Hey guys and girls,
After much research I decided to buy a set of EVO IX rims with stock Yokohama Advan A-046 tires for the P5. My research concluded that the inside clearance to suspension components would not be an issue, and it was not. The only question was how much would they stick out. Stock wheels are 16x6 and EVO IX wheels are 17x8 w/ 38mm offset. I believe the stock ones have 45mm offset. Stock tires are 195/50/16 and EVO IX tires are 235/45/17. I have Mazdaspeed Racing Beat springs all the way around and Mazdaspeed shocks as well.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UuAAoF8BIolPqMOInAv40w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TFCwqkqI/AAAAAAAAAP8/5UM5ni10I0k/s800/IMG_0158.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cYaDpDAi8hezWBfn5G9Xfw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TFMFZGGI/AAAAAAAAAQE/3D1o83mmLzc/s800/IMG_0159.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wbkL88XwlEf5z0xQ3KyJlA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TFVK_25I/AAAAAAAAAQM/w10eoWcPk6M/s800/IMG_0160.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/thjDfo59PffQ1wNtytGv4Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TWYu3xbI/AAAAAAAAAQU/2JqaKXlsuQI/s800/IMG_0161.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/J-PE9eNzmNQrQKWSqQ13eA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TWt85WQI/AAAAAAAAAQc/ySa6XLcv9VY/s800/IMG_0162.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7ZbPO0we_2OUtYAEEYmpQw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TW-9YMGI/AAAAAAAAAQk/cyaZQnNL614/s800/IMG_0163.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/L28wQy67RwDUukFBYTb1Rw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TW0ZLWGI/AAAAAAAAAQs/-bJtkE0e-xo/s800/IMG_0164.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6SFHHEhCIgMhU4z2H1BogQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TXMsgcCI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/RsSx_24r_Ew/s800/IMG_0165.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DkASK-_sYRwT1wc4jzBNvw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TheESduI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/16G0JP1ZRMU/s800/IMG_0166.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2sbSrV9i7-m3rO8tCYybug?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9ThluPZJI/AAAAAAAAARE/IGQi9XUX4oU/s800/IMG_0167.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
Conclusion: Offset could have been more aggressive as there was plenty of clearance inside. Front would probably be ok if you have as much camber as I have, but the rear is much more of a problem as you can see from the pictures. If you ran much narrower tires, with a couple of degrees camber in the rear, you might make it work. This tire and wheel package weighs 44.8lbs.
After much research I decided to buy a set of EVO IX rims with stock Yokohama Advan A-046 tires for the P5. My research concluded that the inside clearance to suspension components would not be an issue, and it was not. The only question was how much would they stick out. Stock wheels are 16x6 and EVO IX wheels are 17x8 w/ 38mm offset. I believe the stock ones have 45mm offset. Stock tires are 195/50/16 and EVO IX tires are 235/45/17. I have Mazdaspeed Racing Beat springs all the way around and Mazdaspeed shocks as well.
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UuAAoF8BIolPqMOInAv40w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TFCwqkqI/AAAAAAAAAP8/5UM5ni10I0k/s800/IMG_0158.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cYaDpDAi8hezWBfn5G9Xfw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TFMFZGGI/AAAAAAAAAQE/3D1o83mmLzc/s800/IMG_0159.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wbkL88XwlEf5z0xQ3KyJlA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TFVK_25I/AAAAAAAAAQM/w10eoWcPk6M/s800/IMG_0160.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/thjDfo59PffQ1wNtytGv4Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TWYu3xbI/AAAAAAAAAQU/2JqaKXlsuQI/s800/IMG_0161.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/J-PE9eNzmNQrQKWSqQ13eA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TWt85WQI/AAAAAAAAAQc/ySa6XLcv9VY/s800/IMG_0162.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7ZbPO0we_2OUtYAEEYmpQw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TW-9YMGI/AAAAAAAAAQk/cyaZQnNL614/s800/IMG_0163.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/L28wQy67RwDUukFBYTb1Rw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TW0ZLWGI/AAAAAAAAAQs/-bJtkE0e-xo/s800/IMG_0164.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6SFHHEhCIgMhU4z2H1BogQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TXMsgcCI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/RsSx_24r_Ew/s800/IMG_0165.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DkASK-_sYRwT1wc4jzBNvw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9TheESduI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/16G0JP1ZRMU/s800/IMG_0166.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2sbSrV9i7-m3rO8tCYybug?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_RbJ0B3hhuqo/SY9ThluPZJI/AAAAAAAAARE/IGQi9XUX4oU/s800/IMG_0167.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/abhaysantos/Protege5WithEVOWheelsVR4ClutchLever?feat=embedwebsite">Protege5 with EVO wheels + VR4 clutch lever</a></td></tr></table>
Conclusion: Offset could have been more aggressive as there was plenty of clearance inside. Front would probably be ok if you have as much camber as I have, but the rear is much more of a problem as you can see from the pictures. If you ran much narrower tires, with a couple of degrees camber in the rear, you might make it work. This tire and wheel package weighs 44.8lbs.