger diameter tire tire, it will fit in the spare storage area and still keep your floor perfectly flat. Here are pics of the original spare first, and the new, correct size spare second. Bose subwoofer will still fit perfectly.
The only real "mod" you have to do, besides ordering a new spare wheel and tire, is to remove the foam blocks that Mazda installs in the floor board to make up the space created by giving us this incorrect sized tire. So you simply pull off these 2" thick foam pieces in the picture and the rear floor will rest perfectly on the new wider spare.
One final pic of new spare vs original spare.
Parts needed:
17" X 5.5" steel wheel from Med Center Mazda https://www.shopmazdaparts.com/oem-...re-9965025570/?c=aT01NDY1MTcwNSZyPWxheWVyXzE= $119.31
T165/90R17 Kumho T121 from Tire Rack https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...m=69R7KH&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes $79.10
Weight of original spare and tire 24.4 LB. Weight of new spare and wheel 36.0 LB.
You can also use a true factory aluminum wheel and full size tire and it will fit diameter-wise, but the thickness will raise the floor level about 2.5".