phill_g Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 Hi, My mazda 3 2.2 diesel comes with 205/50/17 XL tyres, this limits my choice of tyres quite a bit and puts the price up! I was wondering if fitting 225/45/17 or 215/45/17 would be ok? Thanks Phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Hi Phill The 225/45/17 would be fine, just check you have the arch clearance for the extra width. The speedo will more or less read the same as well. There are many tyre calculators online, I used this one - http://tire-size-conversion.com/tyre-size-calculator/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill_g Posted November 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Thanks Rich, so it's really only 2cm wideris that right? Also is 225 ok on a 7th rim and won't look strange? Cheers Phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Yes it'll be 2cm wider and I think 225 is the maximum width you can have on a 7" rim (I run the same size on 17s) but I would let Tony confirm that first. You could fit the 215 but the speedo would under-read slightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 215/ 45-17 would be the correct rolling radius..... Historically for every additional 10mm width you lower the aspect ratio 5% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill_g Posted November 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Will the 215/47/17 look ok tony? Don't want them looking to small! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 They won't, the 45 profile is 45% of the 215mm width so this = 50% of the 205mm width meaning they would have the same radius +- a few mm which is allowed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 The speedo would be more out on the 215 than they would with the 225 though, albeit by only a small margin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Your right..... There i can be wrong it's a 20mm width change - a profile percentage not as i said a 10mm width change, well spotted Rich, i'm off to rub me sore bum now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill_g Posted November 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Hmmm so maybe 225 would be best depending on whether it will clear wheel arches etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 Yeah but don't forget it's only 10mm each side of the rim not 20mm solely on the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 26, 2014 Report Share Posted November 26, 2014 Good point, you need to check the clearance inside the arch as well but if the car is standard and not lowered you should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill_g Posted November 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 Do you know what kind of effects it would have on the drive? Better or worse? I'm hoping it will put a bit more weight in the steering as find it a bit light at times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 28, 2014 Report Share Posted November 28, 2014 It really depends on the tyre you get but with a wider profile you will get more grip in the dry. If you get budget tyres wet grip would probably be worse - one reason I don't get budgets anymore! If you go for an asymmetrical tread pattern you will also experience more tramlining compared to a directional or symmetrical pattern. Plus with a 45 profile the ride will be firmer as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill_g Posted November 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2014 Ok thanks Rich, I was looking at either goodyear eagle f1 or dunlop sport maxx RT, but am unsure now! What would you recommend for around that price mark? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill_g Posted November 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2014 Ok thanks Rich, I was looking at either goodyear eagle f1 or dunlop sport maxx RT, but am unsure now! What would you recommend for around that price mark? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 28, 2014 Report Share Posted November 28, 2014 I was recommended the Vredestein Sessanta, which I run on the front of my Accord (during the warmer months) and while I did experience tramlining to start with it did reduce once they had done a few miles. They are brilliant in the dry and wet but as I run winter tyres I don't know what they're like in the colder months. TBH both of the ones you have mentioned as very good tyres so I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 28, 2014 Report Share Posted November 28, 2014 The side wall height ( aspect ratio ) is the same +- a few mm so the ride will be the same..... The Sessanta is a top tyre but it comes with a price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill_g Posted November 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2014 Hmmm, I don't understand why all the tyre places I approach are saying they are dubious about putting them on.. I contacted f1 autocentres who said they would fit them but they don't think I should use that size... They have the best price at £328 for all four! Perhaps they just aren't as knowledgeable as you guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 29, 2014 Report Share Posted November 29, 2014 Put both sizes in this site and you will see the 225/45 is -3mm which is well within limits. http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill_g Posted December 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 Hey, merry Xmas everyone! I had my new tyres size fitted yesterday 225 45 17 eagle f1s, I was wondering what tyre pressurei should now be using? It ran at 33psi all round on the 205/50/17. Also the steering is now not centred and it vibrates from 70-80 and unstable feeling. Would the bigger tyres accentuate a misalignment? Cheers Phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMARTLY Posted December 24, 2014 Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 Did you have them balanced and a geometry done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill_g Posted December 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 They done the balancing apparantly I had a precision balance upgrade (f1 autocentres) They checked the geometry ad they said the back end was slightly out but still within limits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 24, 2014 Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 The pressures can stay the same, maybe increase/decrease slightly to your liking. The off centre steering wheel is down to the tyres, you will need a geo done to get it centred. Vibrating is almost certainly the balancing, I would get them to re-check it. Did they use the centre hole of the wheels to balance or stud holes? The former is a cosmetic hole and not always in the centre so when the wheel is mounted on the car using the stud holes the balancing might be out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill_g Posted December 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 Ok thanks, they look really flat with 33 so I put 36 in them. The alignment machine the car went on showed all the alignment as ok, maybe WIM would be better to have it done. I'm not sure how they balanced them or even if they can do it with the other way, I'm sure they could tho as it's a big company! All I know is thay called it a precision balance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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