04 mazda 3 HB 18" fitting gap?

[CTAZOOM]

Hi guys my question is in two parts.

1. Curently i dont want to put 18" rims on, but what size spacers could i fit on it so that the wheels are more flush, the furthest without hitting or rubbing on turns and bumps and what kind, brand?

2. I will purchase 18" soon, probably when the s***y (stuffy) weather in New England clears. How wide can i buy them? I would like to buy the widest rims that are very close without hitting or rubbing. I used to have a lancer with 18" and they rubbed when i turned wheel.

I font have any knowledge on offset except of a basic understanding of what it is so any help would be great. Also since I'm in stuffy New England i cannot risk driving in tires lower than 45..i had 40 on the lancer and I squeezed the steering wheel and clenched my teeth every time i went over a bump, also that's what ruined my front struts.

Btw, do you guys think whitewall tires would look good? or something similar, like Michelin tires with logo, because for some reason, snow, makes the car look so nice and sexy dunno why.

 

[hat1018]

It would appear that you are lowered. I would say, and this is a guess, without negative camber +40 offset should be fine. Stock wheel offset is +52. The lower the offset the farther out the wheel is. Be carefull with spacers, too thick and the short wheel studs are not going to keep the wheels on.

 

[CTAZOOM]

actually im not lowered..its the snow effects but im thinking of lowering it a bit in the future it looks so much better.. ill post a picture of the car without snow. But what im understanding is that anything lower than +40 might rub against the fender?

 

[Chefsp0t]

Offset is useless without listing the width of the wheel and the tire size you are running. Generally speaking, an 18x8 +40 will probably need a roll. You'd probably have some rubbing over bumps, when turning sharply, or with people in the car.

If you are not going to run a 225/40/18 tire on your 3 don't even bother with 18s. I had rubbing with 215/45/18s installed on stock ms3 wheels and they weren't even spaced out at all.

 

[CTAZOOM]

Wow, really? i hate rubbing, i feel like im being touched personally, but why were you rubbing? Were you lowered? Werent those stock rims and tires? Well first off, i almoast never have more than one person in my car. Its always me alone or me and my girl or friend and i dont carry anything in the back, so im pretty weightless.

What im trying to achieve is to fill in the gap of front and rear especially. I hate the designs in which it looks like the wheels are tiny although this mazda did produce some really nice factory rims (205/50/r17 curently pretty thick tires). I do not have money for a lowering kit which will probably run $1k+ and it probably wouldnt be smart with such terrible roads in/around Boston, highway also. Although i need new struts, its getting pretty rough riding.

I want the max flush fitting i can get without much customization. Right now with the current rims and tires (picture 3 & 4) it looks like i can definetly fit an inch more, although i have 50mm thick tires. Bottomline Chef, what would you think i should go with?
- 17" 7.5 225/50/17
- 17" 7.5 225/45/17
- 17" 8 225/45/17
- 18" 8 225/45/18
- 18" 7.5 225/45/18

Appreciate your insight Chef & hat1018

 

[Chefsp0t]

I think you will be much happier with the look of 18s vs 17s if you are trying to fill the wheel wells. Those 225/45/18 tires are a lot taller than stock size and they will raise your car a half inch higher off the ground. They will also fill a half inch of the wheel gap at the same time but with that height I would be worried about rubbing the tire occasionally since they are taller. If you want to go with a 45 series sidewall I would go with a 215/45/18 which is stock mazdaspeed3 tire size and not quite as tall as the 225/45/18. If you want 225 width go with 225/40/18. The ride is not bad at all. I am running 215/35/19 tires right now and I would consider them rough but when I had 225/40/18 the ride was a LOT better.

 

[xMazdax]

Chef, if I got the eibach sportlines would I be rubbing with my rims/tires? I have the 2010 speed 3 wheels, tire size is 225/40/18

 

[Chefsp0t]

You should be just fine with that drop and those wheels/tires. You'd probably rub if they were taller but 225/40/18 is just right for low 3s. I had them on my 1g ms3 wheels with the car lower than sportlines and they did not rub.

 

[xMazdax]

Awesome! Thanks! so if anything just get camber arms and spacers? If so, how big of spacers to make it somewhat flush with the fender

 

[Chefsp0t]

What is the offset on the new speed wheels? I would think a 15mm spacer would work pretty well. It probably won't be flush but it will bring them out a bit. Not sure if you would need a roll though. The 1g ms3 wheels needed a 25mm spacer to be flush.

 

[xMazdax]

Umm i think its like 52.5. I guess there the same as the 1g ms3 wheels.

 

[CTAZOOM]

225/40/17 sounds sweet for Philly. How are the roads there and how comfortable? I dont think i can pull 225/40/18 because I am already cursing daily when i start driving and appear to driving drunk avoiding potholes. The streets here are REALLY embarrassing. 45 i think i could try.

The other thing, the car being higher never crossed my mind. I like the appearance of a lower ride. That is why sometimes i park my car on my hill driveway rear first and with the custom euro plate it looks very nice. The other thing check this dudes ride http://www.wheeldude.com/wordpress/mazda-3-wheels/2009/02/05/17x9-rota-dpt-hyper-black-on-mazda-3 He claims 245 which is crazy but looks damn nice

 

[thanotosq]

I had an 08 MS3 with 235/40/18s on an 18x8.5 wheel. I did roll the fenders, which is really easy. I recently sold the car and bought an older (05) MZ3 sedan... Is there less space in the regular 3? If not, then that size tire would work fine. I ran them with the stock suspension, BC coilovers slammed to the ground (in South Florida w/ spacers), and Koni Yellows with stock springs (now in St. Louis, MO w/ no spacers). I plan on putting some Koni FSDs that I have and Eibach Pro springs prior to buying wheels....which will be wide...