I priced out the same 16" package at TireRack and it came out to $624 before shipping. Even if I were to replace the stock 18s with something else down the road (which I might), it STILL makes more sense to just get a dedicated set of winter tires & wheels - less hassle, no swapping of tires and better resale. For the same money as a set of 18" winter tires, you get the steelies to boot! I also have the option of selling the stock 18s to someone willing to pay for them because let's face it, there's a much bigger market for used winter tires w/steelies than there are for winter tires on MS3 18s.
Winter Tires
- Thread starter GhostMercury
- Start date
I priced out the same 16" package at TireRack and it came out to $624 before shipping. Even if I were to replace the stock 18s with something else down the road (which I might), it STILL makes more sense to just get a dedicated set of winter tires & wheels - less hassle, no swapping of tires and better resale. For the same money as a set of 18" winter tires, you get the steelies to boot! I also have the option of selling the stock 18s to someone willing to pay for them because let's face it, there's a much bigger market for used winter tires w/steelies than there are for winter tires on MS3 18s.
Don't forget the wear and tear on the tires, mounting and dismounting. Evertime you do this, you run the risk that the tire gets damaged in the bead area. It's also a good way to get your wheels scratched up if the technician isn't careful.
Just bought some pierelli snow tires from a member on here $450 shipped and slap right onto the factory wheels (I know its not the best option). I got a guy who is gonna mount and balance the new tires for a pizza and 6-pack of Killians 
Bottles of course, I don't buy s*** in cans
Bottles of course, I don't buy s*** in cansI recommend looking on craigslist too. You didn't seem too keen on that idea Ghost, but it's really a good suggestion. I was shopping for TireRack's cheapest set-up: Revo1 on closeout on a 16" steelie, which was only 500 bucks but shipping killed me.
I picked up the exact same set-up locally for $250. They had one season of use and were dirty but how can you beat that price. I went and picked them up myself, and yes the 16s do fit, I test fit a front before I bought them.
I picked up the exact same set-up locally for $250. They had one season of use and were dirty but how can you beat that price. I went and picked them up myself, and yes the 16s do fit, I test fit a front before I bought them.
chief_wiggum
Member
- :
- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed3-2010 Mazda5 GT
just received my winter setup from tirerack $618 shipped. Blizzak REVOs mounted and balanced on 16" steelies with warrantyi love the look
lets see them....
are most of you going without TPMS with your winter set up (those on different rims)?
mrjoshyman
Member
no TPMS for me
mazdaspeedster3
Member
- :
- Mazdaspeed3. 2008
That is exciting that the 16's fit! Lets see those bad boys!
mazdaspeedster3
Member
- :
- Mazdaspeed3. 2008
Anyone sleeping on this issue should heed this thread. Winter is soon approaching and these stock tires are the worst in winter. Please dont think you will skate through without something...
"Skate" is optimistic. At least you can control your direction on skates. Running stockers is like sledding on a round dish as opposed to a nice rig with steerable runners.
GhostMercury
Member
- :
- MazdaSpeed 3 08.5
yea pretty much. What size 16" steelies fit the car? like I'm not a craigslist fan or user so what do I actualy search for
Silver Ecstasy
Member
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- 11 MS3 Sport
Agreed! I'm still debating on what wheels and tires to get. Can't decide whether I want 16" steelies/actual rims, or 17's. Guess I could always price it first lol. I'm considering sticking to stock tire size of 215's instead of 205's like some people go. I know thinner is better in the winter, but the 215's are already so thin.
When I priced out options, it was $500 for 16"steel+tires, $900 for 17"alloy+tires, or $700 for 18" tires alone to mount on stockers. Since everyone already laughs at me for driving a hatchback, I figured it can't get much worse for driving a hatchback on steelies, so I may as well save as much money as I could (hah)
I would have picked up new Revos in the $500 package but shipping seemed excessive. I had actually never bought anything on clist either but I searched for a few days and found a used-one-season set of the exact same tire for $300, and they'd been on a speed6 so I knew they'd fit. I test fit one to be sure when I got to the girl's house, offered $250 and drove off with four tires in the back (another benefit of driving my ghey hatchback!!)
Clist isn't quite as user friendly as ebay, but it's totally free and focuses on local pick-up purchases which is nice. Just go to the homepage and look for your city/metro area. Search in the "auto parts" link and type "snow tires" or something in the search field. You'll get a lot of useless results but you'll probably find something good, too. I just searched in my area (metro Detroit) a second ago and the second item on the list is a set of 17" Mazda6 wheels with Michelin Arctic Alpin Pilots on them for $500.
I would have picked up new Revos in the $500 package but shipping seemed excessive. I had actually never bought anything on clist either but I searched for a few days and found a used-one-season set of the exact same tire for $300, and they'd been on a speed6 so I knew they'd fit. I test fit one to be sure when I got to the girl's house, offered $250 and drove off with four tires in the back (another benefit of driving my ghey hatchback!!)
Clist isn't quite as user friendly as ebay, but it's totally free and focuses on local pick-up purchases which is nice. Just go to the homepage and look for your city/metro area. Search in the "auto parts" link and type "snow tires" or something in the search field. You'll get a lot of useless results but you'll probably find something good, too. I just searched in my area (metro Detroit) a second ago and the second item on the list is a set of 17" Mazda6 wheels with Michelin Arctic Alpin Pilots on them for $500.
Apparently I have nothing better to do, so I looked up some Minneapolis clist ads: right here in the top ten is a set of Dunlops on steelies from an '06 Mazda3 for $300!
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/pts/842178790.html
There's also a couple other relavant ads: one with 17" wheels off a speed3 for $300 and another with 17" Dunlops, so that'd be a decent set up for $450+M&B. The wheels actually look sweet, too! Happy searching
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/pts/842178790.html
There's also a couple other relavant ads: one with 17" wheels off a speed3 for $300 and another with 17" Dunlops, so that'd be a decent set up for $450+M&B. The wheels actually look sweet, too! Happy searching
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Silver Ecstasy
Member
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- 11 MS3 Sport
Awesome man thanks!!
None for me either. Not worth the cost. It might confuse your mechanic though.
Call Tire Rack. The staff is awesome.
