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Mazda 3 Tire & Wheel Questions

267 messages,  Last post on Nov 13, 2009 at 3:04 PM

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#166 of 267 Re: winter tire suggestion, please [cogneuro] by shipo Jan 07, 2009 (10:03 am)
Replying to: cogneuro (Jan 07, 2009 9:17 am) All tires are compatible with the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Period, full stop, the end.   As for winter capable tires that will fit your rims, yes, there are quite a few. Basically you have two choices (beyond the crappy Goodyear Eagle RS-As that I suspect came on your car):    - All-Season tires with good winter performance in the 205/50 R17 size:  - - BFGoodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S  - - Bridgestone Potenza G 019 Grid  - - Continental ContiProContact  - - Dunlop SP Sport Signature  - - Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season  - - Kumho Ecsta ASX  - - Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum  - - Kumho Solus KH16  - - Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus  - - Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S  - - Yokohama ADVAN S.4.    - Winter tires in the 205/50 R17 size:  - - Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D  - - Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3  - - Pirelli Winter 240 SnowSport   I live in New Hampshire where it is both very hilly and sees lots of snow every winter (we're well on our way to our 4th 100+ inch year in the last seven seasons), and yet I opted for All-Season tires instead of dedicated winter tires. Why? Well, it is a given that I will give up some traction on days like today (forecast is for 7" of snow and sleet followed by icing), however, modern All-Season tires are pretty darn good in the snow. The flip side of course is that when the roads are cleared, the All-Season tires will handily outperform the winter tires, and since well over 90% of the roads I drive on are either dry or simply wet, that's pretty important to me.   FWIW, I yanked the nasty Eagle RS-As off of my new Mazda3 after only 700 miles and replaced them with a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/Ss, and the difference is like night and day. So far, we've already had some 50" of snow since I got the new tires on, and in spite of the two 9% grades (one of which is from a standing stop) that I need to climb between my home and my office; the Michelins haven't missed a beat.   Best regards, Shipo Replies to this message: indydriver (Jan 07, 2009 2:56 pm) shipo (Jan 07, 2009 4:00 pm) roadburner (Jan 07, 2009 7:54 pm) cogneuro (Jan 09, 2009 2:46 pm) cogneuro (Jan 09, 2009 3:17 pm) shipo (Jan 09, 2009 5:24 pm)
#167 of 267 Re: winter tire suggestion, please [shipo] by indydriver Jan 07, 2009 (2:56 pm)
Replying to: shipo (Jan 07, 2009 10:03 am) Have you tried high performance winters? I run Blizzak LM-22s on my MS3 and they are good in snow and on ice, exceptional in the cold rain and surprisingly close to my summer tires on cold, dry roads. Highly recommended. Replies to this message: shipo (Jan 07, 2009 4:00 pm)
#168 of 267 Re: winter tire suggestion, please [indydriver] by shipo Jan 07, 2009 (4:00 pm)
Replying to: indydriver (Jan 07, 2009 2:56 pm) The differentiation between high performance winter tires in general and good high-performance all-season tires is very narrow, at least during the winter. That said, the all-seasons will run very well in the summer months, and that in turn will allow me to run one set of tires for all four seasons.   Best regards, Shipo
#169 of 267 Re: winter tire suggestion, please [cogneuro] by joem5 Jan 07, 2009 (5:22 pm)
Replying to: cogneuro (Jan 07, 2009 9:17 am) I took my RSA Eagles off My Mazda 3 and told the Mazda representative after he e_mailed me on my new Mazda3.          He wanted suggestions on it could be improved. I was very honest with him and told him the OEM tires on the car RSA Eagles were very dangerous in the winter. I live in snow country. I put on Dunlop Sport Signatures a more meaty tire with some grip.   However, my mileage has gone down,but only 2 mpg. I have to be at the mtn for ski school line up 8:00am.I only put 167mi on original tires ,because they can't handle wet roads either.They are in a plastic bag over my garage.                  Well,I told the rep about the carpeting being felt nor a cut pile and the cheap plastic and styrofoam in engine compartment also.They hid the carpet with the floor mats.I told him ,I didn't under stand why it came with a cigarette lighter and an ashtray.I got a black 12 volt plug at a Subaru dealer looks nicer than the dumb lit cigarette.(I understand they try to make the car lighter for better MPG and Zoom zoom)                  Ya, why did I buy it ?It handled better than a Civic,and Toyota. Also, the zoom zoom. I went to my wife's BMW dealer and replaced my antenna with a shark fin. It looks sharp. I also put a clear mask on it.                 Mazda was very appreciative for my commentsand sent me a gift card.The battery cover plastic clamp broke and they replaced the whole unit tray and all. Plastic and cold weather do not mix.The battery tray was $98.00 and add a hour labor.                I have a six speed Type S that I love and it gets better milage than the the Mazda 3 .However you can"t compare a Mazda to an Acura.            The 2010 Mazda line looks interestng a 3.7 liter looks very tempting.     Well good luck on getting your tires. I really like the Dunlops and have had no prob.
