Show me your CX-5 wheels

[ScottSt]

I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on how your CX-5 drives with this set up. I'm due for a new wheel and tire set up, and I am currently torn between sticking with the stock 19" size or doing a -1 down to a 18" like you have in order to save wheel weight, and getting a bit more sidewall. Thanks in advance for any input.

There are a lot of variables, but will share some thoughts.

The OE setup is HEAVY and you feel it in terms of ride quality and responsiveness to throttle and brake input.

The OE tires are quite "soft" which buys you a litlte bit in terms of "impact harshness" (not bad with the OE setup). The OEs are rated quite poorly in all aspects on Tire Rack. Not at all a sporty tire.

My new setup is both much lighter and the tires are designed to be higher performance. So, the opposite of the above: feels more responsive, definitely feel more grip in corners. I drove it pretty fast on a horrible highway last night and it was super planted and confidence inspiring.

One thing I'm going to keep an eye on: seems like I had a bit more "steering feel" with the original setup. Oh wait, skip that, the dealer had cranked the tire pressure up to near 40psi. Things got really soft when I dropped it to the 35psi spec.

The aesthetics are personal preference. I like the way it looks. Some people like larger wheels and I get it, but I tend to run -1 on most of my cars for the weight/ride benefits even if you lose a hair of steering sharpness in the bargain.

Hope that helps.

 

[N7turbo]

Stock: I looked up the tires and the Yoko A36 are 29lbs which puts the wheels at... 31.6! Jeez.... Mazda seriously did not GAF on the 19s. There are great wheels made in China, but I found it interesting that the OE wheels are made in China and obviously not focused on any sort of weight savings.

I think they're made to be nearly indestructible on the bad roads in U.S. cities. I'm not confident that I wouldn't bend one of my aluminum wheels on a pothole, so I steer clear.

I just drove the new Turbo into work with the lighter wheels and tires and it drives amazing.

I believe it. If it's anything like the DWS06 Plus I'm running, you'll feel lighter steering (less effort), and a more sporty feel overall.

My wheels are 23 lb each. Not the lightest, but one of the lightest for a 20x9. And they perfectly support a 245/45 tire since the full wheel width and the section width of the tire are both 10 inches (tire bead is 9", giving the ideal 1" difference).

In hindsight, I could have gone 255/45 for a little more theoretical comfort. It would have increased the section width by about .2" and the total sidewall would have been about .2" taller. I could tolerate a 0.5 mph speedometer error.

But this setup absolutely carves corners with the lowering springs. If only I had thicker sway bars, I'd really be in business. But I hesitate on that due to ride quality. The stiffer you go on anti-roll, the less independent your suspension becomes. So I'll probably draw the line at stock sway bars with adjustable coilovers.

I weighed my stock turbo 19x7 wheels and they are about 58 lbs with the Toyo A36 at full tread. That means the wheels themselves are 29 lbs.

 

[N7turbo]

I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on how your CX-5 drives with this set up. I'm due for a new wheel and tire set up, and I am currently torn between sticking with the stock 19" size or doing a -1 down to a 18" like you have in order to save wheel weight, and getting a bit more sidewall.

Just keep in mind that as a total package, the savings have little to do with the size of the wheel alone, because the tire will get heavier when you downsize the wheel. So the justification for wheel size is mostly for looks, and to fit the tire you want at the size you want. Then you can think about ponying up for weight-saving technologies like flow forming.

 

[integ3]

Just keep in mind that as a total package, the savings have little to do with the size of the wheel alone, because the tire will get heavier when you downsize the wheel. So the justification for wheel size is mostly for looks, and to fit the tire you want at the size you want. Then you can think about ponying up for weight-saving technologies like flow forming.

Very true, researching the wheels I was interested in that were made with flow forming were another $85 per wheel for another 3lbs of weight savings per corner, not sure if it was worth the extra investment for a vehicle like the CX-5.

 

[N7turbo]

It was for me, but it depends how much of the sickness you have

I feel the difference was probably more than 3lbs in my case, but it's hard to say because I can't get the same style but non-flow formed.

 

[ScottSt]

Just keep in mind that as a total package, the savings have little to do with the size of the wheel alone, because the tire will get heavier when you downsize the wheel. So the justification for wheel size is mostly for looks, and to fit the tire you want at the size you want. Then you can think about ponying up for weight-saving technologies like flow forming.

