Christine

Hi, I just bought a 2003 Protege5. For the most part I love this zippy little car. It needs new tires, the tread is pretty thin. Also, the car sits so low the front bumper scrapes the parking curb. Is this normal? Would new tires (possibly bigger tires) correct this? Wanted to hear what you all said before I was at the mercy of the tire store salesmen. I'd feel better if I knew more about what I was talking about. Sorry if I sound like a girl...I am.

Luzer

Hi Christine, welcome to the forum. Good choice buying a P5. I have had mine for 2 1/2 years now, and still enjoy driving it as much as the day I bought it. Can you post pictures? The person who owned your car must have lowered it if you are scraping parking curbs. I don't have a problem with normal sized curbs, but my car hasn't been lowered. The stock tire size is 195/50R-16, which is kind of a rare size. I went one size up when I replaced mine. I have 205/50R-16 on now. They are slighty wider and taller, but there are a lot more tire choices with this size. You don't want to go much bigger because your speedometer will be off. With my slightly bigger tires I am actually going 61 when the speedo reads 60. Not much of a difference. As for brands, you can go to www.tirerack.com and see what is available. Just make sure that you figure out what size tires you have now. If your car has been lowered, chances are that the wheels are bigger than 16 inch. I hope that helps you out a little.

kargoboy

Welcome to the forum.
As Luzer mentioned it sounds as if your car has been lowered. If you are not sure post a pic, we'd be able to tell pretty quickly.
Also, what tire size do you have on there now?
Stock wheels?

Christine

Thanks for the responses, especially about tire sizes. I will look at the tires and see what size they are + try and post a pic of my car. ( are there directions how to do that on here somewhere?) What does lowering a car (like this) entail? Can it be made regular again or has something been cut? Does this make me a low-rider?

kargoboy

LOL, yup, you got yourself a hooptie there, missy.

To post a pic click on the 'go advanced' button under the reply and follow the directions for uploading an image. Be careful of the size, this forum's a little stingy with it's bandwidth.

And yes, if it's lowered and you don't like it you could probably get a set of stock springs from someone on this forum and sell the lowering springs you have. Hopefully, the previous owner was not stupid enough to have cut the stock springs.

Da P-Funk!

*Or just stop before you hit the curb. It takes some getting used-to... but you will be glad you did

Also, go 'diagonally' front right wheel first the front left wheel) over tall speed bumps.

The lower car really does handle better - so don't raise it back!