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Hatchbacks Mazda3 Mazda3 Hatchback
2744 messages, Last post on Nov 17, 2008 at 9:48 AM
You are in the Mazda3 Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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I went with 215 50 17 Kumho ASX - Discount Tire price was $95 plus $2 disposal + $11 install total with tax $462. Which is a drop from a few months ago - they were $119 each VS $95 now. The Goodyear RSA were over $800. ($177 VS $95) You need to look at the specs for each tire - not all 205 50 17 are the same size. For example The 205 50 17 Goodyears have a diameter of 25.4 Kumho 205 50 17 diameter is 25.1 The 215 50 17 Kumho ASX diameter is 25.5 In my book .1 of an inch is not much of a change. But I would bet that the stock Goodyear tires have LESS revs per mile (how many times the wheel must turn) than the LARGER diameter Kumho. The sidewall of the Kumho is softer - more flex - this reduces the actual diameter of the tire after it is installed on the car. I have only driven about 80 miles - so its too early to tell if the Kumho were the right choice - but I do know that the ride quality is MUCH BETTER - I glide over the expansion joints in the road now - before I got a LOUD THUMP THUMP on ever one. When I first left the tire shop I though (for a few seconds) whats that funny noise coming from my engine? Then realized - IT WAS JUST MY ENGINE - that I could now actually HEAR because my tires were not making a HUMMMMING noise. I am pretty sure I will give up some cornering at the limit - but so far they seem to grip as good or better than the Goodyears. My only concern - because the side wall is so much softer - is what happens when I hit a big nasty pot hole? Do I bend a wheel? Pop a tire? I am still using 32 PSI - the Kumhos are rated to a MAX of 51 PSI - I may - after a few more miles - change to 35 PSI and see what it does to the ride / handling. So far I am very happy.
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Replying to: dride (Mar 17, 2006 9:52 am) |
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Replying to: dride (Mar 17, 2006 9:52 am) We replaced the OEM goodyear RSA tires,on our 2003 5 door,with Michelin Pilot Sport AS and the performance was radically improved. We chose to install 225/45/17's which fit the OEM wheels perfectly and maintain the speedometer accuracy perfectly, as verified using a GPS computer in the car. You will get the same performance gain with OEM sized 205/50/17 Michelins. You cannot beat Tire Racks prices- But if you do not wish to buy there, you can get the same price-when you factor in shipping,installation, and road hazard warranty at Sams club |
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Actually the host is off by a little - and you would be better off using a 215 50 17 than a 225 45 17 - at least if you plan to use stock wheels. If you take a 205 50 17 tire the rim (wheel) width range that is recommended is between 5.5 and 7.5 inches. But in order to actually end up with the width that is in the spec (8.4 inches) it must be installed on a wheel that is 6.5 inches wide. This is called the measuring wheel width. BTW the Mazda3 uses 6.5 inch wide wheels. If you install a 205 50 17 on a WIDER wheel the installed tire will be a little wider than spec - install on a wheel less than 6.5 it will make the tire less than spec. So putting a 215 50 17 tire on the Mazda3's 6.5 inch stock wheel you will NOT end up with a tire that is 8.9 inches wide (as listed in the Tirerack web site) - but something less - The measuring wheel width for a 215 50 17 is 7 inches - I will guess it will end up about 8.65 inches. So Putting the Kumho ASX 215 50 17 tires on I figure it increased the diameter buy 0.1 of an inch and the width by .25 of an inch which is only 1/8 of an inch wider on each side - Not enough of a change to worry about. Now putting a 225 45 17 on a 6.5 inch wheel is NOT RECOMMENDED. Not saying you can't do it - you can do just about anything you want to - but the recommended wheel width for a 225 45 17 is between 7 - 8.5 inches. The measuring wheel width for this tire is 7.5 inches. Strange thing is - the actual width of a 225 45 17 tire on a 7.5 inch wheel is only 8.8 inches - if you put a 215 50 17 on a 7 inch wheel it will actually be wider than a 225 45 17. The only problem with cramming a 225 45 17 on a 6.5 inch wheel is after 10,000 or so miles (if you run 32+ PSI) you may see that the tread in the center of the tire will be wearing out a little bit faster than the side tread - similar to what you get if you over inflate a tire. All things considered though it will not make that much difference. I admit I am a little bit of a freak when it comes to tires - but I never understood why so many people get so worried about CHANGING THE SPEEDOMETER because they put on a little larger tire. Really most of the time one size up only changes the reading by 2% - so when the speedometer says 75 MPH you are really going 76.5 - I would guess than many speedometers are off by more than that - even with the stock size tire. As far as changing shift points (auto tranny) the difference is so small you will never even see a change.
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I've had my 3 for 3.5 days now and love it. I'm looking to do a little personalization on the car and had a couple of questions: Any recommendation for a good set of 5-speed pedals? It seems to me that the foot well in the 3 is smaller than my last few cars with the pedals much closer together. I'm wanting a nice set of sport pedals that work well in the confined space and aren't scraping each other. I'm also wanting to put on an interesting pin stripe and am looking for a good source with a good selection. I've checked the regular auto parts stores but don't want the standard patterns (tribal, barb wire....) they have as they have such limited color selections in those patterned pins (not to mention they're just ugly). Any good sources? Any pics of 3s with accent stripes? Thanks!
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| Have an opportunity to buy 2004 Mazda3 Hatchback with 19,400 miles or 2002 RAV4 with 36,070, either for about $16,000. We love the drivability & sportiness of the Mazda but are concerned with the reliablity compared to the RAV4. We're expecting to run whichever we buy for at least the next 5 years with the lowest maintenance costs possible. Can anyone set our minds at ease about the Mazda? | |
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Replying to: z71bill (Mar 17, 2006 7:20 pm) I also upped the tire pressure from 32psi to 34psi for better handling, similar to what the stiffer tires gave. fowler3 |
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Sandstorm, Mazda should be cheaper over the next five years. Toyota service is higher on just about everything the RAV-4, compared to the Hatchback, will require. That's one of the reasons I changed from Honda to Mazda and I don't regret it at all. Mazdas are every bit as reliable as their competitors. fowler3
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Replying to: cajungreek (Mar 21, 2006 8:38 pm)  fowler3
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Replying to: z71bill (Mar 18, 2006 8:04 am) Now, if u r referring to my blog, I would have to say that u read too much into things, really. Maybe u read too much between the lines. Or whatever. I brought up the speedo change because it's a fact. However small, insignificant, etc., it's a fact. Here are a few definitions (from Merriam) of the word "fact" that may help you out through out these forums (and life for that matter): 1) the quality of being actual 2) something that has actual existence 3) an actual occurrence 4) a piece of information presented as having objective reality BTW - Is this what you meant by worried (or freak)? Ok, ok, so I went over board. But u c, I brought up the speedo issue without any real emphasis. It may or may not be important (I don't know; I don't care; to each their own), but it remains a fact. No harm; no foul. 
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