Totally agree, that is why I have a spreadsheet with wheel and tire weights

Easy to find tire weight in tire rack btw.

Good to find other wheel nerds here.

 

[AL Cx5]

To be clear, a stiffer sway bar doesn't change independent suspension function. It will make the ride firmer to harsh, depending on the bar and bushings. The IRS still moves the same.

I put Megan Racing "bars" on our ride. Racing is an overstatement. They have two holes for changing how soft or stiff. I put the bars on the stiffer holes and yes it got harsh but boy would it take the corners. These are NOT racing sway bars by ANY means. They are stiffer than OEM.

I have a 3" diameter Anti Roll Bar, a 3" they are no longer Sway Bars, on a drag car. No rubber bushings. This is what I call extremely harsh! Helps this 1.4 second 0 to 60 car go straight.

I also put urethane bushing on the Mazda "bars" to reduce body roll. This would be an intermediate step on OEM bars. I put urethane bushings on OEM sway bar on another platform and it helps it track much, much better.

I LIKE for my shared driver to get a little bounce when they hit a pot hole or bump. They get a little wake up call in the seat. Slows them down or they drive around the rough patches so they don't beat up the car. She likes how well this SUV handles and tracks on the highway too.

Here is what AI said when I asked if sway bars impact an IRS suspension:

A stiffer sway bar does not "reduce" an independent rear suspension, but it does effectively make it feel stiffer by limiting body roll during cornering, which can impact the overall ride quality, particularly when encountering uneven surfaces on one side of the car; essentially acting like a secondary spring that resists the vehicle's roll during turns.

Key points to remember:

• Function of a sway bar:
  A sway bar (also called an anti-roll bar) works by twisting against the chassis when one side of the vehicle starts to roll, transferring some of the load to the opposite side and reducing body roll.
  
  
• Impact on ride quality:
  While a stiffer sway bar improves handling by minimizing body roll, it can also lead to a slightly harsher ride, especially over bumps, as it resists suspension movement more forcefully.
  
  
• Important consideration:
  Choosing the right sway bar stiffness depends on your driving style and the car's intended use, as too stiff of a sway bar can negatively affect traction and comfort.

 

[N7turbo]

To be clear, a stiffer sway bar doesn't change independent suspension function. It will make the ride firmer to harsh, depending on the bar and bushings. The IRS still moves the same.

Things that happen to one wheel also affect the wheel on the opposite side. This effect is increased with a stiffer bar. That means bumps, holes, etc.

That is the only reason I hesitate to do them. My ride needs a little softening so I don't want to make things worse.

I might do them without hesitation if I weren't lowered with higher spring rates already.

Also ask autocrossers what happens to their rear inner wheel when they take a corner at speed with stiff sway bars

 

[AL Cx5]

Things that happen to one wheel also affect the wheel on the opposite side. This effect is increased with a stiffer bar. That means bumps, holes, etc.

That is the only reason I hesitate to do them. My ride needs a little softening so I don't want to make things worse.

I might do them without hesitation if I weren't lowered with higher spring rates already.

Also ask autocrossers what happens to their rear inner wheel when they take a corner at speed with stiff sway bars

Putting sway bars on these cars is a pretty intense project. I'm reporting my experiences, not making any recommendations.

You sound like your ride is plenty stiff for you. Like me, you have crossed the line modding cars in the past to a point they are not comfortable DDs. It wouldn't be fun to change out sway bars a 2nd time!

My quick read suggests balancing the sway bars for autocross cars. Stiffer front and not as stiff rear. Maybe this is why Megan's rear bar is the same diameter as OEM but the front is a larger diameter. Both Megan bars have a second hole to stiffen up the roll. It would be fun to test drive with front and rear bars on the second hole.

What I liked about the stiffer "bars", on the highway the car tracks so much better. We are less tired after a long trip with this setup. I don't like the body roll is stiffer on uneven pavement.

Like we agreed, ya can't have better handling and a soft ride.

 

[CruzinCX]

So my new summer setup. 235/60/18 General Grabber HTS60 on 2013 Ford Edge 18x8 40 mm offset.
The centre bore is not the same, 63.4 so I found a retired aerospace engineer/machinist out near Chester Nova Scotia who enlarged the centre bore to 67.1
Note…I can’t attach pictures for some reason. Can anyone help?

