what size tires can my CX-7 take?

[Durfdaddy]

The 235 stock tires on my CX-7 seem to be hard to replace because it is not a very common size. Does anyone know if I the CX-7 can handle 255-55-18's? Nitto makes the 420s that looks pretty sweet and that is the closest I can find for my car.

Has anyone had the turbo upgrade and found that it kills what ever gas milage there was? I love how it pulls and pulls but the down shifting and gas milage is killing me! I have gone from 18-20 depending on my driving to 16-17 no matter how conservatively I drive.

 

[CX-7owner]

I would go with 255/55, I have some Falkens and they're great, the sidewall is super stiff, they sing over some expansion joints, but the handling is so much better, I like the firm ride too.
I've come to the conclusion that I will get poor MPG, because of the way I drive, leaddd foot.

 

[kleung]

Why 255/55? Is it the most common type for an 18"? Just curious. another stupid question: 255/55 should mean taller sidewall too, right? Then, how does the computer adjust for the extra travel each revolution of the tire gives?

 

[detsilverms3]

if you're upsizing the side wall you will gain comfort but lose traction keep that in mind.

 

[CX-7owner]

255/55 is wider and has a shorter side wall, it's a tire size with way more choices, and the overall diameter is within the margin of error and everything will remain just as accurate as it was before.

 

[AWmustang]

255/55 is wider and has a shorter side wall, it's a tire size with way more choices, and the overall diameter is within the margin of error and everything will remain just as accurate as it was before.

Actually if the overall diameter is within the margin of error, then the sidewall has to be as well.

235/60 tires and 255/55 tires have very similar sidewalls.

I don't understand why they do tire sizing the way they do.

the 255 or 235 stands for the width of the tire in millimeters.
The 55 or 60 stands for the height of the sidewall as a percent of the width.

Thus a 255/55 tire has a 255 * .55 = 140.25 mm sidewall
While a 235/60 tire has a 235 * .60 = 141 mm sidewall.

While the 255/55 tire's sidewall is technically shorter it is nothing that you could ever notice. Tires can vary by .75 mm just by how much tread is on them. (.75 mm is less than 1/32 inch).


Plus I think the CX-7 looks much better with the wider wheel.

 

[panchiomex]

there was a lot better explanation on the other cx7 website but bottom line was stick to 18's unless you wanna run down your crossover's performance

 

[erhayes]

In addition: the tread width difference 235mm to 255mm = ~ 3/8 inch so you will hardly ever notice any difference. I oped for the 235/60 because I wanted a slight edge in anti-hydroplaning here in SW Florida. Same could be said for snow areas.