First Mazda, unexpected complaint

[HotDog88GT]

We got our first Japanese car, a Mazda5 last night. I thought it would take me a few months of driving to list a few things that are weird, not-quite-right/why did they do this, etc.

I'm looking for winter tires it and am not happy with things so far. Why does Mazda put expensive tires on an $18,000 car? I just want snows for a for month winter and am looking at over $110 per. Looks like we'll be sticking with the stock tires at this rate.

 

[mountjonas]

buy some 16" steelies and 195/55/16 snows. tirerack has them starting at $76 per.

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

key point is steel rims for your winter tires not winters for your alloy rims....

hope that helps.

 

[jandree22]

Why does Mazda put expensive tires on an $18,000 car?

Because they're hot

I understand your complaint, though...

 

[canadianexpress]

Keep in mind that the worst winter tires are still better than the best all season on snow. Yes they were expensive (paid over $900 can. for wheels + tires), but if it saves me from that 1 accident, it has paid for itself many times over.

 

[the tortoise]

$110 for a winter tire is more than reasonable.

 

[HotDog88GT]

$110 for a winter tire is more than reasonable.

The only time I have ever paid more than $85US for a tire is for my 1988 Mustang GT, which came stock with Eagle VRs ($150 each back then). Have shod that car with Kelly and Yoko H and Z rated tires for much less. Former vehicle (replaced by new 5) was a GM minivan and snows never ran more than $60 each.

I live just south of the Tug Hill region here in Central NY. We can get buried in snow quickly if the lake effect bands set up in the right place. I see the point that good snows can pay for themselves in accidents avoided, I'm just not convinced an $18,000 car in 2006 should be wearing tires priced so. It's not a "performance" vehicle, thought it does handle nicely.

Nevertheless, I'm liking the car! BTW, my co-worker here has an 04 Camry Solara with the same size tires. Had same problem with pricey snows.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Why do people always cheap out on Tires?

We got our first Japanese car, a Mazda5 last night. I thought it would take me a few months of driving to list a few things that are weird, not-quite-right/why did they do this, etc.

I'm looking for winter tires it and am not happy with things so far. Why does Mazda put expensive tires on an $18,000 car? I just want snows for a for month winter and am looking at over $110 per. Looks like we'll be sticking with the stock tires at this rate.

Mazda does this because they care about the way the car handles. Sure they could put on some cheap white wall donuts but the choice of tire size and profile is based on design goals (handling/braking) and aesthetics. That said the actual quality of the tire they use is poor. I replaced the Goodyears on my 3 and Toyo's on my 5 right away with expensive Michelin Pilot A/S's (sold the OEM's on eBay to recoup some of the expense). Although I live in MA the all season Pilot's are pretty good in snow. Of course MA is pretty good about plowing so I don't often need to worry about driving in deep snow.

I use to do Winter/Summer tires, but I had to find a middleground with my wife . I may move to Yokohama's S4's next time around though and save $50/tire.

FYI I actually like the Tire Rack's new marketing campaign comparing tires to shoes. It's an honest and accurate reason why buying good quality tires is important.

 

[HotDog88GT]

buy some 16" steelies and 195/55/16 snows. tirerack has them starting at $76 per.

I've started to look at doing this as well. Which size 16" wheel? 16x7? 16x8?

Also, the second tire size listed in my owner's manual is 205/55-16. That gives a overall tire diameter of 20.44", 0.60" lower than the stock tires (21.04"). Your suggested tire is 0.82" less than stock, although 195s would be better in the snow. Both of these tires will run my speedometer higher - an undesired result.

I'll play with the sidewall numbers a bit and see if there are any 16" tires that get close to stock overall diameter.

