2010 Mazdaspeed3 snow driving
- Thread starter BoostisLove
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DailyDriver
Member
Well, not really. It's all about how you drive it. It's all about how much of that lbs/ft you try to put down when driving on snow.
When I was out in the snow the other day, I was not putting 280 lbs/ft to the wheels... in fact in most cases I was at very low rpm and just feathering the throttle, putting down very few of those lb/ft, and I was doing just fine until things got extra challenging and the car would just bog down and there was not enough traction to pull it through, regardless of torque... the tires just weren't grabbing.
So, I agree with the majority here, this car has a serious tire / traction issue (in snow) with stock tires. A FWD car with a limited slip differential should be quite good in the snow in general... I can't wait to see how it performs once I get some good tires on it.... I suspect it'll be impressive... I don't know why it wouldn't (other than fairly low ground clearance, but this isn't an issue on hard-packed snow).
Now if one does not know how to drive in snow, that's another issue.
Remember, the MS3 is quite weak in the sub-2600 rpm range (before the turbo starts to wake up), so if you keep the revs down in that range, the MS3 should be just like any other little 4-banger in the snow. When I was out the other day in the snow, I don't think I ever woke up the turbo at all, I was short shifting and keeping the revs pretty low the whole time, so the 280 lb/ft max torque spec of the engine does not come into play here.... has nothing to do with the car's capabilities in the snow.
Though, at one point I needed to get up a steep driveway covered with hard packed snow. One initial attempt at low rpm was futile, started sliding back down. So I made sure the traction control was off of course, got a running start down at the street (on dry pavement) and just blasted my way up, spinning the wheels the whole way... not floored of course, but maybe 50% throttle... and just "powered" my way up... it worked thank goodness because I really needed to get up that driveway. But I know in my other cars (even my FWD NON-limited slip SUV with skinny street tires), this particular driveway would not have been much of a challenge. It's those damn "summer tires" on the MS3 that are causing the headaches.
daily, if you want you can meet up with our local ms3 crew. We meet every thursday, but not this upcoming one obviously. We can test fit a gen 1 ms3 wheel on your car. If it fits (which it should, you can use a multitude of wheels. I'm on stock rims, a friend is on steelies he picked up off craigslist, and another has snowflakes from an mz3. The hub ring is 67.1 bolt pattern 5x114.3 and 50 offeset for gen 1
CheoMSP3-C3
Member
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- 2016 GLA 45 AMG
These are the snow tires and rims that I picked after a lot of help from my friends from NEPOC
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3d Blackwall. 205/55 R16 $850.00 and a $50.00 mail in rebate
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3d Blackwall. 205/55 R16 $850.00 and a $50.00 mail in rebate
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liquoredonlife
Member
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- Mazdaspeed3 2010
I'd check craigslist or regional forums for some used regular Mazda 3 17" wheels. I've seen them run anywhere from $250-600 usually w/o TPMS sensors. I'm actually casually looking for pairs myself and I live in California (for driving up to ski resorts and not having to deal with chains).
To OP: Please trade in your car. Would rather have you on the road commanding something that doesn't suck so much in the snow with factory higher performance summer tires and endangering others around you.
To OP: Please trade in your car. Would rather have you on the road commanding something that doesn't suck so much in the snow with factory higher performance summer tires and endangering others around you.
holy s***, idiots are still trying to drive in the snow on stockers? (rlaugh)(rlaugh)(rlaugh)(rlaugh)(rlaugh)
i mean come on, even a subaru sti and audi s4 are IMMOBILE in the snow on stock tires. the best drivetrain in the world won't save you if your tires are rock hard hockey pucks.
buy snow tires and be done with it.
i mean come on, even a subaru sti and audi s4 are IMMOBILE in the snow on stock tires. the best drivetrain in the world won't save you if your tires are rock hard hockey pucks.
buy snow tires and be done with it.
x2
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- 2010 Mazda CX-9 GT Dolphin Gray
You should have started a different thread...
DailyDriver...this thread was dead to begin with. Unfortunately, your legitimate inquiry was colored by the OP.
FWIW I use Steelies on Firestone Winterforce in New England. Have used the same set-up on my 2008 MS3 and 2006 Mz5. They perform great and appear to have very good wear (going on 4 seasons). The downside is that they aren't performance tires. However for me safety, price and snow performance are more important this time of the year. Steelies are also easily repairable if I hit one of those huge potholes left by plows. Personally, I'd rather drive my MS3 or Mz5 in the snow than an SUV. They're actually pretty fun to drive provided they're wearing proper shoes. The only issue with the MS3 is ground clearance. Other than that the Mz5 and MS3 are excellent snow cars.
DailyDriver...this thread was dead to begin with. Unfortunately, your legitimate inquiry was colored by the OP.
FWIW I use Steelies on Firestone Winterforce in New England. Have used the same set-up on my 2008 MS3 and 2006 Mz5. They perform great and appear to have very good wear (going on 4 seasons). The downside is that they aren't performance tires. However for me safety, price and snow performance are more important this time of the year. Steelies are also easily repairable if I hit one of those huge potholes left by plows. Personally, I'd rather drive my MS3 or Mz5 in the snow than an SUV. They're actually pretty fun to drive provided they're wearing proper shoes. The only issue with the MS3 is ground clearance. Other than that the Mz5 and MS3 are excellent snow cars.