 

[N7turbo]

It's a forum issue. Try using software to resize the photo by 50%, and try again.

 

[CruzinCX]

Thanks N7turbo. Here we go.

 

[ZooMazda24]

My 2025 CX-5 came with 19" wheels and the OEM A-36 tires.
I began thinking of changing the tires when I learned that they were mediocre,
confirming my on-road experience. Why spend the best years of your car's life with sub-par tires? Right.

I hoped that a tire change would improve the heavy steering the car had.
So I changed tires to the Goodyear Weather Ready Assurance 2,
which rated well in the TireRack testing, and excelled in areas that I value.
The steering and handling and ride were definitely improved.
Though improved, the steering was still somewhat heavy, and mileage seemed unchanged.

So, after a long and twisted path of logic and supposition, I did the following:
1. The 19" wheels and Mountain/Snowflake rated Goodyears are my '(mild) winter' tires.
2. The 18" Enkei wheels and Pirelli P ZERO AS+ 3 tires are my new three-season outfit.
I did not get the measured weight of the two wheel/tire combos, but I can tell you that the
stock 19" wheels and the Goodyears are heavy. I had to clean and jerk them up into my
elevated tire rack. Easily the heaviest auto wheels I have ever hoisted.
The new set is appreciably lighter and I did not strain while handling them.

The new wheels and tires are a great improvement. The heavy steering is cured, and the
tires are great on the road.
In summary: the heavy steering can mostly be ascribed to the OEM 19" wheels.
The Goodyears improved the steering, but it was still a bit heavy.
The 18" combo really changed the driving experience, and I think they look better as well.
Note that the Pirelli's are not the Scorpions but the 'regular' P Zero tires.
The CX-5 does not require the Scorpion.

 

[ScottSt]

My 2025 CX-5 came with 19" wheels and the OEM A-36 tires.
I began thinking of changing the tires when I learned that they were mediocre,
confirming my on-road experience. Why spend the best years of your car's life with sub-par tires? Right.

I hoped that a tire change would improve the heavy steering the car had.
So I changed tires to the Goodyear Weather Ready Assurance 2,
which rated well in the TireRack testing, and excelled in areas that I value.
The steering and and handling and ride were definitely improved.
Though improved, the steering was still somewhat heavy, and mileage seemed unchanged.

So, after a long and twisted path of logic and supposition, I did the following:
1. The 19" wheels and Mountain/Snowflake rated Goodyears are my '(mild) winter' tires.
2. The 18" Enkei wheels and Pirelli P ZERO AS+ 3 tires are my new three-season outfit.
I did not get the measured weight of the two wheel/tire combos, but I can tell you that the
stock 19" wheels and the Goodyears are heavy. I had to clean and jerk them up into my
elevated tire rack. Easily the heaviest auto wheels I have ever hoisted.
The new set is appreciably lighter and I did not strain while handling them.

The new wheels and tires are a great improvement. The heavy steering is cured, and the
tires are great on the road. In summary: the heavy steering can mostly be ascribed to the 19"
wheels. The Goodyears improved the steering, but it was still a bit heavy.
The 18" combo really changed the driving experience, and I think they look better as well. Note that the Pirelli's are not the Scorpions but the 'regular' P Zero tires.
The CX-5 does not require the Scorpion.

I'm a big fan of light 18s as well. I too am running light Enkeis with Pirelli Scorpion AS+3. Love it.

 

[Gray5ive]

My 2025 CX-5 came with 19" wheels and the OEM A-36 tires.
I began thinking of changing the tires when I learned that they were mediocre,
confirming my on-road experience. Why spend the best years of your car's life with sub-par tires? Right.

I hoped that a tire change would improve the heavy steering the car had.
So I changed tires to the Goodyear Weather Ready Assurance 2,
which rated well in the TireRack testing, and excelled in areas that I value.
The steering and and handling and ride were definitely improved.
Though improved, the steering was still somewhat heavy, and mileage seemed unchanged.

So, after a long and twisted path of logic and supposition, I did the following:
1. The 19" wheels and Mountain/Snowflake rated Goodyears are my '(mild) winter' tires.
2. The 18" Enkei wheels and Pirelli P ZERO AS+ 3 tires are my new three-season outfit.
I did not get the measured weight of the two wheel/tire combos, but I can tell you that the
stock 19" wheels and the Goodyears are heavy. I had to clean and jerk them up into my
elevated tire rack. Easily the heaviest auto wheels I have ever hoisted.
The new set is appreciably lighter and I did not strain while handling them.

