OMG! it was a disaster! i was scared as s***! like on icy road, i'm fine. but when i'm on a bunch of hard snow balls, i can't get out of it. my car willl turn in one spot. so i tried turning off the DSC for a lil, and it seems like it works. So anyone suggesting me leaving the DSC off?
First day in the snow
- Thread starter baopham04
- Start date
GhostMercury
Member
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- MazdaSpeed 3 08.5
are you on stock tires? If you are...park that s*** till you get some snow tires. You might as well smash it into a snow bank right now trying to drive the stock tires in the snow.
That's exactly what I did. I thought all the ice was gone and went to pick my sister up from school, I was wrong. Those tires are very obviously for the summer months.
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- 09 mazdaspeed 3
if only we had AWD (drive2)
enshadowed
Member
even with awd these tires isnt made for snow
Super Unique
Member
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- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed 3 Black Mica
I put on a set of goodyear eagle GT and they are fine in the snow. Even allright on ice too....
Not sticky summer tires by any means, but a worthy compromise for all weather grip.
Not sticky summer tires by any means, but a worthy compromise for all weather grip.
You keep saying that. Others too. I think it's rationalizing cheaping-out.
I used to drive AS tires and I was forced to consider different tires on this car for the winter (obvious reasons). After researching the subject, I came to the conclusion that Winters are FAR superior to All Seasons. Did you read the Tire Rack article on it?
http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=120
http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=168
I can back up their conclusions re. all-seasons vs winters with personal experience. The difference between all-seasons and winters is the same magnitude as summers vs all-seasons.
I used all-season tires for many years (20). I can't believe how much better things are now. I pass and out-handle/out-maneuver every car on the road that has all-season tires.
Yeah, all-seasons might be "good enough", but given the same conditions of a need to stop quickly, your car is going to hit something mine will stop well in advance.
Summary: The difference is NIGHT and DAY!
I wish crash statistics for insurance took this variable into account. Don't some provinces in Canada now require winter tires? Meaning, if you don't and you crash, you could be held liable ....
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Remember, AWD neither gives you better turning traction nor better stopping ability given the same tires.
Super Unique
Member
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- 2008.5 Mazdaspeed 3 Black Mica
There is a market for mild all season tires here in florida especially, since we get some cold weather, and very very little snow. But, summer tires just suck something awful when the temps get down and the rain begins. Not to mention if you venture further north on trips in the winter from time to time. A good all season tire works very very well in the souther regions of the country.
I hear a lot of talk about winter and summer tires as the godsend to their domain, but there are those of us whose needs fall somewhere between during the cold months.
03.5-dc-speed
Member
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- 09 mazdaspeed 3
stock tires FTW!!! the price to for winter tires that you drive on for 3-4 months is stupid in my mind! i live in utah and we just had a pretty bad storm the only issue i had with my car was going uphill from a dead stop, other than that i managed! just drive carful and dont hit the gas when you turn and do what pcspeed3 said too and youll be fine save the money for a nice mod in the spring!
03.5-dc-speed
Member
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- 09 mazdaspeed 3
i drove through this just fine and it was only the beginning, ended up being like 4 more inches on top of that. just be careful and stay aware.
Stamperman
Member
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- Mazdaspeed3 & Mazda5
Yokohama All Season W4s + Snow & Ice = Fail
Just chipping in hear, I bought a set of all season Yoko W4's (225/45/18) because I drive my MS3 all year long in Ohio. Let me tell you, these things suck in ice and snow. I've had summer only tires that were better than these things. They are really good in the wet and decent in the dry, but that's about it. I've had several sets of different Yokohamas before, and they were all good all season tires, but not these.
I'm still probabably going to have to pony up for some winter tires and another set of rims.
Just chipping in hear, I bought a set of all season Yoko W4's (225/45/18) because I drive my MS3 all year long in Ohio. Let me tell you, these things suck in ice and snow. I've had summer only tires that were better than these things. They are really good in the wet and decent in the dry, but that's about it. I've had several sets of different Yokohamas before, and they were all good all season tires, but not these.
I'm still probabably going to have to pony up for some winter tires and another set of rims.
Or save the money for your trip to the body shop.
What you fail to realize is you're not wasting money, you're getting a set of tires that's better than your current tires and you're going to use them in future winters. The logic that winter tires are a waste if you only use them for 3-4 months is flawed.
You think you did ok because maybe you didn't get into any emergency situations because you drove carefully. What if someone cut you off and slammed on their brakes?
03.5-dc-speed
Member
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- 09 mazdaspeed 3
i actually did run into an emergency cituation. i had 2 spin outs in front of me and had to stop and i was also cut off by a car and semi truck all in the same day! i know the logic behind and know what they do. ive never had a set and have done fine without them even going snowboarding! my crx was fine and my msp last year was fine even with the bad all season kumhos i had.
i just know how to get around in the snow i guess, but until i end up in the body shop or with a totaled car then im fine without them!
