First Post

[Kenny V]

Just wanted to introduce myself. I purchased a Protege 5 a couple of months ago, and I love the car. My wife will be driving the car the most. I am familiar with the Miata.net forum and post there often. The Protege is my third Mazda purchase and I am quite pleased with the car. I have a couple of questions about the car. Please humor me if they have been answered too often in the past. I did do a limited search but wanted some new input. I hope no one is offended that I am asking winter related questions. I hate winter, but want to be prepared for it long before I have to worry about it. Questions: I live in northeast Ohio and my wife will be driving the car this winter. Do those who drive the Protege 5 in the snow outfit the car with dedicated wheels with snow tires at all four corners? I run one of my Miatas all year and I put my four winter Blizzaks on and have no problems in the snow. I also run 1" smaller rims/snow tires than the stock size. Is this something that most of you do? Do you run steel wheels or alloys in the winter? I am after the best handling/safest tires possible for those snowy months. I usually purchase my tires and sometimes wheels from Tire Rack. Are there any other vendors anyone has dealt with that are as good as Tire Rack? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Kenny V

 

[dficken]

I have seen a lot of people up north run with the smaller steel rims. So I am sure that would be a safe bet for you as well. Not sure of the exact tire they use though.

Are you actually in cleveland or a nearby town? I have relatives in Amherst an Lorain.

Oh... and welcome to the forum!

 

[Kenny V]

I live in an eastern suburb of Cleveland called Lyndhurst. I am about an hour east of Amherst.

 

[alexlitov]

Yeah most people use 15' steelies. Do a search and you'll find enough info.

 

[alexlitov]

Welcome to the site!! Enjoy your stay

 

[mattsk42]

My tires were not great, but did just fine for me all winter. I'm in South Dakota, and we had snow most of the time.

 

[Matthew]

welcome! let me know if we can do anything for you

 

[Sir Nuke]

hello Kenny and Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to our Club. There are TWO BIG fridge'S in the corner with anything you can think of in them...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have. (stash)

make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom don't care....and take it easy.

oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!! (stash)

 

[Captain KRM P5]

from one Ken to another, welcome excellent choice of vehicle. you'll find plenty of friendly and helpful people on the forum here.

 

[wannabe]

Hey kenny, if you feel like going for a road trip we are having a meet in cincinnati this weekend. I personally live in Mentor, and will be driving down friday after work. We are meeting at 1pm in ault park. Here for more info

 

[P5princess]

I live in Minnesota and drove my P5 all last winter with the stock tires/rims and had no problems. It's a lot about how well the driver handles snow and ice - IMO.

 

[PaulMP3]

i use 15" steelies and pirelli snow tires. My car is great in the snow. Handling isnt comparable to stock at all. tires squeal and slide. But they ride nice and are quiet.

i have 205/55 r15 They are wider than most choose, but i dont see all that much snow.

 

[Iconoclast]

only advice i have is use a condom and ALWAYS have a set of extra rims and tires in the northern states. i have a set or the factory 2002 16's i got off a P in a junkyard wrapped in factory Duns and a summer set of facs wrapped in Kuhmo Ectas.

whats all this 15'' talk, i thought this was the P5 board of the
webcite? I got R/C cars with bigger wheeels