Your opinion on these modz ...

[GhostLinker]

I want to drop and get new wheels and tires for my silver P5
but I still have a lot of questions after shopping on the net and going to a couple of modz stores.

This is what I want to do:

- Eibach Pro Kit (1.4" drop front, 1.2" drop back)
- 17" OZ Superleggera titanium wheels 17x7 (17x8?)
or VOLKS LE37T gunmetal 17x7.5 (30,40,48 offset?)
- Falken FK-451 205+/40 17 or 205+/45 17
- drilled or slotted rotors (possibly larger but that is usually very expensive).

Can I go wider then 205/40's without rolling fenders or playing too much with the camber ?
What's the deal with the wheel offset and how do I make sense of all this (wheel, tires, offset ...) ?

Any suggestions ?

GhostLinker

modz:
Silver 2002 P5 14000km
PPI PCX440 amp, Infinity KAPPA 100.3SE 10" Sub, Boston Acoustics RX87 front speakers.
Toucan Ractive MTP359 Bolt-on exhaust
K&N filter
futur modz:
Drop, wheels, tires, JVC KD-LH2000 mp3 radio

 

[Sir Nuke]

First off Ghost, Welcome to the club, we are all car lovers by vitue of our nature. We hope you enjoy our company, as we will certainly enjoy yours. Make your self comfortable here in our little "home away from home", feel free to delve into all the aspects of our shared passion, the Mazda Progete.

Please, when you find yourself wanting to ask a quesiton, use the search feature, and/or the FAQ (Frequently Ask Question's) to see if the subject has been covered before.....however....if your specific question has not been ask or answered, OR you would just like MORE details....feel free to post a thread, we just ask that you attempt to put the question in the most appropriate section of the board.

We also have a FOR SALE section, as well as a Vendors Area located at the bottom of the board in our "MARKETPLACE" area..

Enjoy...and once again, WELCOME TO THE CLUB.

(stash)

Secondly....to your questions:

1. Lowering.....think seriously about replacing your struts at the same time....use the Trico struts you can get at your dealer that came stock on the MP3. They are properly set up for a lower/stiffer spring. If you don't....the stock struts will be shot in about 12,000 miles and you will be doing the job over again and replacing them then..

2. The wheels....7 1/2 inch wide is as wide as you will want to try...8 won't fit well at all. and 7's are even better.

3. Tire size and offset for your wheels....this is straight from Richie (ADR_MP5) OUR resident wheel/tire/suspension expert.

Mazda Protege5 fitment guide

215/40/17; 215/35/18
-------------
7.0" +45 and higher
7.5" +48 and higher

205/40/17
-------------
7.0" +42 and higher; Barely making it
7.5" +48 or higher, the +45 still worries me with this width on a 205.


YOU mentioned going with a 205/45/17....the error you will get in your speedo/odometer will be nearly 3% with a 205/45...whereas the error with a 205/40 is only .9%.....

if you want to go wider....a 215 is as wide as recommended without rolling lips and the like....and a 215/40 will actually put you even closer to the stock rolling diameter....and only give you a .4% error in your speedo/odometer.

Hope this all helps.....and if you want to get any specifics as to which offset for a specific tire and wheel combination works best....decide what you want....wheel type and tire size that is...and ask Richie (ARD_MP5) what he would recommend....as he will KNOW what exactly will fit best.....just send him an email/pm.

4. as for your barkes...unless you plan on doing some serious autocrossing or something like that....stick with the stock discs....all that getting cross drilled/slotted discs will end up doing for you is wearing out your pads faster......that is like I said...you plan on doing some serious autocrossing. otherwise you will never see the true benifits of the crossdrilling/slotting.

 

[BL_Protege]

def. get the superleggeras. i used to want those until i decided i want all black for my car. but def. get em i think they're sweet.

 

[GhostLinker]

Thank for making me feel at home !

Thanks for the kind greetings and I am very happy to be a member of this forum. I love my P5 and can't wait to share information and pictures.

I had red the info Richie (ADR_MP5) posted but did not find
anybody with a 215/40 17 setup in the forum. I guess I am still scared to make an expensive mistake. Once I buy the wheel/tire set, I will have to make them fit ...
The OZ Superleggera wheels have an offset of +45 and don't know if it is borderline for the 215's.
Thanks Sir Nuke and I will give a call to Richie.
Your comment about the struts is very helpful. I did not know if I should change them. A store offered me KYB at about $120 CAN each. They have the advantage of a lifetime warranty. I did not know Trico made struts ... maybe Tokico. Will the struts of the MP3 fit directly on the MP5?

Thanks BL Protege, the OZ's were my first choice but I hear good and bad about these wheels. The dealers that carry them say they are great, the others say they are bad. What is the real story ? OZ racing wheels are used by a lot of racing cars. Is the street version as good or comparable ?

As far as brakes, you are right, I do not race the car so I probably don't need drilled rotors but somebody suggested that stainless steel brake lines would make a big difference in the feel. I will check it out (suggestions?). Any good pads to put on the stock brakes ?

Other questions ...
I would like to put black lug nuts on my new wheels. So far I found Gorilla and McGard. Are they good or bad... any other brands I should look for ?

You guys are a great help ! Thanks again.

 

[APEXistud]

Supperlagerra's over Gunmetal TE-37's, noway man. That's my take on the wheel question. I'd have to say go for coilovers over a lowering spring, it'll give you the added safety just incase your choice of tires rubs.