Updated September 2013
Introduction
This thread is the result of a suggestion made by me109 in which he pointed out that while many of our members use the tire calcs posted in this section to determine appropriate-sized aftermarket wheels and tires to improve handling performance, in many cases the OEM wheel and tire specs are not known with certainty by those attempting this kind of performance upgrade. As me109 stated, without a stable frame of reference for the OEM parameters it's difficult to determine the most appropriate aftermarket wheel/tire combo that will stay within accepted limits of speedo error, and not produce clearance problems, while at the same time improving handling over the stock situation. OEM variables such as wheel diameter, width, and offset are crucial factors in carrying out a successful upgrade here. He recommended that we create a thread listing these variables and I was in full agreement.
This is a purely collaborative effort between me109 and myself with each of us contributing respectively in the areas we know best. In this post, I will list the parameters for the 3rd Gen Protege and the 1st and 2nd Gen Mazda3.
In the next post, me109 will provide a listing for the 1st Gen Protege (an area that largely mystifies me). Later, we will also be calling on a fellow collaborator/volunteer to provide the same information for the 2nd Gen cars.
For references, I've used TheMAN's excellent FAQ in which he has compiled a table of OEM wheel/tire data for the Protege. Access it at:
I've also used various FSMs, model brochures available from Mazda dealers when that particular car was in production, and material from edmonds.com
3rd Generation Mazda Protege - BJ (1999 to 2003)
All 4-lug Protege wheels have a 4 x 100 mm pitch circle diameter and a 54.1 mm centerbore. All 5-lug Protege wheels have a 5 x 114.3 mm (4.5") pitch circle diameter and a 67.1 mm centerbore.
1999 - 2001 1.6 L
DX, LX: 14 x 5.5", +45 mm, 4-lug; 185/60-14
1999 - 2000 1.8 L
ES: 15 x 6", +45 mm, 4-lug steel (alloy wheels optional); 195/55-15
2001 - 2003 2.0 L
DX: 15 x 6", +45 mm, 4-lug steel ('02 and '03); 195/55-15
LX: 15 x 6", +45 mm, 4-lug steel (standard on '01 and '02); alloy wheels (optional on '02, standard on '03); 195/55-15
ES: 16 x 6", +50 mm, 5-lug alloy; 195/50-16 ('01 to '03)
2002 - 2003 Protege 5
16 x 6", +50 mm, 5-lug alloy; 195/50-16
2001 MP3 and 2003 MSP
17 x 7", +55 mm, 5-lug Racing Hart alloy; 215/45-17
1st Generation Mazda3 - BK (2004 to 2009)
All wheels have a 5-lug, 5 x 114.3 (4.5") pitch circle diameter and a 67.1 mm centerbore
Available Wheels and Tires
2.0 L 4-Door: 15 x 6", +52.5 mm steel; 195/65-15
2.0 L 4-Door: 16 x 6.5", +52.5 mm alloy; 205/55-16
2.3 L 5-Door: 17 x 6.5, +52.5 mm alloy; 205/50-17
2.3 L Mazdaspeed: 18 x 7", +52.5 mm alloy; 215/45-18
2nd Generation Mazda3 - BL (2010 - 2013)
All wheels have a 5-lug, 5 x 114.3 (4.5") pitch circle diameter and a 67.1 mm centerbore.
Available Wheels and Tires
2.0 L MZR and SkyActiv, 4-Door: 16 x 6" steel, +52.5 mm; 205/55-16
2.0 L SkyActiv only, 4-Door & 5-Door: 16 x 6.5" alloy, +52.5 mm; 205/55-16
2.5 L MZR, 4-Door & 5-Door: 17 x 6.5" alloy, +52.5 mm; 205/50-17
2.3 L Mazdaspeed: 18 x 7.5", +52.5 mm; 225/40-18
3rd Generation Mazda2 (2011 - 2013)
All wheels have a 4-lug, 4 x 100 mm pitch circle diameter and a 54.1 mm centerbore.
Sport: 15 x 6", +45 mm steel; 185/55-15 V-rated all-season
Touring: 15 x 6", +45 mm alloy; 185/55 V-rated all-season
Happy Motoring!
