Larger tires on stock rims?

[PaulB]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice. It's time to replace the tires on my Mazda3 i with the Touring package. I have the stock 16" alloys which I like just fine. I believe that they are 6.5" wide. I think the stock tire size (205/55) handles just fine, but I think a wider tire would look better, so I'm considering going to a 225/50. From what I've read these would be ok on a 6.5" rim, but I am wondering about fender clearance. Any advice out there as to handling and fender clearance with these slightly wider tires? Thanks.

 

[clos561]

not to sure about the reg 3 but the ms3 has had 235's on the stock 18's without problems...some have even lowered them and have not ran into problems. i think youll be ok

 

[fourthmeal]

snip

 

[PaulB]

MS3 wheel well size vs. Mi3 ?

Thanks for the advice, it does raise another question: do the MS3s have bigger wheel wells than the Mi3s? I think they were available with 18" wheels, but with lower profile tires so maybe they are the same size.

 

[Sacrilicious]

yes, the ms3 has bigger fenders than the mz3. we can definitely fit bigger tires into our wheel wells than they can.