2006 Mazda tribute tire sizes & fitment
Approved tire and wheel sizes for the 2006 Mazda Tribute, sourced from manufacturer fitment data and refreshed monthly.
Approved fitments
| Tire size | Rim size | PCD (bolt pattern) | Offset | Load index | Speed rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 235/70R16 OEM | R16 | 5x114.3 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 235/70R16 OEM | 7x16 | 5x114.3 | 45mm | 105 | S |
| 235/65R17 | 7.5x17 | 5x114.3 | 45mm | 103 | S |
| 235/60R18 | 7.5x18 | 5x114.3 | 42mm | 102 | H |
| 255/55R18 | 8x18 | 5x114.3 | 38mm | 101 | H |
2006 Mazda tribute wheel bolt pattern & specs
| Bolt pattern (PCD) | 5x114.3 |
|---|---|
| Wheel thread / lug size | M12x1.5 |
| Center bore | 67.1 mm |
| Source | bolt-pattern.com |
Best by use case
Four tires, four jobs
See the best tires for the Mazda Tribute, ranked by category →
Tire recalls & safety complaints for the Mazda Tribute →
Plus-size and winter-downsize options for every Mazda Tribute factory size →
Compatible alternative sizes for 235/70R16
Sizes within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter safe-fit tolerance. Each row links to the size's own page.
| Alternative size | %Δ OD | Category | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
205/80R16 |
-0.14% | winter narrower | Safe |
215/65R18 |
0.18% | plus 2 | Safe |
235/65R17 |
0.26% | plus 1 | Safe |
235/75R15 |
-0.26% | alternative | Safe |
255/55R18 |
0.31% | plus 2 | Safe |
For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 235/70R16 upsize options. To check an arbitrary size pair, use the tire compatibility calculator.
Check a different size against this vehicle
Type any tire size below; we'll compute its overall-diameter delta against the OEM 235/70R16 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.
Common upgrade paths
- Plus-1: 235/65R17; one rim size up, 0.26% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
- Plus-2: 215/65R18; two rim sizes up, 0.18% OD change. Noticeable ride penalty, higher pothole risk, meaningful tire-cost premium.
Use the plus-size calculator to evaluate any rim step against the OEM size.
How to choose tires for the 2006 mazda tribute
The 2006 Mazda Tribute ships from the factory on 235/70R16 tires mounted on R16 wheels. 4 approved fitments are documented for this model year, allowing some flexibility between performance, comfort, and winter compounds. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.
Tire choice on the Mazda Tribute comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard), and UTQG treadwear (higher means longer life, lower usually means stickier rubber). Owners replacing factory tires with the same compound class, for example all-season for all-season, generally see no change in ride characteristics or fuel economy. Switching categories (performance summer to all-season touring, for example) is where the trade-offs show up at the contact patch.
For 2006 Mazda Tribute owners considering a plus-size upgrade, the safer option is a Plus-1 step (one rim size up with a 10-point aspect drop and ~10 mm of additional section width). Plus-2 is technically viable on this chassis if the alternative-sizes table lists a Plus-2 candidate within tolerance, but expect a meaningful ride-harshness penalty and a tire-cost premium of 30–60% per tire relative to the OEM fitment. For winter use the recommended pattern is one width step down (e.g. from a 235 to a 225) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter; narrower tires apply higher contact pressure per square inch on snow, which translates directly into shorter braking distances. The plus-size calculator evaluates any specific rim step against this OEM size.
Before purchasing, verify the tire size on the driver-door placard of your specific 2006 Mazda Tribute, since trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment from what is documented here. The placard reading is the authoritative source per FMVSS 110, and dealers will reference the placard rather than aftermarket catalogs when validating warranty claims.
