Mazdaspeed on snow

[oliver2000]

We know only a select few can answer this question but giving our first real mess on the roads of toronto since the cars have arrivied..

How was the Mazdaspeed in the snow

 

[custompr5]

probably as crappy as our tight dry handling,weak wet handling p5's..

 

[mp3_559]

Oliver its simple just as impossible extremely dangerous as the mp3 is in snow.. but pheer not grasshopper... it comes down to a cheap set of spare 14' tires with cheap hubcaps and cheap snow tires to bare you threw the winter.... gawd im glad i dont live in snow!

 

[Newf]

The MP3 with the dunlops, easily the most dangerous car I've ever driven in snow.

With winter studs on steelies....no problem. Just like any other protege in the snow, except it handles a lot better still

I would imagine the MSP would be similar, but with more wheel spin due to more power. As for the limited slip....not sure how that will be in winter

 

[dpmmsp]

Unfortunately, studs aren't legal here ..... something about them chewing up the road ....
It wasn't much of a snowfall, but with decent snows on, the car seemed easy and predictable with enough traction to keep you out of trouble and get you away from the light fast. The car simply wouldn't have been able to move today with the Bridgestones on. I didn't really notice the lsd.

 

[oliver2000]

Thanks...I would not even think of have the original tires on it in the winter....going to have some winter tires on mine..

What size tires/ rims do you have?

 

[dpmmsp]

16" .... sounds like 15" won't work.

 

[enry]

Do not under any circumstance leave the racing harts and ZR tires on if it snows or freezes. Most dangerous thing to do.. ever.

 

[Newf]

15's should work, can't see why not. The brakes aren't that much bigger then the MP3's and P5's. Heck I got 14's on mine and there's still room. Might have a lot to do with the types of steelies you have on.

 

[JasonH]

15's should work, can't see why not. The brakes aren't that much bigger then the MP3's and P5's. Heck I got 14's on mine and there's still room. Might have a lot to do with the types of steelies you have on.

I suspect that even 14"s would work, but until I have some evidence I've decided to stop mentioning it. Except for right now. But now I've stopped again.

 

[Newf]

There's a car coming here to my dealer within two weeks. It's on a train right now, and we know for sure it's coming.

Of course, it's not mine, there's another guy that has had a deposit since August. So, he's first in line......damn. I do know the guy, he actually works for MAzda himself.

But, when it comes in, we are testing rim sizes. Then I'll know for sure. We already have snow banks higher then my car, so when we get the cars...the summers come off right away, maybe even before a test drive. Sucks I know, but that's life here.

I'm convinced 15's will fit, and my dealer was told that they will fit by someone from MAzda of CA. Hopefully it's true because 16's are not cheap here.

 

[Grimace]

As I was checking out dpmmsp's car, we were discussing this.
15" rims will fit over the brake caliper, but the gap will be fairly tight. If you are comfortable with running the risk of getting a pebble/some other debris lodged in there and possibly causing a bit of damage, then go for the 15's. The money you'll save on the smaller rims/tires might pay off any damage a pebble could cause anyway (I'm talking on steelies here, I wouldn't want to gouge a nice set of alloys).
As for 14" rims, I'm 95% sure they wouldn't even go over the caliper.

 

[JasonH]

The Euro cars with the same brakes come stock with 14"s. That's partially what I'm basing my theory on.

 

[Stou]

I run my MP3 with 14" and it work great in snow. I love to do drifting!!!

The only problem is that I have to be realy smooth with the throttle. When the turbo start to spool, here goes the traction!

About the 14", I think the MSP disks are bigger than the MP3. Maybe it can be too tight!

 

[White 6s]

i would not try the MSP on any kind of snow at all. Part of the speed rating of a tire is how stiff the sidewalls are and tire compound. a Z rated tire will get VERY hard in colder climates (generally under 40 degrees) and will feel like an ice skate. Instead of kicking it's heels in to stop the car, it'll just drag and skid. The tires on the MSP are about as performance as they come while still being dot legal. IMO if u get any kind of snow regularly, it'd be wise to purchase a set of snow tires

 

[dafababa]

I am trying to decide on snow tires or all seasons. What is gonna work best. we are supposed to be having a mild winter, but i live right off lake michigan, so i dont know what to do?

 

[Grimace]

Well, this winter might be mild, but what if next winter is a real corker?
Snow tires are supperior to all-seasons in winter, period. You've already got a set of tires that work beautifully in the summer. Why compromise on winter traction? I would only consider all-seasons if I *had* to keep the same tires on my car year 'round.

 

[Newf]

all seasons are crap. They suck in the summer, and they suck in the winter. All season my ass.

If your making the purchase anyhow....get real winters.

 

[Newf]

probably as crappy as our tight dry handling,weak wet handling p5's

Just had to comment on this......if you think the P5 is bad in the winter, you ain't seen nothing yet. I've driven the P5's in snow with their stock dunlops on.....WAYYYYY better then the MP3's with the SP9000's on.

 

[JonnyMiata]

I am going to go with all-season tires that I have used in the past on my Civic Si for years. The Toyo FZ4's. I wanted to try the Dunlop SP5000's but they don't make them in the right size. I will switch off to the Bridgstones in the summer. I doubt I will get 2 seasons out of those tires but it is possible. I plan to do some track work with the car so it is going to be ify.

The snow season is very short here and I can always get a ride to work with my roommate who works with me. I will eventually get some Toyo T1-S's for this car and then buy some steel winter wheels. It is just more ecomical for me to do the all-seasons now. They seems to do just fine in the snow and now bad at all in the summer.

That is just my $.02.

Jonny