#170 of 267 Re: winter tire suggestion, please [shipo] by roadburner Jan 07, 2009 (7:54 pm)
Replying to: shipo (Jan 07, 2009 10:03 am) The flip side of course is that when the roads are cleared, the All-Season tires will handily outperform the winter tires, and since well over 90% of the roads I drive on are either dry or simply wet, that's pretty important to me.   That's my philosophy as well. I put Pirelli PZero Nero M+S tires on both my wife's X3 as well as my MS3. They are very good tires. One of the several things that tick me off about the MS3 is the uncommon OEM tire size (215-45/18). No R compounds are available and sticky summer tires are few and far between. I really wanted to try the Dunlop Direzza Star Spec because I've heard it is a terrific street/track tire. To use it I'd have to go Minus One to 17" wheels/tires, praying all the while that they wouldn't rub. I'm about ready to sell the thing outright.
#171 of 267 Re: winter tire suggestion, please [shipo] by cogneuro Jan 09, 2009 (2:46 pm)
Replying to: shipo (Jan 07, 2009 10:03 am) All tires are compatible with the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Period, full stop, the end.   Funny, I ordered snow tires from the dealer but when they arrived service dept says they realized they would not work with the TPMS and would have to re-order. I'm now going elsewhere for the tires.
#172 of 267 Re: winter tire suggestion, please [shipo] by cogneuro Jan 09, 2009 (3:17 pm)
Replying to: shipo (Jan 07, 2009 10:03 am) Shipo, when you bought the tires, did you have to buy anything extra to get the TPMS to work? I see the tires on TR; do I need to order anything other than the tires themselves (assuming they fit the current wheel size)?   thanks for the expert advice! Replies to this message: shipo (Jan 09, 2009 5:24 pm)
#173 of 267 Re: winter tire suggestion, please [cogneuro] by shipo Jan 09, 2009 (5:24 pm)
Replying to: cogneuro (Jan 09, 2009 3:17 pm) Nope, the TPMS sensors are attached to the wheels and don't intefere with the tires at all. Just get on the TireRack web site, pick the tires that you want and order away. Figure between $80 and $120 for mounting and balancing at your local tire shop or dealership (my dealership charged me $89,95 for the job).   Best regards, Shipo
#174 of 267 Re: RSA tires on Mazda 3 [shipo] by joem5 Jan 10, 2009 (2:04 pm)
Replying to: shipo (Dec 11, 2008 12:54 pm) I bought Dunlop Sport Signatures as most people on Tirerack gave them good marks. Maybe the cold weather is hurting milage.             All the tires will work with the TMPS . I alway have had Michelin's MX  VR's and presently on Type S Pilots.              What's so hard on getting a pair of winter tires for a Mazda 3? If you are that afraid of snow, then get your tires studded. We can have studded tires here from Nov. 15th until April first.                  Last week we got 18'' two days back 12" and to-morrow 4'' 8". When I teach skiing out west kids rent tire chains to drive the switch backs. The base lodge is at 10K above sea level.
#175 of 267 Re: New Mazda3 comes with CHEAP tires [blanca58] by mazdatech Jan 15, 2009 (6:40 pm)
Replying to: blanca58 (Jul 09, 2008 12:57 pm) I also have an 07 mazda 3, and yes it does wear the rear tires due to extreme camber and toe in on the rear, but there is are reasons for this. The factory toyo tires are a 300 tread wear tire (very soft and made to grip) but do not last very long, and the "block" tread pattern does not help matters any on a front wheel drive vehicle. There are higher treadwear tires that last much longer and do not cup out as easily but you do sacrifice dry weather grip. The camber "tire leaning in on the top" is for cornering and for cross wind stability "big truck passing by". The camber does not cause as much wear on the inside of the rear tires as the toe. If you have a factory mazda 3 the only adjustment on the rear axle is toe. There are aftermarket control arms to address the negative camber but if you like the way the car handles I would not recommend doing that especially if you live in the mountains. The alignment specs from the dealership you took it to are probably correct and the car is working as designed...for cornering. Replies to this message: cogneuro (Jan 25, 2009 4:21 pm)

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