The 215 is the tread width, measured in millimeters. (215mm=8.46") The 45 is the height of the tire sidewall expressed as a percent of the tread width. And the 18 is the wheel diameter.
If you went with, say, a 235-45 R18 tire, you'd have a wider tire with more contact, which would give you more traction. However, the sidewall would be 45% of 235mm, rather than 45% of 215 mm. This would make your tire taller, which would throw your speedometer and odometer out of calibration. And it is entirely possible the taller, wider tires would rub the suspension when turning or going over bumps.
Unless you know what you are doing with wider tires, and how to make sure they work with the rest of the car, stick with what Mazda put on the car.
Nicole,
The recommended tire size for your Mazda 3 is 215/45-18. The other sized you listed are too large and simply incorrect for your Mazda. Secondly, if you are needing to keep costs down but still wish to purchase a quality tire ask about the Continental ExtremeContact DWS, General G-MAX AS-03, Yokohama AVID ENVigor or Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season. All four are less than $150 a tire.
Oh but the damage the texting and Internet and the smartphone have caused into the culture. What should have been a plus, a positive, an enhancement to people, has turned out to be a detriment, an anchor, a negative. A woman or a man makes no difference as to the service or maintenance or tires of a car. The automotive industry is a HUGE part of the US economy from the raw materials to insurance to repairs, to paints, to accessories, to everything as to transportation. That means, for any man or any woman, all that person has to do is to show up at a car dealership, auto parts, tire store, auto detailer, auto glass, auto uphosltery, etc. shop and explain what that car needs. Any car of any brand and all models has a car manual. In the car manual are the specification as to everything of the car. That includes the correct size of the tires. The tires on the car right now have the tons of information embossed on the sidewall. Computers of car shop and other service shops have the information of the items that go on the car from the size of wiper blades to the type of coolant, the size of bearings, the identification of the transmission, etc. This cry of attention as to this car and to your female status is just fear and ignorance. Do you have parents or family members you could have discussed this? Everyone has family but the smartphone has cancelled that feature. It is soooo much easier to grab the phone and text messages these days but this feature has negated our brains from developing, from thinking from being able to resolve our issues locally. And that is why you posted this here. You gave up. You went for the easy answer. Any tire sales has the correct size. As to prices. All car places have tires of all prices from the cheap to the specialized super extra performing tire for the car nut. I have a sports car that carries a performance tire requirement. Yet, I can buy a $80 tire or a $300 tire. All you have to do is go find out. Yes, it is that simply. You take the car and you go find out. Asking here? Not the correct step. No matter what I or other have answered, you still have to take the car to a place that sells tires and ask. That should have been the first thing that entered your brain. From what you wrote, you have been to tire shops often. You seem to drive in an area that is tough to tires. Where is that?
Whatever size is on the car now, look on the sidewall of tire.
Open your driver side door and there should be a sticker that shows alot of information about your car. It should have the recommended tire size and how much air pressure to inflate them to.
I'm a woman, and like many other women when it comes to car's I am clueless. I have a 2007 Mazda 3. I need a new set of tires, one tire is plugged right now, another has a nail in it and can't be fixed they said. My tire's are 18 inch, but Im not sure about what tires to buy like when it says 225/45, 235/40, and all the numbers. Im just scared there is going to be an accident and someone gets hurt, so i want to fix these asap, but i dont have the money to buy $800 dollar sets right now, or even know which to buy. So i hope someone can help me.
So which size should I buy? I have heard each size, but then some say certain one's might rub, or just blow out quicker, or something about it stretching the tire.
--235/45-18's ?
--225/40-18's ?
--215/45-18's ?
Which one of those would ride the best, or just all around be best for the car? Or is there another size that would be better.
Thanks in advance, & sorry for asking what is probably such a stupid question, but I don't know who around here to ask, & really trust since I am a woman, and so far each person i have talked to tells me something completely different.
