Tire size question: 225/45-17 work?

[chufa]

Hello,

I recently traded in my '01 Audi S4 for a '08 MS3 GT. I still have a set of winter tires mounted on wheels from my old S4. The specs are: 225/45-17. Tirerack recommends for the MS3, as far as 17-inchers are concerned, 215/50-17's.

Please pardon me if my question seems stupid as I am not very well versed in automotive mechanics: Would the S4's winter tires work at all with the new MS3? What would be the reasons why it would or wouldn't? I appreciate your help.

 

[fourthmeal]

Sure as heck will! Look at my sig and you'll see a tire calculator. The sizing is very close. Enjoy.

 

[bacarl]

The tires would work, but the wheels more than likely won't. The specs for the stock MS3 wheels are 18x7, +52.5mm offset. But there's no reason you can't put the tires on some 17" wheels that will fit the Mazda.

Isn't 225 awfully wide for a snow tire? My last set were 190/65/15 (For s Focus)... maybe the 15-inch-ness contributed to the narrow width.

 

[fourthmeal]

LOL,...I assumed you'd not be using the wheels... yes of course the wheels are a no-go, but the tires fit. You could order steelies or some cheap alloys from tirerack.com, and get by with the 225's. You could also downsize, but hey, you've already got them, right?

This would work ok. Or, you could scrounge up some ebay Mazda3 17" wheels.

 

[chufa]

Thank you all for your responses. Now I must decide what to do for winter tires, and I have different choices. I will start a new thread since it will be a different topic discussion.