[PinkMX-3]

What is the largest sized tire that will fit the 2G EX wheels? IIRC, 215/65 is stock, so 235/60 would be about the same side wall, but a bit more meat on the road. There is a tire size calculator on www.miata.net that shows how much the speedo will be off and other valuble figures, which is nice.

Any experiences?

------------------
David Coleman
1993 Mazda MX-3 GS Special Edition
1/4 mile [stock]:16.05 @ 85.7
Parents got an oddy...just reserchin mo powa...

 

[porschetr]

335/30/19

will be the same height as the stock one but I don't think anyone makes them and it won't fit(too wide) unless you get offset.

Try it. haha it's gonna be funny.

 

[wnsham]

My father-in-law has a Pilot with 235/60-16's, and I swapped wheels with him one day to see if they'd work on my 2001 EX.

They did, without rubbing, and they raised the van about an inch, which is enough to keep the hitch from scraping as I enter my steep driveway.

Never scraped before I added the hitch. So I've got to do something to raise the van.

Going to buy some new tires tomorrow morning in the bigger size.

 

[Jerry O]

My father-in-law has a Pilot with 235/60-16's, and I swapped wheels with him one day to see if they'd work on my 2001 EX.

They did, without rubbing, and they raised the van about an inch, which is enough to keep the hitch from scraping as I enter my steep driveway.

Never scraped before I added the hitch. So I've got to do something to raise the van.

Going to buy some new tires tomorrow morning in the bigger size.

I believe the Pilot uses 70 series tires (235/70-16s), which would explain the added height. Using those will cost you a bit of handling and the tires available in that size are light truck types. I have been interested in some of the sport truck tires, such as the Kumho Ecsta STXs. Let us know how this works out.

Jerry O.

 

[babylon5]

10% increase in diameter may be a little xtreme.

Your correct, 235/70R16 is the OEM size although the owner may
have switched to 235/60X16 but who knows

Anyway, the 235/70X16 has a 10% larger diameter than the ODY
225/60R16 705rpm/mile vs 783rpm/mile (or 9.5% for the 215/65X16 size)


Thats quite a jump...

 

[wnsham]

I believe the Pilot uses 70 series tires (235/70-16s), which would explain the added height. Using those will cost you a bit of handling and the tires available in that size are light truck types. I have been interested in some of the sport truck tires, such as the Kumho Ecsta STXs. Let us know how this works out.

Jerry O.

It did not work out. Must be a difference in the Pilot's offset, because although it worked OK with those rims/tires, when the guys at Discount Tire mounted a 235/70-16 on my rim, it rubbed the forward plastic wheel well.

Ended up with Kumho 235/60-16 and so far am happy with them.
But they are the same overall diameter (maybe a tenth of an inch larger) so they did not fix my problem of scraping my tow hitch on the asphalt as I turn up my steep driveway. Many different threads here have convinced me to get some Airlift bags. That will solve my problem.

 

[Jerry O]

Thanks for the info. Yes, the airbags will be a big help with your dragging problem and you will reap many other benefits, too.

Jerry O.

 

[vansterdam]

This tire calculator recommends staying within 3% of your stock diameter. Larger tires put more stress on the brakes and suspension. Also they would intefere with any internal computers like ABS. The speedometer/odometer problem is really the smallest issue.

 

[STM]

The 16" 2. generation stock rim has a width of 6.5", thus a 235/60-R16 fits at maximum. I switched from the 225/60-R16 stock (2003-04) to the 235's and that worked out perfectly well.
BTW, that switch is less than 2% difference, compared to stock.

 

[Isabel04]

The 16" 2. generation stock rim has a width of 6.5", thus a 235/60-R16 fits at maximum. I switched from the 225/60-R16 stock (2003-04) to the 235's and that worked out perfectly well.
BTW, that switch is less than 2% difference, compared to stock.

--------------------------------
I was thinking of doing this as well but I wanted to make sure it would not affect the speedometer, power steering pump, etc.

STM-does the handling improve at all?

Thanks.

 

[STM]

STM-does the handling improve at all?

IMHO, the handling has significantly improved. However, this is probably due to a combination of the width and quality of the tires. I did choose the Michelin Hydroedges and I'm very happy with them.

You can do a quick search and you will find threads about the Hydroedge and other tire brands in the 235/60-R16 size. There are quite a few posts reporting improvements in handling after the swap.

 

[type_rracing]

It did not work out. Must be a difference in the Pilot's offset, because although it worked OK with those rims/tires, when the guys at Discount Tire mounted a 235/70-16 on my rim, it rubbed the forward plastic wheel well.

Ended up with Kumho 235/60-16 and so far am happy with them.
But they are the same overall diameter (maybe a tenth of an inch larger) so they did not fix my problem of scraping my tow hitch on the asphalt as I turn up my steep driveway. Many different threads here have convinced me to get some Airlift bags. That will solve my problem.

The other option would be, to get aftermarket springs for the rear of your Ody.
I have aftermarket springs for both the front and rear of my Ody. Then again, I never scraped with my hitch on my 03' Ody in stock form. I used scrape the hitch on my 00' Ody though. Which has the same suspension set up as your 01'.
The 99'-01' Odys had a different spring, strut, shock, and sway bar set up compared to the 02'-04' models.
I went with custom spring rates to keep the rear from sagging and to added some more load capacity. Additionally, I felt the front spring rates weren't enough as well, and increased those rates as well.
Soon, I'll have my newly arrived Koni single adjustable inserts fitted to my stock front strut housings installed and all of the bounce up front will be gone. If it works well enough which I can't see why it wouldn't, I'll be getting Koni single adjustable shocks to replace the rear Monroe Reflex shocks that I currently have on as well.
There are many options of what you can do, it's a matter of what your intentions are for you Ody and how you want to make that change.