Smaller Rims
 

I just bought a 2012 Mazda 3 Sedan and need to get snow tires on it. Was a bit disappointed that the car comes with 205/55R16 tires on it. When I priced snow tires I was shocked. I was thinking of possibly going a different route and getting a 15" rim with thinner tires. Does anyone have experience with this type of thing that could give me some advice? I know I'll spend more up front with the rims, but I won't have to swap my tires off the rims twice a year, and replacement tires will be cheaper going forward. Plus I'm concerned that the larger tire, even studded just wont handle as well. Help Please!!!

Do you have a 3i or 3s? If the 2nd generation follows the first then the 3s has a larger front brake and cannot fit anything smaller than a 16" wheel. The 3i is able to fit a 15" wheel.

As far as swapping the tires off of the wheels, I'd suggest just buying your winter tires mounted on steel wheels. That way you can just swap them easily, don't have to worry about mounting/unmounting, and no worries about road chemicals on the aluminum wheels.

It's the iTouring. Yes, that's what I was thinking, separate rims for my snow tires so that I don't have to keep swapping them out.

If if switch to 15", how do I figure out what size tire to get? My understanding is the overall circumference needs to be the same.

Okay if you have the i model then you should be fine going with a 15" wheel.

If you purchase from somewhere like tirerack and denote the 15" wheel it should automatically tell you the tire size you need. Also if you order from someone like them and buy steelies at the same time your tires should arrive mounted already.

Thank you icspots!