From 195-50R16 to 205-40R17 or 215-40R17

[VPower]

Hi everyone,

I have a protege5 on stock tires and rims.
195-50R16

I also have a set of mazda3 17" rims wich I really would like to put it on the Protege5.

Should I go with 205-40R17 or 215-40R17?

Thanks!

 

[JoshP5]

Someone just asked this same question on the P5 forum!

What's wrong with 205/45s? If I had 17s and lived in Montreal that's what I'd run. That's what the tuning gurus at Racing Beat chose for the MP3.

 

[mhrebin]

there is a tire sizing webpage somewhere around here. forget the link. but that wil help you get close to the same specs as the stock wheel/tire size so the speedo isnt thrown off bad /if any.

 

[aMaff]

what offset are the Mazda3 wheels? Are they 17x7?

 

[VPower]

there is a tire sizing webpage somewhere around here. forget the link. but that wil help you get close to the same specs as the stock wheel/tire size so the speedo isnt thrown off bad /if any.

Stock Tire - 195/50R16
205/40R17: Speedometer Difference: 0.933% too fast
215/40R17: Speedometer Difference: 0.422% too slow
205/45R17: Speedometer Difference: 2.496% too slow

 

[aMaff]

that works great in theory, but when you have to take into account that different manufacturers use a different amount of 'fudge' when they make tires (even with the same manufacturer and different tire model). My old 205 Falken Azenis were WAAAAY wider than my 205 Falken Ziexes.

 

[JoshP5]

what offset are the Mazda3 wheels? Are they 17x7?

17x6.5 for sure. 55mm offset I think.

Edit: 52.5mm confirmed.

 

[aMaff]

damn...see the fitment guide, but you may be too close to the strut like that.

 

[Mr.Ames]

my mazda 6 wheels are 17x7 with a 60mm offset. its tight

 

[VPower]

I'm confused with all the offset.
Can anyone just point out wich would be best? (sad2)

 

[Mr.Ames]

you want something between 45 and 55mm offset or u might rub

 

[JoshP5]

I'm confused with all the offset.
Can anyone just point out wich would be best? (sad2)

If you lived in Phoenix where the roads are as smooth as glass, I'd say go with either 205/40 or 215/40. Personally, I wouldn't run anything lower than 45 series where the roads see snow regularly. That's why 205/45 is best IMO.

Who cares about the speedometer inaccuracy incurred by different size tires? It shouldn't be used to decide which size to run--just keep it in mind after they're installed. Like most cars, the P5 speedometer probably reads ~2% too fast on stock tires anyway, to keep you out of "trouble" =P

 

[AusOrion]

I am running with 17x7 rims from the latest model of the MX-5. They have an offset of +55 which runs fairly close to the strut but I haven't had any issues with rubbing yet. Your rims will run about 8mm futher away from the strut so I dont think you will have many problems there.

I recently put 215/40/17 tyres on those rims and they seem to be a good fit. However, because your rims are narrower, I think that 205 width tyres would be better. As for the whether you go 40/45 for the sidewalls, there will always be one side for rolling diameter and another side for having a smoother ride.