2021 CX-5 Wheel downsizing

[mazdadude]

Hello to my wise and trusted fellow forum members. It is coming up on new tire time for our 2021 CX-5 Grand Touring AWD.

I am contemplating on downsizing from the 19" wheels to the 17" wheels. Looking to hear from some others here that might have done the same thing.

While I am looking at the OEM 17" CX-5 wheels, I am open to hearing about other brand OEM ideas that will fit the CX-5 without modification.

Thanks in advance for your ideas!

 

[Conrad 16.5]

Why?

 

[mazdadude]

Why?

We live in an area with extreme pot holes, ruts, and missing asphalt, and we are looking to gain more sidewall height to protect our spines and other joints.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

We live in an area with extreme pot holes, ruts, and missing asphalt, and we are looking to gain more sidewall height to protect our spines and other joints.

Sounds like my area, Northern Illinois.

 

[Jmaz]

Sounds like a good idea. Might help prolong the CX-5's "joints" also (suspension bushings and struts etc.). You may score a good deal on new car "take-off's" where somebody went custom wheels.

 

[N7turbo]

I've owned both versions and can't say I noticed a big difference. However, the change from 225/55/19 to 245/45/20 was very noticeable, but I already had lowering springs on so maybe they enhanced the effect.

 

[mazdadude]

I've owned both versions and can't say I noticed a big difference. However, the change from 225/55/19 to 245/45/20 was very noticeable, but I already had lowering springs on so maybe they enhanced the effect.

Same here, our 3 previous CX-5's have all had the 17" wheels, and the 2021 was the first we have owned with 19" wheels. It is not a night/day difference, but I do feel like it was more supple with the 17inch wheels and tires.

 

[Epiphany]

I recently went from my 17" winter setup back to the OEM 19" setup. Definitely more comfortable running the 17" set.

 

[eggsalad]

I'm a fan. You can probably pick up a set of used CX-5 17" wheels for a couple hundred dollars. You'll find that 17" tires will cost you a couple hundred less than 19" tires. Then you can sell your 19" wheels and make even more money!

 

[weitau]

We went with OEM 18" from another Mazda and choose tires using a calculator on wheel-size.com. Since we had bought the car and the tires were showing the steel ribs, it wasn't clear if the 18" were better riding. However the Continental tires were amazing. Never lost its grip in rain or snow.

Compared to other cars, our 2014 CX-5 GT does ride firmer than say a Highlander, and 17" rims would take away some of the harshness IMHO.

 

[DG_1234]

From 2015 my family has owned seven different CX-5 models, of varying trim levels and wheel sizes.
For driving and handling my preference is the 17" wheel size rather than the 19" wheel size.

 

[forties]

Big diameter wheels are dumb. This is the way.

 

[erhayes]

I've had several cx5s and for a daily driver I prefer the 17 inch wheel size as stated by DG_1234