i think i need snow tires

[blacktalon13]

your name is eddie right? esprit

i don't like u man.. u don't have to pay PST.. why must i live in ontario!!!

i'll check out costco.. see if they have any x-ice for cheap.

 

[Esprit]

Well, hehe!!
yes I am Ed.
If you need to look for the steel wheel, Costco may don't show MZ5 2008. Just ask for 16" MZ3 2006 or 07. Same as Walmart.
When I bought my X-Ice, Costco were CAD$60 off if you buy 4 tires.
Another good things to know for everyone is, if you are buying new tire, always check the manufacture date on the sidewall of the tire. Make sure is no more then two years old. Most tire for the best performance is within six years. Specially winter tire because they are using softer compound.

 

[Esprit]

Some member were asking about to put wheel cover to the steel wheel or not. I will say no. What I understand is you need air circulation for your brake disc to cool down after you brake. Steel wheel already has less air circulation space then most alloys rims (design may vary). Wheel cover may cover even more space (again depending on the design)
I am not saying that wheel cover will give you problem but I mean depending on the way that people drive or the way that how people brake. Outside temperture can make a different too. I saw people driving down hill with the brake on the hold time for more then a km. You can smell the brake pad from behide.
I may be wrong with the wheel cover idea.

 

[blacktalon13]

thanks for the tip, ed

i say no to hubcaps too.. unless they're those chrome spinners hubcabs that doesn't really spin.. those are COOL!!!! hahahaha j/k

 

[daan]

Blizzaks do work well when they're relatively new but only 50% of the tread depth is the special winter rubber compound, (winter tires have "softer" rubber) once you wear off half of the tread they're the same rubber as all-seasons. Of course worn-down Blizzaks still work better than the crap Toyos 5's come with.
I've always wanted to try a set of these:
http://www.greendiamondtire.com/
tires with little bits of silicon carbide molded right into the tread.

 

[coolmazda5]

Green Diamond Tires, invented in Iceland, what do those guys know anyway?

Just kidding, great find daan, it is pretty clever I would say (yes)

 

[miwhite]

I got my Mazda5 at the end of Jan. I bought 16" Michelin X-Ice for 30% off at Crappy Tire. The tires were $135, steel wheels were $50. Only problem was finding four 205/55-16 tires. Some stores had one, some three - you know the drill. I bought the rims and tires at two different CT stores.

 

[bulwnkl]

Blizzaks do work well when they're relatively new but only 50% of the tread depth is the special winter rubber compound, (winter tires have "softer" rubber) once you wear off half of the tread they're the same rubber as all-seasons. Of course worn-down Blizzaks still work better than the crap Toyos 5's come with.
I've always wanted to try a set of these:
http://www.greendiamondtire.com/
tires with little bits of silicon carbide molded right into the tread.

That's right, Green Diamond, not Green Mountain like I posted before. I almost bought some of those this year. Wish I had. The pair I got aren't any better than good, new all-seasons.

Your point about the Blizzaks is why I've never bought any of those. I sure loved my Nokians, but dang they're expensive! If you only need snow tires a couple weeks a year, they're very difficult to justify.

 

[blacktalon13]

i don't like giong to crappy tires.. the so called "mechanic" there are retarded.. i went there once for an oil change and they didn't tighten the filter enough and started leaking oil everywhere...

 

[daddyzoom]

Just took delivery of a 2008 Mazda5 GT (with everything except the nav system). The remote start has been great these mornings. Got a great deal at the dealership when I purchased the vehicle for 16" winter tires/steel rims/hubcaps for $800 - put it throught the 0% financing. Best thing I did based on the industry reviews of the stock Toyo's that come on the vehicle. I wouldn't drive without winter tires.

 

[blacktalon13]

what kind of tires?

u're in durham region? i'm in toronto.. haven't seen lots of 08 around yet

 

[mrbwa1]

Blizzaks do work well when they're relatively new but only 50% of the tread depth is the special winter rubber compound, (winter tires have "softer" rubber) once you wear off half of the tread they're the same rubber as all-seasons. Of course worn-down Blizzaks still work better than the crap Toyos 5's come with.
I've always wanted to try a set of these:
http://www.greendiamondtire.com/
tires with little bits of silicon carbide molded right into the tread.

