I recently read all the threads about tires, but no one really addresses winter weather. I live in WI, and am about to hi 30,000 miles and I need to get out of the stock tires that I currently have on my car.
Are there others in here that have had to deal with rough 100 + inches of snow?
I have the same question...my stock tires are done! I live in Chicago and with all the snow we have been having, I have been sliding. I also need an opinion as to getting 16s with steelies for the winter instead. The tire stores are telling me the car ride louder with snow tires!
So My dealership was trying to recommend Kohomo tires.. that only have like a 6 rating for snow on Tirerack.. and a 30,000 mile warranty. I went back to tirerack today and found the Dunlop SP. I have 17' wheels so there isnt much available... but low and behold, these tires have a better snow rating and a 60,000 mile warranty . Sure, they cost a bit more (108 per tire), but the over all rating was good.. and they customer reviews were good. I ordered them today. Shitty thing is that with all the bad weather we are having, I cant have them put on until next week Wednesday. I am sure I will get to test them out before all the snow is gone. After all, today is only the second day of winter
I went around and around with this. I even bought a set of Falcon ze-912's ... last winter. They are just terrible even in light snow.
Just yesterday I have decided to say the hell with it and get some dedicated snow tires. My local tire shop only charges 20 dollars to switch out tires ... switchover special as they call it. I am buying a set of 4 of Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D's.
They are going to cost me $137/tire...totals out to 613 installed on my car. I will be getting them this weekend.
That is my suggestion. I will post on this forum my results after getting these put on.
FYI - The smallest you can go with a mazda 3 is 205/55-16. If you wanted to get a second set of rims because you don't have a place that will switch over for cheap. I would suggest creating a wheel and tire package at tirerack.com. http://www.tirerack.com/snow/changeover.jsp
I have Blizzaks on mine here in Central NY...they work great for about three seasons...Mine are going on their fourth, and are not evenly worn, in slushy snow the car wants to swap ends, but that just makes life more fun.. I may put Dunlops on it if I keep it for another year.
That said, I whole heartedly recommend snow tires to anyone in the snow belt, the car is amazing in the snow with them, you can blast by everyone...
I have blizzaks on a set of 17 mazda 6 wheels ,I don't really like blizzaks I like the dunlop winter sport tires much better. but I got the bizzaks for $100 for the set with about 2k mi. on them. either tire is better in snow/ice than any allseason radial. allseason radials are a compromise all the way around. I like a dedicated summer set of tires and winter set.
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'07 MazdaSpeed 3 Black
'79 Mazda RX-7 FP solo car
I can't believe you have made it this long with all seasons! I lasted one snowfall last year ( Goodyear all seasons had 4000 miles on them) in our 07 hatchback before I had 16" Blizzaks on. They changed the car into a snow machine.....it goes anywhere now. I live in the mountains of Pennsylvania and we get snow! Think we had snow on 23 days in January.
I agree...
Hybrid Mode
