Downsizing 17" to 16" Question

I just got Mazda6i GT wiht 17" factory tire. I want to change weels and tires to 16" to get softer ride.
Question: Can I fit 16" wheels on Mazda6i GT ???

Regars to all,

Mitch

[untitledav]

I just got Mazda6i GT wiht 17" factory tire. I want to change weels and tires to 16" to get softer ride.
Question: Can I fit 16" wheels on Mazda6i GT ???

Regars to all,

Mitch
[/b]

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your buy....

Why would you want to put 16" on this car better of stick with 17" and lower the car LOL....

But if you really want those smal wheels yes you can fit them on your car.

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your buy....

Why would you want to put 16" on this car better of stick with 17" and lower the car LOL....

But if you really want those smal wheels yes you can fit them on your car.
[/b]

When I am driving on freeway, I get these small vibrations due to hard tire, I think. Should't 1" extra rubber (16" v.s. 17" wheels) make a difference ??

[untitledav]

When I am driving on freeway, I get these small vibrations due to hard tire, I think. Should't 1" extra rubber (16" v.s. 17" wheels) make a difference ??
[/b]

Well mazda6's suspension in general is pretty stiff. Some people like comfort as it is some not...
But I don’t think that downgrading to 16” would make so much of a difference, cause as I said this suspension setup is pretty stiff out of factory.
I would keep those 17” u have on right now.

Just my opinion…

[Business]

heh, im surprised anyone thinks this car has a stiff stock suspension. go autocross it, you'll never say that again.

[Wiggum]

heh, im surprised anyone thinks this car has a stiff stock suspension. go autocross it, you'll never say that again.
[/b]

They only think its stiff because the chassis is stiff which makes the car feel firm..

[TS3 DraGkuLa]

i think stiff is the last thing on this suspension setup....i swapped out springs with eibachs and felt a good difference..imho i say use the money your spending on 16's and buy aftermarket springs and shocks

[vtusaf]

Stock tires suck and replacing with a low noise tire will be better. Vibrations will happen when driving and if something is that loud then something is loose and needs to be found and dealt with. Your ride will be slightly less harsh with extra sidewall but a vibration is a vibration and a small amount of tire won't change it that much.

And considering how often my wheels go flying off the ground when I hit potholes because its hit the bump stops I wouldn't say it's harsh at all. More like shitty and squishy, but eveyone has different feels they prefer.

[arch4life]

re balance your wheels.

[posttosh]

But I don’t think that downgrading to 16” would make so much of a difference, cause as I said this suspension setup is pretty stiff out of factory.

[/b]

Swapping 16" wheels for 17" wheels is not a downgrade. If there were an English word for sidegrade, that is what it would be.

There are legitimate reasons for wanting longer sidewalls, and the OP's stated reason of wanting a softer ride is one of them.

Another good reason would be to convert to a narrower tire while maintaining the same overall diameter (for speedometer and odometer accuracy, and to maintain the original gear ratios). The contact patch with the pavement is the same size (but a different shape) for a narrower tire as for a wider one, and narrower tires just naturally tend to track (maintain a straight line despite pavement irregularities) better than wide ones, and narrow tires are more resistant to water build-up under the tread that is the cause of hydroplaning.

There is also a possibility of weight saving with the smaller wheel+larger tire combination vs. the larger wheel+smaller tire combination.

There are also arguments -- different arguments -- to be made in favor of shorter sidewalls and wider tires, as I am sure you are aware.

The point is, depending upon priorities, and as long as there is sufficient clearance of the wheel from the brake mechanism for proper operation and cooling, there is nothing about a 16" wheel that makes it necessarily inferior to a 17" wheel, and there is nothing about an 18" wheel that makes it superior to a 17" wheel.