im thinking of going either 18's or 19's but i want the wider look but not so it is rediculously close to my wheel wells

 

okay, i just went to thetirerack.com and they sell 18x8's specifically for the mazda3. that's the second site i've been to that sells wheels as wide as 8 inches for the mazda3.

does anyone know, with absolute certainty, the widest wheel i can put on my 3 without causing the wheel to stick out of the wheel well?

 

are you trying to get tires for style or for performence?

 

I know that I've seen numerous Mazda3's with the RX-8 wheels. They are an 18x8, but you need to make sure you have the proper offset. You may rub with an 18x8 regardless of offset. Some people run them and seem to do fine, but they may be rubbing and not know it. I've got a set of these on my wife's Mazda6 right now and when the tires wear through, I want to mount them up on my 3.

225/40R18 seems to be the size people go with to fit the RX-8 wheels on the 3. You could give yourself an extra bit of clearance by going 215/40R18.

The offset of the wheel dictates where the inner and outer edges of the wheel are with respect to the mounting surface at the hub.

I currently run 17x7 w/60mm offset. My tires do rub a little (fronts) on the inside of the plastic inner fender (part that closes out the engine from the wheelwell.) I just noticed this on Thursday when I had my car up on a rack. It seems a ton of people like the 48mm offset. In theory, if you ran an 18x8 with a 48mm offset, you should be in about the same condition on the inside edge as I am today (tire rubs on "friendly" surface, so I don't worry about it, and it's only at full lock), with an addition 0.5" (12mm) sticking out further on the outside edge. Looking at the clearance on my car, that shouldn't be a problem.

Best bet is to go to a store and have a tire/wheel combo mounted up for a test fit. The front is the biggest challenge as you want to make sure the tire clears the fender with the wheels turned.

 

I didn't see any in that list that would be likely not to rub.

You need 5x114.3 (bolt pattern and diagonal spacing of the lugs)

17x7 with a 45mm offset would work, but I think the x8 wouldn't work with the backspacing #'s they listed. The 40mm offset definitely wouldn't work.

 

I just spoke with the Mazdaspeed guy here in my office.

His recommendation is to go no larger than a 18x7.5 with a 52.5mm offset (50mm will work). You can run a 225/40R18 tire on this setup. You will rub in a couple of spots, but here's what you do...

1) Rear tires - he says it will only rub on the RH rear tire at the back of the wheelwell liner (black plastic piece inside wheelwell.) He said there is a 1/4" flange on the liner that you need to trim off. That's the only thing needed on the rear

2) Front tires - The 52.5mm offset requires nothing, it will rub a little at full compression (but your tires rarely get to full compression, and it's a "friendly" surface that the tire would rub against.) With the 50mm offset you may need to roll the inside lip of the fenders just a little to make sure you don't rub. Use even pressure to pull the fender lip "out" a little for clearance, then roll up the lip on the inside of the wheel well lip.

That's all you need to do....Now go do it and get us some pics.....

 

What do the wheels look like and who makes them

 

It shouldn't matter the manufacturer really. So long as it's spec'd correctly. If you take a look at the listing for the wheels that started this thread you can see what I mean. They offer each style in many different backspacing/width/bolt patterns. See below:

1780VOR205114C76 17x8 20 5-114.3 CHROME $263.20 (right bolt pattern, size is OK, 20mm wrong offset)
1780VOR205114S76 17x8 20 5-114.3 SILVER $159.20 (right bolt pattern, size is OK, 20mm wrong offset)
1780VOR405114C76 17x8 40 5-114.3 CHROME $263.20 (right bolt pattern, size is OK, 40mm wrong offset, getting closer)
1780VOR405114S76 17x8 40 5-114.3 SILVER $159.20 (right bolt pattern, size is OK, 40mm wrong offset, getting closer)

The 40mm offset (instead of the recommended 50-52.5 offset) means that the wheel will sit an additional 10-12.5mm further outboard, more interference with the fender.

You need an 18x7.5 (18" diameter, 7.5" wide rim), with a backspacing in the 50-52.5mm range (this means that the surface between the wheel and the hub is offset from the center of the wheel by 50-52.5mm)

Mazda3 is a 5x114.3 bolt pattern (5 bolts, 114.3mm apart from each other diagonally.)

Some styles may not clear the brake calipers, the only way to know for sure is to test fit them before you buy. If a company is stating that the wheel style will fit your particular vehicle, you should be in good shape. Just make sure to get the proper offset or your wheel won't sit where it should and you may rub.

 

Not trying to say your friend was wrong at the dealership (mazda speed) but here's what I just found that says 42mm will fit.

http://www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_wheel...x114.3+fitment

What do you all think?

Jason

 

Is Mazda6 the same lugnut pattern or what? Thanks!