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![rsthompson](themes/aaAle/images/interface/profile-pic-placeholder.47cf740a.png)
Hi
My 2005 Mazda Atenza came with low profile tyres: 215 45R18
These will be due for replacement soon.
Is it going to be possible to change to regular tyres without changing the rims?
If the answer is "no", what size rims would I need to change to in order to fit regular tyres.
I have found the low profiles to be noisy, bumpy and very quick to wear.
Thanks
![ABayliss](themes/aaAle/images/interface/profile-pic-placeholder.47cf740a.png)
The answer is "no".
The reason the tyres are low profile is to keep the overall diameter of the wheel roughly the same size, whatever the rim size. Therefore, the bigger the rim, the lower profile the tyre needs to be.
You are quite right, the ride will be harder with 18 inch wheels. To return the car to a more leisurely ride, you'd probably need to go down to 16 inch rims.