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DailyDriver
Member
Thanks for the support, I dig it. The OP's initial post may have come across as ignorant and annoying to the more knowledgeable hardcore MS3 people here, I can understand, but he just needed to be enlightened to the fact that it's the tires causing the problem, not the car. I think he now knows (and me too) that a stock MS3 very simply requires a set of snow tires for snow use.
Thanks! Yes, I know you had mentioned this in the past and I haven't had a chance to make it down. I'll try to stop by one Thurs when I can... might not be for a bit though, schedule is pretty nuts now unfortunately.
Also, thanks to everyone so far for starting to list specifics regarding their snow tire set-up! This is very helpful. I'm going to review all this info and start taking notes, etc.
Summer tires can be downright dangerous even if there is NO snow, if the temps are below 40 degrees or so. The extremely soft compound hardens when temps drop low enough and the tires don't behave like you would expect them to do so. I'm fairly certain every car sold with summer tires has some sort of warning at least in the manual.
I have driven AWD Subarus with summer tires in the snow...they can grip a bit better than 2wd cars from a start, but cannot stop or turn for s***. It's not a smart or safe thing to do, even in those cars. "Ultra-High-Perf All-Seasons" are the closest thing to a summer tire that you can technically drive in snow. They aren't great in snow, and they aren't quite as good as summers on warm days, but they are acceptable for some.
As others have said...buy winter AND summer tires for a car like this.
I have driven AWD Subarus with summer tires in the snow...they can grip a bit better than 2wd cars from a start, but cannot stop or turn for s***. It's not a smart or safe thing to do, even in those cars. "Ultra-High-Perf All-Seasons" are the closest thing to a summer tire that you can technically drive in snow. They aren't great in snow, and they aren't quite as good as summers on warm days, but they are acceptable for some.
As others have said...buy winter AND summer tires for a car like this.
Little Beavis
Member
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- 2001 MP3-T (#911)
LOL, I read this whole thread in disbelief as well. I just really like the hard hockey puck comment as it is the truth.
I believe my car did come with a warning about having summer tires. . .but I knew that and knew it should never go in the snow with the stockers, so I bought winters back in September.
I'm running a set of 16" rims on my MS3 with General Altimax (went for a cheap, but well reviewed tire). Works great, car is virtually unstoppable in the snow (as long as the snow goes under the car that is). Running 215/55's. Narrower tires are better in the snow of course. 16" barely, and I repeat, barely fits. The wheel weights just nicked the caliper for the first hundred miles. . .but now they're all good.
(wiggle)
Saskatchewan17
Member
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- 2008 TR Mazdaspeed 3
IT'S THE SUMMER TIRES!
I can't stand when people start knocking the car when it has the stock Max Performance SUMMER TIRES on it. They turn into hockey pucks below freezing temps and can't grip for s***. Their tread compound also is in no way designed to evacuate or plow through snow. And they won't grip ice at all because there is no siping on the tire at all. Get winter tires and this car is as sure footed as a Panzer tank in the snow.
I can't stand when people start knocking the car when it has the stock Max Performance SUMMER TIRES on it. They turn into hockey pucks below freezing temps and can't grip for s***. Their tread compound also is in no way designed to evacuate or plow through snow. And they won't grip ice at all because there is no siping on the tire at all. Get winter tires and this car is as sure footed as a Panzer tank in the snow.
Little Beavis
Member
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- 2001 MP3-T (#911)
LOL, I can't get enough of this. . .Panzer tank. . .maybe a stretch, but definitely sure footed with the right tires.
Saskatchewan17
Member
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- 2008 TR Mazdaspeed 3
Hah, sorry I didn't read the thread... just posted my opinion.
My car (with Michelin X-Ice [studless Ice and Snow tires]) Grips the deep snow so well that it takes the e-brake or some really spirited driving to get the car to slide loose. The only thing that will make the car slide at all is ice. And that is only if you drive to fast over it. If you creep over the ice the siping really does it's work to suction the tire down onto the ice. Handles like a dream. No drama, no spinning the tires, no crashing... pretty good to me.
snow tires + limited slip + stability control
this car is amazing in the snow.
anyone who insists on driving the ms3 in snow on the stockers is an idiot. plain and simple.
hell, anyone who insists on driving any car in snow on high perf summer tires is a freaking moron.
keep blaming the car, OP. stay classy.
this car is amazing in the snow.
anyone who insists on driving the ms3 in snow on the stockers is an idiot. plain and simple.
hell, anyone who insists on driving any car in snow on high perf summer tires is a freaking moron.
keep blaming the car, OP. stay classy.
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DailyDriver
Member
Was this pic taken right after you spun off the highway? How much did it cost to have it towed out?
Seriously, be honest, were you actually able to drive away after taking that photo?
Saskatchewan17
Member
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- 2008 TR Mazdaspeed 3
OK OP, do you get it? It's the tires... pretty much everyone is in agreement here. I'm locking this up now.
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