New Tires for 01 Mazda Protege ES

[wetcat007]

So I've needed new tires for my car for quite a while and I'm finalling planning on getting some. Unfortunately good All-Season tires for the car are rare The stock size is 195-50-16, not a whole lot available, however I read that you can also fit 205-50-16 tires on it, according to discounttire.com.

Anyone know of any problems using a slightly wider tire will have?

These tires had some pretty good reviews are were available in 205-50-16

Those are some tires that looks like a good pick from all the reviews I've been reading.

Right now I have khomo 711 summer tires, which are no fun in the winter, they came on the car when I bought it and it's a summer tire which is bad in Minnesota.

 

[Heisenberg]

It'll throw your speedometer off a bit, and you'll have to make sure you don't have clearance issues. However, changing the size by that small an amount probably won't cause any big issues. The miata.net calculator says your speedo will be 1.7% slow.

 

[xrax]

it will affect your speedometer, odometer.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

first number means width in MM, 2nd number means sidewall height ratio to width (%).
3rd number means diameter of wheel in inches.

 

[FoBoT]

my saturn's "normal" tire is hard to find locally, so i ordered from tirerack and had them delivered to a local shop
it was easy

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: xrax
it will affect your speedometer, odometer.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

A 1.7% difference is negligible. He'll be fine.

At 60 MPH on the speedo, he'll be doing 61. At 30 he'll actually be doing 30.5

At 120 MPH on the speedo he'll actually be doing 122.

 

[xrax]

you could also use 205-45-16. the difference would change to 1mph slower than your speedometer. You probably can get the speedometer adjusted.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: xrax
you could also use 205-45-16. the difference would change to 1mph slower than your speedometer. You probably can get the speedometer adjusted.

1 MPH at what speed? A change in tire size results in a % difference, not a fixed MPH difference at any speed.

 

[DougK62]

I would not go from a 195/50 to a 205/50. Like others have said, the later is not only wider but it's taller, too.

 

[xrax]

okay at 60mph. It's the same 1.7 % difference just 1 mph less. The ride might be different having .2" less on the sidewall rather than .2" more. Plus there is more weight so there might lose some MPG or handling. usually if you are going to get wider tires you need to lower the ratio .

 

[Thegonagle]

I have that exact same year and model car. They will fit with no problems. Speedo error seems to be about 2%, but it's no big deal.

 

[wetcat007]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
I have that exact same year and model car. They will fit with no problems. Speedo error seems to be about 2%, but it's no big deal.

What tires did you get for yours? And do live somewhere that you have to deal with driving in the snow.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: DougK62
I would not go from a 195/50 to a 205/50. Like others have said, the later is not only wider but it's taller, too.

I would. In fact, I've done it twice now. 205/50-16 fits with zero problems. You have my e-guarantee.

 

[Thegonagle]

Yes, I deal with snow. Last winter, I actually bought 15 inch rims and 195/55-15 Dunlop Graspic snow tires.

For the 16 inch rims, I have used BF Goodrich Traction T/A and Toyo Proxes 4.

The Traction T/A were excellent in rain and dry pavement, but perhaps snow could have been better. They also did nothing to soften the ride.

The Toto Proxes 4 are less expensive but kind of bleh compared to the BF Goodrich Traction T/As. The Toyos certainly ride better, and they're fine if it's dry, but when it's wet, they give up a lot to the BF Goodrigh Traction T/A, despite their AA traction rating. I have NOT used these tires in snow at all, so I can't comment on that, but the tread pattern doesn't look well optimized for snow.

 

[clickynext]

I know people who have done it with no problems. I'm planning to go 205 on my '02 Protege5 when my tires need to be replaced. (which should be within the year)

This forum will have plenty of users who have done the same:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: xrax
it will affect your speedometer, odometer.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

A 1.7% difference is negligible. He'll be fine.

At 60 MPH on the speedo, he'll be doing 61. At 30 he'll actually be doing 30.5

At 120 MPH on the speedo he'll actually be doing 122.

According to several of those electronic speed limit signs that tell you (and everyone else) exactly how fast you're going, the error in my car with new 205/50-16 is about 1-2 MPH at 50 MPH.

And I don't think our Proteges can actually go 122 MPH, but if they could, I figure the speedometer would only read 119.