tire size question.
 

hi,

i m a p5 ownwe and i m planning to get some winter tires in this coming winter, but it is hard to find a good brand tire to mach the stock size 195/50/16.
And i m thinking to get Bridgestone Blizzak series. Can i use 205/50/16 or 205/55/16 on the stock rims???
Plz give some of ur experiences.
Thank you...

yes, those tire sizes will work perfect... for future reference tho, the 1st number is the tire width, so the bigger the number, the wider the tire, the 2nd number is the sidewall height, how tall the tire appears from a side profile veiw, 50-60 series tires are usually about stock, and the last number is the rim size, and IIRC P5's have 16" rims correct? but those tires should work perfectly fine, and blizzaks are great winter tires :)...

- James

Have you thaught about getting 15" steelies. The price of the tires will be alot less that 16", you won't need to pay for installation and balancing of your tires every fall and spring when you do the swap and you don't take any chances of damaging you stock mag wheels($200/each). I currently have 185/55/15 winter tires for my 2002 P5 and I got them for $80/tire + $30/steel rims (canadian money).

Justin

I think the steelies are a great idea, and I'm thinking of doing that myself.
Also, technically, the 2nd number in a tire size is the height as a percentage of the width.
So, a 205/60/16 will have a higher profile than a 205/40/16.

i know, but i didn't want to blast him with the technicality's ;)... and i think you meant to change the tire width in your example, because even if we were talking about a set measurement a 60 series tire would have a higher profile than a 40 ;), especially when the rest of the measurements are the same...

right..my bad.

So, where do you live, Andyy? I live in Michigan, where it snows a lot in the winter. I don't swap the stock tires for snow tires, and the car does just fine.

i live in Saskatchewan Canada..... the winter here is like a hell.....
i think i will get some cheap 15 steel rims and with 60 series tires; just to mach the stock weel and tire diameter. Thank u for ur help guys ^^

Winter tires...
 

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 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

Hi Darin!

Hold off on that suggestion. The 14's won't do it, unfortunately. Couple of issues there:

First, I doubt very much if they will fit over the caliper.

Secondly, even if they do, any 14 in an acceptable diameter to not throw off the speedo and brakes will not carry the weight of the car properly, and could fail while in usage. Always remember, the first job of the tire is to carry the load of the vehicle. 14's in that size just won't do it.

Finally, what year 626 was your dealer speaking of? All of the late models came with 15's, and had a vastly different offset to the wheel causing it to stick out of the wheel well if used on your P5

SO! Now that I have crushed you hopes rather unintentionally, here is what I would suggest:

Go with an inexpensive steel wheel in a 15 (We have them for $38/ wheel), and throw on there a Dunlop Graspic DS-2 in a 195/55-15 (They are at $68/tire). You are out the door for $424 plus shipping (Give me a shout for shipping-I'll need your zip code.)

ALSO!

Fine choice for the family hauler!!!

Hope this helps a bit!

Wes