Winter Tires (Again) - Funky size issue...
- Thread starter Damaga
- Start date
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- '08 Jetta; '10 Wrangler Unlimited
newf said:
false when saying nothing smaller than a 15 inch rim will fit P5's or ES's.
I use 14 inch steel rims with 195/65/14 inch snow tires. fit over the calipers fine.......they work great in the snow.
got them from discounttire.com just have to make sure the core of the rim is big enough to fit over the caliper.
-R
MS MSP said:
Not when I go there:
http://www.tirerack.com/snow/SnowWheelSearchResults.jsp?sortSize=15&snowSortCode=19434&show=threeWheels&autoYear=2003&autoMake=Mazda&autoModel=MazdaSpeed%20Protege&autoModClar=
195/55s will throw your speedo off.
girth said:
That's really weird. I checked it maybe 2 weeks ago before I posted the same thing in another thread and it said 195-55-15. It looks like they have updated it.
If it throws off the speedo, it won't be by much regardless.
When i bought them last year, they didn't have The MSP in the menu. I went with the MP3 size, and it said 195-55-15. I think the MP3 comes with 205-45-17 stock though, so there's the difference. I thought that they were a little short, based on the old "minus 1" sizing. 215-45-17, 205-55-16, 196-65-15 etc.
Discount Tire says 195-65-15 or 205-60-15.
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thanks girth 
And yes I tried my old steelies from my mp3 which were 14", on the speed. Just took one wheel off the rear one day, slid it on, and "thunk".... it brought up against the caliper.
No troubles putting 14's on the p5's, or ES. Would even be cheaper.
On a side note, I would not put 55's on a speed. Now, each tire brand is a little different in diameter from the next even if their the same size....but 55's is too small imho. I've "heard" that anything beyond 3% difference, and you could damage your rotors under hard braking.
And yes I tried my old steelies from my mp3 which were 14", on the speed. Just took one wheel off the rear one day, slid it on, and "thunk".... it brought up against the caliper.
No troubles putting 14's on the p5's, or ES. Would even be cheaper.
On a side note, I would not put 55's on a speed. Now, each tire brand is a little different in diameter from the next even if their the same size....but 55's is too small imho. I've "heard" that anything beyond 3% difference, and you could damage your rotors under hard braking.
I honestly don't know. Some guy that sells tires told me. And I thought it was BS....but then another guy said the same thing....still don't know how it could
I personally wouldn't do it, as I want a little higer tire then that to get through the snow. My reason for not wanting them has nothing to do with rotors. I have never seen that happen.
Like I said....I "heard" it could happen. Not that I believe it.
I personally wouldn't do it, as I want a little higer tire then that to get through the snow. My reason for not wanting them has nothing to do with rotors. I have never seen that happen.
Like I said....I "heard" it could happen. Not that I believe it.
Yep Stepson,
I ordered steel wheels for my 'Speed...36$ each, can`t beat that!
And regarding 195-55 vs 195-60...from Tirerack...yes, they did something weird, a week ago their system was really giving 195-55-15 for winter tires for the msp and that`s why I was confused...thats's too small...made a couple of fun calls, a retailler actually called the rack for me...he didn't understand it either...
Turns out, 3 days ago, I check it again, and they switched the suggested tires to 195-60-15 (makes more sense!)...that`s when I pulled the trigger and ordered them...
Oh and don't even try calling mazda, they don't have a clue!
Damaga
I ordered steel wheels for my 'Speed...36$ each, can`t beat that!
And regarding 195-55 vs 195-60...from Tirerack...yes, they did something weird, a week ago their system was really giving 195-55-15 for winter tires for the msp and that`s why I was confused...thats's too small...made a couple of fun calls, a retailler actually called the rack for me...he didn't understand it either...
Turns out, 3 days ago, I check it again, and they switched the suggested tires to 195-60-15 (makes more sense!)...that`s when I pulled the trigger and ordered them...
Oh and don't even try calling mazda, they don't have a clue!
Damaga
Another great tire size calculator to check out:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
This one actually gives you a visual representation. Not all that practical, but it's pretty!
