I just picked up my first G, 03 Sedan 6-spd, and I NEED winter tires here in Minnesota. I have found a sick deal on some 215 65 -17 but I am afraid they are too big for my stock sedan. Can someone please enlighten me to if they think they will fit? Stock is 215/55/r17; I am unsure how much the aspect ratio will effect the overall diameter.

Thanks guys!

 

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

The stock tire size is 26.3" in diamter.


These tires would be 28.0" in diameter. It's almost 2" larger in diamter. They will be pretty larger. I wouldn't run them

 

they should fit, but 65 is too much sidewall. Your speedometer is going to be off alittle.

 

Gotta agree with Mustang, those are just too big. You really shouldn't go more than 3% difference in wheel diameter (the VDC doesn't like it). Those tires are around 6.5% larger in diameter than stock. So for the stock 17x7.5's, that pretty much leaves you with these sizes, more or less.

225/50-17 25.9 (1.5% smaller diam.)
215/55-17 26.3 (stock)
225/55-17 26.7 (1.5% larger diam.)
235/50-17 26.3-26.7 (yes, some tires are different for this size)
215/60-17 27.2 (3.4% larger, pushing it a bit)

And when I say the VDC doesn't like it, I mean it will kick on more often, even if conditions are ideal. Just taking a mildly agressive turn can cause the system to think there's too much wheel slippage. I may be wrong on this last part, but I've read somewhere about this, and a mechanic mentioned it to me when I got my 225/55-17's. Plus you've got the whole speedo/odo problem. That 1.5% for my tires translates to a 3% difference in circumference. Your 215/65-17's would be about 13% different.