First drive in the snow...

[Crypt0wind]

Like many I tired the stocks "summer" tires in the snow, hell I'm from the midwest. I guess they weren't kidding about 3 season tires...

Installed my 215/50R-17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 and 17x7.5 Sport Edition CD Silver, from Tirerack. Now diving in the snow is a pleasure, a whole new experience!

 

[AJ08]

yea next set of tires will be all season tires

 

[chufa]

I put mine on without TPMS. I don't mind the little light in the dashboard. Those Blizzaks I put rock.

 

[sfalexi]

Ya The Hill Thing Sucks! I Think The Brakes Are Worce In The Snow Too! It Dont Take Much To Get Them To Lock Up My Truck Wasnt As Bad At Stopping. It Was An Adventure Tho! Love That Baltimore Weather!

Will A 16 Inch Rim Fit Over Our Brakes? That Caliper And Rotor R Kinda Big!

There was another thread where someone took the 16" rims and wheels off his/her other car and put them on. Said it fits over the brakes and works.

Alexi

 

[aquamar]

Winter Driving - Rims and Tires

Hi Folks,

You can't seriously think about driving in any kind of winter weather with stock Potenza summer high performance tires. Do you want to die or kill someone? Good grief!!

You invested in a serious sports car; invest in some serious winter treads.

I want my MS3 to look sharp and drive hard 12 months a year. I live in Canada. We have serious winters 3 months a year and potential winter weather March-April and October-November. I can't put my summers on until the middle of April and I need to take them off in the middle of October. However, I still have a huge number of days in the shoulder seasons when I can drive the socks off this car.

I also HATE ugly black steel winter rims.

Solution: Inexpensive 18" alloy rims with Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 215/45 low profile, high performance winter tires. Awesome! This combination sticks better in snow and on ice than my Protege 5. These are H-rated tires (130 MPH). When the pavement is dry between October and April, I can drive fast at well over 100 MPH. Don't try that on any cheap tire store 16" winter tire packages. So, do you want to drive fast whenever the pavement is dry? I do. Do you want to neuter your MS3 for 4-6 months a year? I don't.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+LM-22

The cost for me, including installation, balancing and taxes was $ 1850.00. These will last me for 5 years easily.

The car looks great!! It sticks great in winter weather. It goes super fast on dry pavement year round.

If you can't stay lit all the time, don't burn at all.

 

[Stamperman]

I took the 17" wheels and all season tires off of my wifes 5 (I have a set of 16" snow tires on it now, they won't fit on the speed) and have driven 2 days this week in 3+ inches of fresh snow. They work really well. They aren't snow tires, but I think they are more than acceptable.

The car is actually fun to drive in the snow, and traction/stability control doesn't keep you from doing some really great hand brake turns!

 

[sfalexi]

Would it just be cheaper to just get winter tires tires and pay a store change the tires twice a season? Instead of buying a second set of wheels too?

 

[flipstylex]

You know what dude, it snowed on my area 2 that night, thats the reason why i could really use awd .... i live in NJ and we took sum hard snow ourselves.. i was driving on the eway, and i notice i was going 35 the most loL... so scared driving this thing in the snow ! As for winter tires, i guess i have to start looking....better find me good deals soon !!!

 

[aquamar]

Leave Summers on Stock Rims

Would it just be cheaper to just get winter tires tires and pay a store change the tires twice a season? Instead of buying a second set of wheels too?

I understand the temptation but you will seriously mess up your gorgeous, expensive 18" alloys by changing tires twice a year. Leave your summers on the stock rims, bite the bullet and buy some dedicated winter rims and tires.

BTW, it takes some careful consideration with a person who knows your MS3 and knows wheel and tire sizes (dimensions, offset, etc.) to get a tire/wheel match that will leave adequate space for your calipers and not result in tire rub in your wheel wells.

Good luck.

 

[sfalexi]

Thanks. Guess I might need a trip to a tire store to see what they recommend and then do my usual online shopping to see if I can buy it cheaper.

 

[Ms3InMd]

Haha this is pretty funny. I live in the columbia area and have a hill like you described except a little smaller as a driveway and it sucked to try getting up it. That's why I want to just park this car in the snow, but everyone says with nice tires it is good so maybe I will just try to get snow tires.

 

[Colleptic]

Good winters will change everything; I have Maxxis 225 40's with a Y speed rating. The tread is so aggressive, I can chew up almost all types or compacted snow. I can even corner on shear ice...slowly, but the point is not even my Blizzack on my last car could do that. Plus these tires look so mean, I have caught people checking them out as the walk by.

 

[henderan]

So happy with my purchase from Tire Rack (Michelin X-Ice + Kazera 17" KZV light grey, little over $1100). First car ever actually with snowtires... my old Maxima with all seasons couldn't get around this well.

Also, definitely not regretting not purchasing on TPMS. I can do without for the winter. Speaking of which, Tirerack was very helpful, they called me after my order to make sure I was not getting TPMS as well as would have called me if the rim I chose had a different offset, even though the wizard said it would fit the mazdaspeed3.

 

[SwampAss]

I couldn't agree more.... God they are bad! I decided to try some inexpensive tire chains first. They were only $37, and if they don't work, I figured that another car might be the best choice. I priced the cheapest snow tires, 16" rims, and required TPMS for the new snow tires, and it came to a little over $1100. I can get a old used 4x4 for $2500. Might be worth it.

DC bad
Maryland WORSE

no offense.


All the bad drivers in Va are former MD residents. I drove my car with the fancy summer tires in snow last year. It was not pleasant. I did MUCH better than my 25 year old neighbor in his G35 wearing similar tires.
I am still shopping for a new driver's seat insert as I have not been able to extract the piece of mine still wedged 'tween my 'tocks.

 

[camrycev6]

Swampass... No offense taken... I actually agree with you. I am not a MD native... I grew up driving back roads in good and horrible weather in KY. I like to think I know how to drive pretty well. Regardless, compared to the MD drivers, I am outstanding....

 

[SwampAss]

I grew up watching the dukes of hazzard and lived on miles of dirt roads. Nuff said.

 

[Sacrilicious]

i grew up on the prairie freezing my ballz off watching my breath freeze as it came out of my mouth...i win!

 

[camrycev6]

Although not common, I have been there and done that too. We have some strange winter's in KY. The jet stream drops sometimes and brings some nasty Canadian cold air down with it. We get at least one or two bad snow storms a year.