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
This one actually gives you a visual representation. Not all that practical, but it's pretty!
newf said:
Ok Newf, i'm not raising the BS flag at you, but at the guy who said you could damage rotors with 195-55-15's on the MSP.
If someone could explain the physics of that to me, I would appreciate it.
According to that Miata tire calculator, running the 55's put's my speedo off by 4.5 % approx.
The good thing is that it's slower than stock, so when the speedo says i'm doing 60 mph, i'm actually doing 57.5 mph. Who knows, that might save me a speeding ticket or two.
newf said:
Well, I'm sure that what he's saying is BS. The only thing I can think of is that for any given speed you are ACTUALLY travelling (as opposed to the speed your gauge reads), your wheels are spinning faster because of the smaller diameter (195/60-15 vs. 195/55-15). Therefore, the rotors will be spinning faster and it will take more power to slow them down equally. However, I don't believe a 3.2% difference in circumference is going to have any noticeable effect. Besides, your brake system is designed to stop reliably from 100+ mph, so a 3% difference at 75mph is not going to matter.
that's strange - I just went to tirerack and clicked through for the 'speed and it offered the "winter package" with 205/55/16 blizzaks.
incidentally, anyone know what the wheels are in that package?
they list a 16x6 black, but "style & color may vary." I know they're just steelies for winter, but like I wanna just order sight-unseen.
incidentally, anyone know what the wheels are in that package?
they list a 16x6 black, but "style & color may vary." I know they're just steelies for winter, but like I wanna just order sight-unseen.
They're steelie 16" wheels, just fine functionally but not the best looking. The 205/55/16 is within 0.5% of the overall diameter of the 215/45/17. The only way a 15" combination would damage the rotors is if the 15" wheel is too small (internal diameter) and hits the rotors - and several posters have reported 15" use with no problems, I think someone is actually running 14". Being "off" by 4% isn't so bad, but the larger diameter of the 195/60 is desirable from several aspects:
1) ground clearance (not that 1/4" would make a huge difference, but it can)
2) speedo error/drivetrain wear (at the same actual speed, your drivetrain is spinning 4% faster).
3) A smaller outside diameter means a numerically higher Final Drive ratio - it in effect lowers your overall gearing. This multiplies torque better (by at least 4% - the Engineers on the board can detail the moment-of-intertia stuff and calculations). You actually want a larger diameter to help minimize wheelspin on start-up.
4) A higher sidewall protects your rims better, even if they're steelies this can prevent a dent or worse a loss of air pressure if you hit one of those ubiquitous potholes.
-L
1) ground clearance (not that 1/4" would make a huge difference, but it can)
2) speedo error/drivetrain wear (at the same actual speed, your drivetrain is spinning 4% faster).
3) A smaller outside diameter means a numerically higher Final Drive ratio - it in effect lowers your overall gearing. This multiplies torque better (by at least 4% - the Engineers on the board can detail the moment-of-intertia stuff and calculations). You actually want a larger diameter to help minimize wheelspin on start-up.
4) A higher sidewall protects your rims better, even if they're steelies this can prevent a dent or worse a loss of air pressure if you hit one of those ubiquitous potholes.
-L
I just meant that everyone else is seeing recommended 195's at tiretrack, while I was getting 205's.
(dunno)
it had been suggested a couple of times that 205 would be too wide for significant snow/slush driving & living here in Ohio you just never know - last year we got nailed.
(dunno)
it had been suggested a couple of times that 205 would be too wide for significant snow/slush driving & living here in Ohio you just never know - last year we got nailed.
Stormtrooper77
Member
- :
- 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege
I'm running 205/60R15. No problems in snow (snow/ice tires of course). Here, go here: Tire Sizing
Stormtrooper77
Member
- :
- 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege
To add...your speedo will be off if you go to a different size (depending on what size).
DistantTea
Member
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- Mazdaspeed... of DOOM!
Is anyone running 205/65/15s? I'd really like to have a set of snows that i can swap between our MPV and MSP...