NHTSA-reported issues for 2006 mazda tribute
Top issue category: Tires (General)
Most reported: Tires (General) (3) · Tread / Belt (2)
Reported across: 2006 – 2006 (1 year)
What owners described
Blowout or sudden deflation is the most common description, in 23% of these reports. Percentages are shares of the 22 reports covering every model year of the Mazda Tribute that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.
| Reported problem | This subject | All tire complaints | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blowout or sudden deflation | 23% | 20% | 1.1× |
| Sidewall failure | 23% | 15% | 1.5× |
| Cracking or dry rot | 9% | 9% | 1.0× |
| Tread or belt separation | 5% | 13% | 0.3× |
| Loss of control, rollover or collision | 5% | 8% | 0.5× |
Mileage at failure
15 of these reports state an odometer reading. The middle report is at 28,000 miles, with 8 in 10 falling between 11,000 and 112,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Mazda Tribute. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.
WHILE TRAVELING ON A CLEAN, SMOOTH HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH WITH ONE DRIVER AND UNLOADED, REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOW OUT IN MIDDLE OF SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS SHOWN TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER INITIALLY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE, CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A ROAD HAZARD, THAT TIRES DON'T JUST EXPLODE. THE DEALER ULTIMATELY REPLACED THE TIRE BUT DID NOT ADMIT TO ANY TIRE DEFECT.
I HAVE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P235/70R16 104T M+S TIRES WHICH CAME WITH MY 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE SUV UPON PURCHASE IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. RECENTLY, WITH 30,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A CRACK RUNNING ALONG THE SIDE CIRCUMFERENCE OF ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CRACK RUNS ON THE SIDE OF THE TREAD WHERE I BELIEVE THE TREAD IS BONDED TO THE TIRE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE P235 / 70R16 MODEL HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED UNDER YOUR CONSUMER ADVISORY OF 1 SEPTEMBER, 2002 OR IN ANY RECALL AND MAY BE A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS CLEARLY SHOWING THE CRACKING WHICH I HAVE SENT TO YOUR WEB MASTER EMAIL. I CAN RESEND THEM AT YOUR REQUEST. NLM
I JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2004 MAZDA MPV, VIN [XXX]. I NOTICE THE OWNER'S MANUAL SPECIFIES A TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE OF 240 KPA (35 PSI), BUT THE VEHICLE PLACARD STATES 240 KPA (32 PSI). SINCE THE CORRECT CONVERSION FROM 240 KPA TO PSI IS 35 PSI, IT APPEARS THE VEHICLE PLACARD IS INCORRECT. MOST USERS IN THE USA WILL USE THE PSI AMOUNT TO DETERMINE PROPER INFLATION PRESSURE. THEREFORE, THE INCORRECT PLACARD INFLATION PRESSURE OF 32 PSI WILL CAUSE UNDERINFLATION OF THE TIRE WHICH CAN LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE AND VEHICLE ACCIDENT.*AK UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JSS.C. 552(B)(6)
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TIRES, SIZE P235/70R16. AND DOT# A30846JB3604. WHILE DRIVING 73 MPH THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TREAD SEPARATED, LOST AIR, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISH TAIL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE HAD TO PURCHASE TWO NEW REAR TIRES BECAUSE HE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION ON THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES TO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT, STEP GUARD WAS BENT, GLASS WAS CHIPPED IN THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, AND THE MOLDING IN THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL WAS BROKEN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,500. UPDATED 08/18/08 *BF UPDATED 08/19/08
Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA; they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
What size tires fit a 2006 Mazda Tribute?
What is the bolt pattern of a 2006 Mazda Tribute?
Can I run a different tire size on my 2006 Mazda Tribute?
Where can I buy tires for my 2006 Mazda Tribute?
What is the recommended tire pressure for the 2006 Mazda Tribute?
Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 2006 Mazda Tribute?
How often should I rotate the tires on my 2006 Mazda Tribute?
For broader tire questions; replacement timing, UTQG, EV-specific tires, winter swaps; see the tire FAQ.
Sources for this page
- Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard; door-jamb placard on the Mazda Tribute is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
- NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 2006 Mazda Tribute.
- ETRTO 2024 Standards Manual §2.3; overall-diameter math used for the alternative-size verdicts above.
- Tire & Rim Association 2025 Yearbook; load-index to maximum-load reference.
Last verified 2026-10-07.