Mazda 3 '05 Hatchback - Tires
 

Gents - I have been reading this site for a while and not sure my question has been answered. I have stock rims and currently running 215/50 R17 91V tires. They handle well and serve up a little rough ride. I guess these tires are low profile.

My ticket history has slowed my speed down considerably as has my age. So I am looking for tires than maybe have a higher sidewall which I hope would reduce noise and provide for a smoother ride. I am not into performance and just need comfort and hear myself think. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.

Most of you look for the performance aspect which keeps you with the lower sidewall tire ... it seems.

I wouldn't say a different tire size is your whole issue, i've got 205 50R17 for my summer and 205 55 R16 for winter. The OEM tires were hard, so were my first BFG traction TA's - but the summer goodyear eagle GT and newest winter tire are far softer, and both provide an unstable feel to the rear end when swerving at all.
SO you can try a higher sidewall, though I think it has to do more with the tire sidewall design and rubber compound used.

I agree some sidewalls are stiffer then others.

You can always go with a smaller diameter wheel. If you have a 3s then you can drop to a 16" wheel. If you have a 3i then you can drop to a 15" wheel. The front brakes on the 3s are larger so a 15" wheel won't clear them.

Either one will give you the benefit of a little more cushion and should soften and quiet your ride slightly. Plus smaller tires tend to be cheaper. There isn't a huge price break between the 17 and 16 tires I've looked at, but if you're in a 3i and can drop to a 15" it should cut the price considerably.

Another consideration is if you have a '05 and have not replaced the shocks/struts yet then they could be giving you a harsher ride. They should be replaced every 50-75k miles, and while they still may be "working" then could be doing a bad job of it.

Also make sure to check out your motor mounts. The right motor mount (passenger side) is notorious for failing and if the engine clunks around could be causing more vibration than you'd like.

Tire choice as well will contribute to the noise level of the ride as some tires are noisier than others.

Lastly if you really want to quiet your car down you have the choice of adding noise reduction materials to the inside of the panels. It might cost you a couple hundred dollars, but you could make the cabin as quiet as a luxury car.