 

[Kansei]

^^ snows for the GM minivan were cheap because it had 15 inch wheels with massive sidewalls. It's an easy tie to make. Smaller sidewall = more pricey. Cars often have larger wheels to accommodate larger diameter brakes, such as the Mazdaspeed6 with its 18" wheels. Mazda puts the "zoom-zoom" into every car they make, and what good would sporty suspension do if it was paired with tiny wheels with big mushy tyres?

Sorry for the inconvenience with the "pricy" tyre packages, but you can always step it down to a 16" or even a 15" steel wheel for the winter.. yeah they aren't pretty to look at, but oh well it's winter people understand that.

 

[Kansei]

I'll play with the sidewall numbers a bit and see if there are any 16" tires that get close to stock overall diameter.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

definitely go with 16x6 if you can find that. 195s would fit great on a 6 inch wide wheel. An 8 inch wide.. I dunno how well 195s would fit on that.

 

[Kid Red]

I never understood all this winter tire/snow tire talk.

 

[Kansei]

I never understood all this winter tire/snow tire talk.

I hate you (pissed)(pissed)(pissed)

wanna trade places?

nah just kidding.. I'm here for school, once I have at least my B.S. I'll be looking south and west for grad school. I can't freakin stand snow!! gets the car all dirty and gross, and the salt makes her rust and makes my endlinks a disposable commodity haha.

 

[ladygrey]

I never understood all this winter tire/snow tire talk.

I know me either! Best kept secret in the world. It never f-in snows in Denver...

Hotdog - good luck figuring it all out.

 

[HotDog88GT]

I never understood all this winter tire/snow tire talk.

I'd take four distinct seasons over 95 degree, 100% humidity weather all year long any day. I've live in southern VA and in Denver and moved back to Central NY where traffic is light. Could not pay me enough to work and commute in areas with daily standstills. Taxes are oppressive but family is here.

Winter? Bought a pair of snowmobiles and a roof rake.

BTW: found a reasonable snow tire package just now that I didn't see last night for some reason. Less than $700. Thanks...

 

[paging_drburgos]

I like my tires. If Mazda sold this car with 15 inch rims and $40 tires i dont think i would have looked twice at the car. Instead they put all of these nice little finishing touches on the car. Remember Mazda of N America is located a few miles north of me in Irvine, and it doesnt snow here.
The office is located right off the 405 FWY and it's sandwiched in between the FWY and windy roads that lead to the pacific ocean.

 

[P_bouchr]

Anyways 16" and 17" are more than common nowadays. 15" are reserved only for subcompacts cars, like the Toyota Yaris and maybe the honda civic and some entry level corean cars...

I know I will buy a set of wheels and 16" snow for mine.

Before I returned the Jetta, I was lucky to get a set of president tires for like 550$cdn.

Anyway, good tires are a must. Noone should neglect them. Seeing how crappy my toyo are on wet roads, I don't even want to imagine on snowy roads...

 

[ProtoType5]

I really don't get the complaint....Mazda puts nice wheels on an $18,000.00 car and people start bitching???? Sorry dood, you're the one that lives in central New York, so you're the one that needs the snow tires....Just get some cheapo steelies and snow tires....I've got a set so I can run up over the pass without killing myself....

 

[canadianexpress]

^^ snows for the GM minivan were cheap because it had 15 inch wheels with massive sidewalls. It's an easy tie to make. Smaller sidewall = more pricey. Cars often have larger wheels to accommodate larger diameter brakes, such as the Mazdaspeed6 with its 18" wheels. Mazda puts the "zoom-zoom" into every car they make, and what good would sporty suspension do if it was paired with tiny wheels with big mushy tyres?

Sorry for the inconvenience with the "pricy" tyre packages, but you can always step it down to a 16" or even a 15" steel wheel for the winter.. yeah they aren't pretty to look at, but oh well it's winter people understand that.

Actually for the Mazda5, 15" would not clear the calipers, so 16" is the smallest you can go.

 

[Kansei]

fun. you can fit like 14s on the P5, but then again it's 5-600 pounds lighter so it makes sense.