The new wheels and tires are a great improvement. The heavy steering is cured, and the
tires are great on the road. In summary: the heavy steering can mostly be ascribed to the 19"
wheels. The Goodyears improved the steering, but it was still a bit heavy. The 18" combo really changed the driving experience, and I think they look better as well. Note that the Pirelli's are
not the Scorpions but the 'regular' P Zero tires. CX-5 does not require the Scorpion.

The stock 19"x7" with 225 55r19 tires is about 60-61lbs per corner. So pretty heavy. I switched to an 19"x 8.5" with 255 50r19 Michelin Pilot Sport tires and shaved about 11lbs per corner Steering response and handling was much improved.

 

[N7turbo]

As an aside, I can't recommend the DWS06 Plus if you are after ride comfort, at least not in 245/45/20 with stock dampers and lowering springs

They carve, though.

 

[AL Cx5]

My 2025 CX-5 came with 19" wheels and the OEM A-36 tires.
I began thinking of changing the tires when I learned that they were mediocre,
confirming my on-road experience. Why spend the best years of your car's life with sub-par tires? Right.

I hoped that a tire change would improve the heavy steering the car had.
So I changed tires to the Goodyear Weather Ready Assurance 2,
which rated well in the TireRack testing, and excelled in areas that I value.
The steering and handling and ride were definitely improved.
Though improved, the steering was still somewhat heavy, and mileage seemed unchanged.

So, after a long and twisted path of logic and supposition, I did the following:
1. The 19" wheels and Mountain/Snowflake rated Goodyears are my '(mild) winter' tires.
2. The 18" Enkei wheels and Pirelli P ZERO AS+ 3 tires are my new three-season outfit.
I did not get the measured weight of the two wheel/tire combos, but I can tell you that the
stock 19" wheels and the Goodyears are heavy. I had to clean and jerk them up into my
elevated tire rack. Easily the heaviest auto wheels I have ever hoisted.
The new set is appreciably lighter and I did not strain while handling them.

The new wheels and tires are a great improvement. The heavy steering is cured, and the
tires are great on the road.
In summary: the heavy steering can mostly be ascribed to the OEM 19" wheels.
The Goodyears improved the steering, but it was still a bit heavy.
The 18" combo really changed the driving experience, and I think they look better as well.
Note that the Pirelli's are not the Scorpions but the 'regular' P Zero tires.
The CX-5 does not require the Scorpion.

X2 the OEM wheels are aircraft carrier anchors.

I compared wheel/tire weights for 18, 19 and 20s. I settled with 19s with spun forged Enkies. With tire all three were darn close in weight.

Also changed front and rear sway bars/end links, BC Racing coil overs and lowed 2" rear, 1.5" front with required suspension adjustment parts.

Conti wrap the ankle wheels. This was a trade off since this is primarily my wife's grocery getter.

It's a pleasure to drive now. Quick mauvours are a breeze.

This combo matches the tuned turbo to a T. Its a fun sports compact SUV.

 

[teddymac]

New wheels this week!

19x8.5 et 30 Konig Oversteer with 225/55 Pilot Sport AS.

There's a very small amount of poke, and zero rubbing.

I think I saved just over 10 lbs per wheel.

 

[integ3]

New wheels this week!

19x8.5 et 30 Konig Oversteer with 225/55 Pilot Sport AS.

There's a very small amount of poke, and zero rubbing.

I think I saved just over 10 lbs per wheel.

I was curious how the stock size 225/55 would look on an 8.5" wide wheel. Do you feel like it is stretching the tire? Looks great from the pictures.

 

[N7turbo]

New wheels this week!

19x8.5 et 30 Konig Oversteer with 225/55 Pilot Sport AS.

There's a very small amount of poke, and zero rubbing.

I think I saved just over 10 lbs per wheel.

So in terms of wheel you're in 6mm (half of 1/2") and out 15mm, for a total of +9mm compared to my 9" at 45 offset. Now how your fitment is will depend on the section width of the tire, which you're running pretty lean at 225 so it shouldn't be too chunky. But yeah, there probably is a bit of poke. I assume those are not available in higher offsets?

That is a great looking setup though.