That's the reason I didn't go with the Blizzaks on the 5, even with their good reputation. I was apprehensive about the Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds, due to lack of reviews. So far, so good (other than Dunlop not sending me my rebate... GRRRR)

 

[Rivman]

Winter Tires

M5 16" alloys on an '08 M3, with CTC P205/55R16 Nordic winter tires.
These have been just great this winter, with all the heavy snow conditions we have had -
definetly worth the investment.
"Thanks" Brian ! (canada)

 

[mrbwa1]

Snoooooooow!!

I didn't manage to get an pics of the 5 out in the snow, as she lives in the garage most of the time. I wanted to add a couple of photos to show how much snow the 5 has been coping with. It's a bit hard to see, but that's a suburban street with about 15 inches of snow! The driveway is my Mom, Sister and Nephew. Mom and the snow bank are bot about 5'6". February has come and we're seeing 40 F for temperatures, so it's melting off. There's only about 8" left here at my house. Mom still has 3 or 4 foot berms.

 

[coolmazda5]

I didn't manage to get an pics of the 5 out in the snow, as she lives in the garage most of the time. I wanted to add a couple of photos to show how much snow the 5 has been coping with. It's a bit hard to see, but that's a suburban street with about 15 inches of snow! The driveway is my Mom, Sister and Nephew. Mom and the snow bank are bot about 5'6". February has come and we're seeing 40 F for temperatures, so it's melting off. There's only about 8" left here at my house. Mom still has 3 or 4 foot berms.

Holly smokes, nice pics!

For a moment I thought you would say that the MZ5 was buried in that snow bank behind your mom . Reminds me when we used to live in Boston, and we were not getting even half of that amount! Yet, one day was so bad I was not able to find my car so I had to dig around to find it by license plate (we were living in an apartment complex, and everybody would drive the same Hondas or Toyotas). For that, glad I moved further South

Back on topic, good thing the Mazda5 has a more unique shape for those cases, otherwise (lol2):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PiQiuA-WbI

 

[Dyx]

I had a friend whose car spun 360degrees last saturday, fortunately she had no car coming on the opposite direction and the car behind was far away. She and her car was ok except for her confidence that night. That I think is the best example why we need Snow Tires!

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

M5 16" alloys on an '08 M3, with CTC P205/55R16 Nordic winter tires.
These have been just great this winter, with all the heavy snow conditions we have had -
definetly worth the investment.
"Thanks" Brian ! (canada)

I remember those.....lol glad your enjoying em..

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

I had a friend whose car spun 360degrees last saturday, fortunately she had no car coming on the opposite direction and the car behind was far away. She and her car was ok except for her confidence that night. That I think is the best example why we need Snow Tires!

Are you saying there are more just one car in Winterpeg... lol

 

[was98strat]

i love my new 08 mazda5... but the dumb factory toyo tires SUCKS in the snow... we got dump with a LOT of snow today... i NEARLY got into an accident because some dumb dumb decided to change lane right beside me.. i swear i miss him by no more than half a foot... i pull over to change if i actually got hit because the guy took off ASAP without even stopping to see if there's any damage to the car. luckily he didn't touch me.. or else i'll be chasing him down.

and when i got home.. try pulling into the driveway den realize the snow is a tad too deep.. car stopped and couldn't move again.. took me about an hour to dig the car out of the snow.. luckily my neighbor saw me and start helping me push the car up... hopefully i didn't wreck my tranny. rev it up pretty high to get into my dumb long uphilll driveway... my baby only got 1700km on it.. i just pick it up about a month ago. god damn it...

alrite.. enough venting for now...

so my point is.. i think i should get snow tires soon... i don't want this kind of things happening often... (smash)

Uh hello...You're in Canada... NOT using winter tires is foolish! "all season" tires get pretty ineffective below 5c unless you live in a part of Canada where the winter temp rarely gets bel 5c then get winter tires!

I've had Pirellii Winter carving's on my 5 since the first winter, it's not expensive to do and will save some wear on your summer tires! Don;t even get me started on the safety aspect! If you want to be able to control your car in emergency situations and STOP you NEED winter tires! It should be the law, like in Quebec!

 

[daddyzoom]

what kind of tires?

u're in durham region? i'm in toronto.. haven't seen lots of 08 around yet

Ajax Mazda indicated that the winter tires they and other Mazda dealerships are selling (as part of a steel rim & tire package) are supplied by Good Year and based on the Ultra Grip. The tires have performed very well so far.