[Kjaddinell]

I have a 2011 Mazda 3 sport, looking at new wheels and coilovers, i would like to find out if I can still lower it on 235 35 19 wheels and tyres.

 

[RocketmanKarl]

Lots of other posts about this subject on here. Do some reading. The tire width can fit if the rim is of the right width and offset, but lowering the car makes this more difficult. Also, if you have potholes in your area, those low sidewalls are going to be a problem. You will get pinch flats and/or bend your rims. Can you afford that regular expense?

 

[Kjaddinell]

Lots of other posts about this subject on here. Do some reading. The tire width can fit if the rim is of the right width and offset, but lowering the car makes this more difficult. Also, if you have potholes in your area, those low sidewalls are going to be a problem. You will get pinch flats and/or bend your rims. Can you afford that regular expense?

Thank you, I am brand new to this so I struggled to find anything useful on here. The roads here are not too bad and I plan on having separate alloy wheel insurance to cover any damage, 235,35,19 tyres start at £60 so not too bad for me. Could you point me in the right direction where to find more info, thanks 🙂

 

[RocketmanKarl]

Just looked it up, and the turbo 2.3 Mazdaspeed 3 came with 235/35r19 tires on 8x19 rims (offset of +48), so it should be possible unless the speed 3 has flared wheel wells (I don't think it does).

Here's a previous thread discussing almost exactly what you're talking about, with lots of people with direct experience offering good advice: Bent a wheel (2021) - Will 18x8.5 +35mm work with 235/40/18 tires? | 2004 to 2020 Mazda 3 Forum and Mazdaspeed 3 Forums (mazda3revolution.com)

Also, here's a couple of information sources that might be of use:
Tire Size Comparison
Reference guide for car wheel and tire dimensions such as size, offset, PCD

Note that the wheel offset is critical to making the wheel/tire fit in the wheel well, especially in the back. Also watch out for heavy rims. Rotating mass will make the car slower and ride harder than a lighter rim. Most users on here that had the mazda factory 18" rims, which were very heavy, didn't like them much and were much happier when they bought lighter rims.

I'd also like to point out that a set of good tires (such as Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 or even Sumitomo HTR A/S P03) in 215/45r17 will out-handle, out-ride quality, and out-last just about any off-brand cheap tire in 235/35r19. Sure you pay a premium for that "Michelin" name on the sidewall, but you also get way better quality control, design, and materials. I've bought cheap tires in the past, some of them were total crap (bordering on dangerous), most of them were adequate but didn't deliver the performance of the better tires. If you want to improve performance with this tire/wheel change, then save your money and get better tires. If it's just looks you're after, I guess the cheap tires will do.