markusda

Fellas (and gals, as may be appropriate)...

I am probably coming from a different angle on all this car stuff, and I'm not much of a piston head, so I hope you all will bear with me, and still provide any information you might have.

I have a 2002 P5, but unlike most of you (from what I can tell) I did not buy it for great performance, racing, or anything of the sort. I bought the car because I was looking for a reliable vehicle for my wife to tote my son around in. I apologize if this sounds like blasphemy to you wrenchers out there...

so my question...
I am floored by the cost of the performance rated tires that I have to buy for the p5. I am looking for winter tires now (again, think safety for my wife and son). I saw previously where someone had posted that their Mazda dealer recommended they could get 14" 626 rims for their p5 for winter tires. I found a tire size calculator on-line (can't remember where at the moment), and it looked like a 170/75/14 (possibly I have it wrong, and should be 175/70/14?) was almost the exact same outer diamter (.1% difference) as the stock 195/50/16.

My problem now is determing the lug pattern spacing, and the back-spacing so I can order the correct (cheap) 14" rims. I may even run them year round sinc eht e cost of the rubber is so much cheaper in the 14" size.

Can somebody provide backspacing specs, and tell me how I specify the lug pattern spacing for the rims I want? Optionally, if anyone is familiar with this 14" 626 rim that was recommended, could they provide what year 626 they were talking about?

Tanks so much for any information.

Just a guy trying to save a buck and take care of his family.

Darin

mgs_freak

I'd be weary about putting 14" rims on. You need to make sure that there is enough clearance between the brakes and the inner diameter of the wheel. I've been to two websites, and neither of them have an option for 14" rims for your car. Just get some cheap 15" steel rims and buy some good snow tires, the narrower the better (for snow).

(175/70/15)
The first number on the tire refers to the width of tread in mm, the 2nd number is a percentage of the first number. The higher the percentage the larger the sidewall, and vise versa. The last, is the rim diameter.

mgs_freak

Oh yeah, and the most important thing is the bolt pattern. Your car has a 5(lug) x 114.3 mm spacing. And from what I could find out, a recommended 38 mm ofset min.

mrompre

Very valid question. I have the same problem. The biggest Mazda dealership in Canada told me that the GT 16' rims could be replaced by a 14' for the winter with 185/65R14. They do a lot of them up here. The better recommendation is definitely a 15' rim on 195/55R15 but your cost goes up a bit. The 14' rim may be harder to find. I am still debating on what I will be doing this winter. Good luck, let me know how you make out

Wes@tirerack

Not sure what your dealer was thinking, as these will not work (Didn't I reply to this thread?). Actually, the 6 from a similar vinatage came with 15's....

Regardless, you will need to stick to 15's-The 14's will not fit over the brake. Take a look at: http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH4&...nter/index.jsp

Put your car in the upgrade garage, and take a look at the options. There are some really good solutions there, but 14's will grind and squeal all the way down the road.

mrompre

Thnaks for the info. I contact another dealer and was told the 14 would not fit. Thank you

maxou723

Hi,

I had an extra set of 14 inch tires 185/65R14 laying around and decided to check with the local Wal-Mart to see if any 14 inch rims would fit on the Protege 5. They said yes and ran me a nice 240.00 bill. Tonight I finally wanted to install the winter tires an low and behold the 14 inch just don't fit with the front brake caliper. Now I'm gonna have to go back get them to take their rims back and buy a whole kit of 15 inch tires!!!

mrompre

that's sucks...

Trig

Have you read the bible? ... The TYRE BIBLE I mean

It may be helpful to someone: http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbi...yre_bible.html

130hp

Actually most 14" wheels should fit the P5 and ES, maxou723, it seems like the ones you got at walmart were the exception. It depends on the design of the wheel. I know lots of proteges driving around on 14" steelies in the winter. (excluding the MSP).

steveES

My dealership (in Halifax, NS) also told me that 185/65R14 would fit on my ES (stock 195/50R16). So I called around a few tire shops and they said they couldn't get 5 lug rims in on that size. I ended up buying 195/55R15 tires and 5 lug steel rims. I suspect the guy at the dealership was thinking 4 lug rims, not 5 lug. I bought Kumho KW17. Got them yesterday and we got our first snowfall today. Probably 5cm or more on the ground so far, I was just out driving around for an hour or so and the tires held to the road very well... saw lots of people sliding around, but I didn't have any problem. Expensive though... $750CAD for the rims and tires (includes 15% tax/install).

mrompre

I just bought (for $1) a slightly used set of 14' winter wheel (5 lugs) and tire combo from a friend of mine who just sold his P5 without the winter set. He told me he had them installed last winter and they fit on the P5. I am going to my mechanic today to see if they fit my ES GT. I will keep you posted. Has anyone heard of Hercules Winter Trax tires? Good? average? bad? Thanks

coolice

thanks alot!!

Martin
2003 Protege ES w/leather

mrompre

hi coolice, the 14' fit perfectly.. My local garage put them on, checked everything , no rubbing anywhere, car drives great, Hercules tires are OK. Unfortunately I do not have the details (offset , size) for my 14' wheels (I bought them from a friend who did not have the information). The tires that Mazda recommended on the 14' wheel was a 185/65/15, mine is a 195/65/14 (about 1% offset on the speedo) and everything is good so far and the ride is much quieter and softer than the dunlop I had (if you are willing to give up some performance). Talk to you soon

goldstar

The OEM P5 wheel is 16 x 6" with a +50 mm offset and, as already stated, a 5 x 114.3 mm lug spacing.