Is the Tire Rack wrong???????

[Matt'sSpeed6]

In my hunt for winter tires and wheels, I enlisted the online assistace of the Tire Rack's "Winter Wheel and Tire" section. Upon selecting your vehicle, you are shown two choices for wheel/tire packages:

17" = 215/50-17
18" = 225/45-18

I wanted to make sure these are accurate conversions resulting in no overall change in diameter. On Miata.net http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html there is a tire size conversion calculator. If you input these numbers, there is a significant difference in revs/mile. If you use a 225/50-17 tire, the difference is almost non-existant. Could the Tire Rack be wrong? What negative outcome could this have on the AWD?? (If all of the tires are the same size, would there be any ill-effects to the AWD)? What if the Mazda tech saw you were running different overall diameter wheels??? Could the warranty be voided????

I hate to spring for 18" winter wheels and tires. Anyone have any thoughts?

M

 

[mountjonas]

as long as all the tires are the same size, you'll be fine on awd. and correct me if i'm wrong, but you probably want a thinner tire for the winter.

 

[jdub260]

A thinner tire will cut through the snow better but I'm still gonna get 225's for my winter set just because when I drive without snow I want that extra contact patch.

As for the warranty the only possible thing thay could complain about is suspension parts vs. wheel size but it would still be hard for them to prove that the smaller wheel caused the problems, and you should never ever ever buy winter wheels. You should buy summer wheels and use the stock wheels for winter. That way the car looks good all year round.

 

[ottawaP5]

I got 215/50/17, no problems at all.

 

[stillflat4]

Will those 225/45 18's fit on the stock OEM wheels? I'm needing some winter tires. I'm planning on making the OEM wheels my "winter" set and going to buy a new wheel/tire combo in the spring for my summer set.

215/45 18's there are only two winter tires. Once you go to 225/45 18's there are MANY more options...