MazdaSpeed Wheels and 225/45/17 Tires
 

My father-in-law gave me his wheels of his 2005 Mazda Speed Miata and they came with 205/40/17 tires. One of them failed spectacularly on my wife recently so I was thinking of moving up a couple of sizes. I've read under the wheels and tires section that the pro racers run up to 225/45/17's on theirs but I don't know if those will fit a 1994 R model. Can anyone help? Also recommendations for good handling commuter tires? I want it to handle well but not be buying tires every 10,000 miles. Thanks

Joe

17's are very large for miatas, 16's are the biggest i would go. especially with the potholes that are common in ohio. you need some tire to absorb force from the bumps, and 17's dont leave much room for that. also falken ziex 912's are a good commuter tire mine lasted 40k miles, good rain characteristics, and alright for the occasional autocross.

Thanks
 

Thanks!

had 17's
 

I purchased a miat that had 17 inch wheels
I took them off and went to 15's
There is as much difference as day light and dark
With the 17 size you could feel every pebble that you went over and a pot hole or a dip would nearly rip you apart
The other problem is drag if you let off the acc. the car would almost come to a stop
Put the 15 on an it is such a smoother ride,less wear on thet tires do not feel the small bumps and pot holes and can really tellthe differnce in the drag that has been removed
I would not have thought it would be that big of a deal IT IS believe me
The other factor was someting cut a groove on the outside edge of the rear tires it was like a sharp scrapper ,taking about a 1/4 " of the rubber off and peeled it all the way around