205/50/17 will my P5 look like a 4x4 ???

[canp5]

I am looking at getting some mazda3 rims and tires but they are 205/50/17 and I was wondering if my P5 is going to look like a 4x4 or not ??

also in the near future I am going to install some protege speed struts and springs to lower the car a little anyone know if these tires are going to rub or will I be ok ??

Thanks

 

[DOMO]

I run those tires and my car looks fine.... But when I have a full car the tires do rub when I hit bumps in the road. With mazdaspeed protege struts tho you should be fine because the bottom of the struts on the mazdaspeed sit higher up than on the p5 .

 

[tweety2300]

I run those tires and my car looks fine.... But when I have a full car the tires do rub when I hit bumps in the road. With mazdaspeed protege struts tho you should be fine because the bottom of the struts on the mazdaspeed sit higher up than on the p5 .

Or just better struts so that it doesn't go down as much when you hit a dip or bump

 

[tweety2300]

215-45-17 on racing beat springs which lower about 1/2"

 

[Justin2129]

it looks like a 4x4 on stock tires lol

 

[canp5]

Great thanks guys

 

[canp5]

Put the tires and rims on today and man are they close to the strut bottom spring perch. I hope when I put the protege speed struts and springs on the space increases. I did notice a slight rubbing noise ( or what I think is rubbing) sounds like it is from the rear pass side when I go over 70 mph ??? maybe the tire expands slightly at that speed ??

What is the thickest spacer you can run without changing the length of the studs ??


Thanks

 

[CTt3P5]

Some run a 8mm spacer without extended studs but I'd err on the side of caution if I ran that size or you can look into some 5mm spacers.

 

[canp5]

Thanks I will look around for some 5mm spacers or maybe I should just get off my ass and put the mazdaspeed struts and springs i have in and see how that works.

Thanks again.

 

[tweety2300]

The 205/50 may be a bit too wide, I got a set of 16" for my 323 in 205/50 and it wasn't even close to fitting

 

[sleepwalker]

I still have factory 16" wheels on my P5. Tirerack says that OE tires were 195/50R16, but it had 205/50R16's on it when I drove it off the lot, and it's had 205/50R16's on it ever since, and I've never had a rubbing issue.

The difference is literally 10mm in tread width - a little less than 0.4 inches.

ninja edit - a 205/50 on a 17" wheel will have the same tread width but will be slightly larger in overall diameter.

 

[pcb]

The 205/50R16's fit perfectly on a stock setup. I've had them on since I've had the car. There is a lot more choice with better prices for the 205's. Apparently the slightly bigger tire even makes the speedometer more accurate.

 

[DOMO]

I got the same tire size as the rest of the guys I have a rubbing issue tho when ever there's weight on the rear of the car ill rub on like any bump. I think my springs might be shot... It always comes from the left side and is annoying as ****

 

[tweety2300]

Thatd be your struts...

 

[canp5]

The 205/50/16 I had on for winter were perfect no issues at all but now I put on the 205/50/17 and at around 65 to 70 mph I start to hear a rubbing sound I think at that point the tire starts to grow in diameter and just touches the lower spring pearch on the strut. (my theroy anyway) I am thinking with 5mm spacers it may just be enough to move the tire out so it will not rub.

or just put my speed protege struts and spring on and stop complaining

 

[sleepwalker]

xxx/yy/zz

xxx = width of the tire in milimeters
yy = height of the sidewall, expressed as a percentage of the width of the tire
zz = diameter of the wheel in inches
(makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? lol)

So the difference between 205/50/16 and 205/50/17 is that the overall diameter of the tire on a 17" wheel is a full 1" bigger. An extra inch of diameter might well be enough to cause some rubbing on a part that wouldn't be near enough to a 16" wheel combo.

 

[gino]

Running Conti DW 215/45/17 summer tires on 17/7.5/45 OS rims, MSP springs, Tokico Blues with no problems.
However, I'm usually running two up, no more.

For a very close comparison of different wheel and tire diameters, check the Discount Tire netsite for a
configuration formula. Just plug in your comparisons and you get all the answers you need.

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[pcb]

xxx/yy/zz

xxx = width of the tire in milimeters
yy = height of the sidewall, expressed as a percentage of the width of the tire
zz = diameter of the wheel in inches
(makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? lol)

So the difference between 205/50/16 and 205/50/17 is that the overall diameter of the tire on a 17" wheel is a full 1" bigger. An extra inch of diameter might well be enough to cause some rubbing on a part that wouldn't be near enough to a 16" wheel combo.

Very true,... But that one inch is shared on both sides of the axle,... So your car is raised 1/2" higher off the ground and your tire rises 1/2" higher inside the wheel well.
Just to further confuse everything.