Introduction
This thread is the result of a suggestion made by me109 in which he pointed out that while many of our members use the tire calcs posted in this section to determine appropriate-sized aftermarket wheels and tires to improve handling performance, in many cases the OEM wheel and tire specs are not known with certainty by those attempting this kind of performance upgrade. As me109 stated, without a stable frame of reference for the OEM parameters it's difficult to determine the most appropriate aftermarket wheel/tire combo that will stay within accepted limits of speedo error, and not produce clearance problems, while at the same time improving handling over the stock situation. OEM variables such as wheel diameter, width, and offset are crucial factors in carrying out a successful upgrade here. He recommended that we create a thread listing these variables and I was in full agreement.
This is a purely collaborative effort between me109 and myself with each of us contributing respectively in the areas we know best. In this post, I will list the parameters for the 3rd Gen Protege and the 1st and 2nd Gen Mazda3.
In the next post, me109 will provide a listing for the 1st Gen Protege (an area that largely mystifies me). Later, we will also be calling on a fellow collaborator/volunteer to provide the same information for the 2nd Gen cars.
For references, I've used TheMAN's excellent FAQ in which he has compiled a table of OEM wheel/tire data for the Protege. Access it at:
I've also used various FSMs, model brochures available from Mazda dealers when that particular car was in production, and material from edmonds.com
3rd Generation Mazda Protege - BJ (1999 to 2003)
All 4-lug Protege wheels have a 4 x 100 mm pitch circle diameter and a 54.1 mm centerbore. All 5-lug Protege wheels have a 5 x 114.3 mm (4.5") pitch circle diameter and a 67.1 mm centerbore.
1999 - 2001 1.6 L
DX, LX: 14 x 5.5", +45 mm, 4-lug; 185/60-14
1999 - 2000 1.8 L
ES: 15 x 6", +45 mm, 4-lug steel (alloy wheels optional); 195/55-15
2001 - 2003 2.0 L
DX: 15 x 6", +45 mm, 4-lug steel ('02 and '03); 195/55-15
LX: 15 x 6", +45 mm, 4-lug steel (standard on '01 and '02); alloy wheels (optional on '02, standard on '03); 195/55-15
ES: 16 x 6", +50 mm, 5-lug alloy; 195/50-16 ('01 to '03)
2002 - 2003 Protege 5
16 x 6", +50 mm, 5-lug alloy; 195/50-16
2001 MP3 and 2003 MSP
17 x 7", +55 mm, 5-lug Racing Hart alloy; 215/45-17
1st Generation Mazda3 - BK (2004 to 2009)
All wheels have a 5-lug, 5 x 114.3 (4.5") pitch circle diameter and a 67.1 mm centerbore
Available Wheels and Tires
2.0 L 4-Door: 15 x 6", +52.5 mm steel; 195/65-15
2.0 L 4-Door: 16 x 6.5", +52.5 mm alloy; 205/55-16
2.3 L 5-Door: 17 x 6.5, +52.5 mm alloy; 205/50-17
2.3 L Mazdaspeed: 18 x 7", +52.5 mm alloy; 215/45-18
2nd Generation Mazda3 - BL (2010 - 2013)
All wheels have a 5-lug, 5 x 114.3 (4.5") pitch circle diameter and a 67.1 mm centerbore.
Available Wheels and Tires
2.0 L MZR and SkyActiv, 4-Door: 16 x 6" steel, +52.5 mm; 205/55-16
2.0 L SkyActiv only, 4-Door & 5-Door: 16 x 6.5" alloy, +52.5 mm; 205/55-16
2.5 L MZR, 4-Door & 5-Door: 17 x 6.5" alloy, +52.5 mm; 205/50-17
2.3 L Mazdaspeed: 18 x 7.5", +52.5 mm; 225/40-18
3rd Generation Mazda2 (2011 - 2013)
All wheels have a 4-lug, 4 x 100 mm pitch circle diameter and a 54.1 mm centerbore.
Sport: 15 x 6", +45 mm steel; 185/55-15 V-rated all-season
Touring: 15 x 6", +45 mm alloy; 185/55 V-rated all-season
Happy Motoring!
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