Looking at getting a set of new winter tires.
anyone have luck with goodyear ultra grip winter tires 215/65r17?
Will this size work for the width of the stock rims and clearances?
Thanks ahead of time

 

What size are your stock tyres?

 

Well I had these Continental USA Car / Light Truck / SUV - ExtremeWinterContact
under my MS3 and have these on my new Mazda 3 now.
MS3 had 205/50-17" and they were just perfect, insane grip on paved roads, wet or dry, better than most studded tires on snow and nearly as good on ice too.
Now I have 195/60-16" and the grip is still one of the best in winter tyres I've tried, but due to their profile they feel a bit less steady than the former.

Latest reputable winter tyre test in Finland recommends Michelin XI3 or Nokias latest model in studless tires. Guy at dealership said that Conti is better than Nokia with more powerful cars.
GYs studded "Ice" version did good in it's class too but I seriously recommend going with 50 profile unless you frequently drive on roads that look like this.

 

ChiTownMazda3, That is s huge difference in sizing. Your speedo will be off over 7 mph @ 65 mph, which also means you will be effectively throwing off the effect of the final drive. You will lose available power and likely fuel mileage too using these.
As far as fitment is concerned, they will likely fit under a stock suspension. The width will be nearly 1/2" wider, but the overall diameter will be 3" taller!!
Taller, skinnier tires work best in the snow. This is a proven fact, however what you're proposing is a little over the top.
A better choice would be a 185/60-17. A little more than 3/4" narrower, but only about 3/4" (0.67") taller too, and they should still fit your 6'5" wide wheels. A 185/55 would be even better but good luck trying to find that size.

 

Smau, I agree with you. My wife and I have been running the Continental ExtremeContact DWS' for several years now. Being in Texas, we have little need for actual winter tires, so for us, an All Season works best all year round.
We are on our third set of these and in addition to sticking like glue, they also wear better than anything else we've tried. The only down side is they are a little slow in the steering response department.

 

ChiTownMazda3:

I had 4 seasons on 215/45R17 Blizzak LM-25 snowtires and loved them. used mostly in Northern Wisconsin and U.P. on my '08 Mazda5. Original tire size was 205/50R17 and these worked just fine. I no longer have the 5 and they are posted on C's List under autoparts. I'm in the Chi Town west suburban area.

Jeff

 

Normal guidance is to go with the base tire size for your car. Go to Tirerack.com to see what they recommend.