Need low cost suggestions for winter driving

[kaganb]

Hi all,

I just got my MS3 in May and live in NJ. Winter here is hit or miss, but when it hits, it hits pretty bad. My previous car was an Integra GS-R with all-seasons on them, which wasn't too bad in the winter.

My concern is with the increase in horsepower over the GS-R (263 vs 170), torque (280 vs 128) and having summer tires vs all season, I think driving is gonna be a bit difficult in the winter. Normally, a set of wheels and winter tires would fix this up, but money is an issue for me atm. I don't really want to buy new tires because of this since I plan on getting all seasons once the stock tires wear out.

Are winter tires a necessity with this car? And if so, is replacing just the tires for now on the same rims an option? And if not, any suggestions for cheap wheel/winter tire combos? ($100/tire is really all I can spend and that's kinda pushing it)

Thanks ahead of time.

 

[chief_wiggum]

yes; the stock potenzas are bad in winter. and by winter I don't just mean snow...they are bad in the cold as in they lose all semblance of grip.

In the long run which will be cheaper; a set of cheap allseasons or the potential of paying your insurance deductible in case of an accident. there are a lot of stories on this forum of those that attempted to make it through winter on the stock potenzas.

Winters aren't bad here; a couple of snows a year not typically more than 4" or so; that's why I chose a set of high performance all-seasons vice dedicated winter tires. Check craigslist or something for a set of used tires/rims for cheap that would fit -- there's a sticky somewhere to help figure out what fits.

good luck

 

[60181]

Let me just say if you run the stock tires on a cold 33-35 degree evening with ran/snow mix, you wreck. 'nuff said as once you add snow and colder temps, you'll be lucky to make it down the street.

Dead serious.

Buy a set of all seasons at least. Surf Craig's List too. I found these wrapped in basically brand new rubber for $400 (thumb)

 

[acidbug]

Hi all,

I just got my MS3 in May and live in NJ. Winter here is hit or miss, but when it hits, it hits pretty bad. My previous car was an Integra GS-R with all-seasons on them, which wasn't too bad in the winter.

My concern is with the increase in horsepower over the GS-R (263 vs 170), torque (280 vs 128) and having summer tires vs all season, I think driving is gonna be a bit difficult in the winter. Normally, a set of wheels and winter tires would fix this up, but money is an issue for me atm. I don't really want to buy new tires because of this since I plan on getting all seasons once the stock tires wear out.

Are winter tires a necessity with this car? And if so, is replacing just the tires for now on the same rims an option? And if not, any suggestions for cheap wheel/winter tire combos? ($100/tire is really all I can spend and that's kinda pushing it)

Thanks ahead of time.

I live in North Jersey.
Purchased the car end of summer 08.
Didn't have the cash for winter tires and did think it would be a problem as tires were practically brand new.
It was horrible. I slid and got stuck so many many times. I am so lucky I did not crash.
This year I just watched ebay and got a good set of used winter rims and tires for about $500.
They were for a miata but fit perfectly.

 

[kaganb]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking my best bet is going to be getting new all-seasons =( Looking at the Kumho ASX's (had these on my Integra, not bad for the price), Continental ContiExtremeContact and the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS. All at 225/40R18. Would love the Bridgestone's, but I think they may be out of my price range without holiday money ($152/tire without shipping and mounting/balancing).

The only concern I have is they are all rated for 7.5-9.0" wheels while the stock wheels are 7". I called Tirerack yesterday to see if they would fit, they said it isn't advised but not uncommon for them to be put onto the stock wheels.

Accidbbg, what size wheels/tires that were on the Miata did you get? If I can find a cheaper alternative like you did, I may try that.

 

[acidbug]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking my best bet is going to be getting new all-seasons =( Looking at the Kumho ASX's (had these on my Integra, not bad for the price), Continental ContiExtremeContact and the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS. All at 225/40R18. Would love the Bridgestone's, but I think they may be out of my price range without holiday money ($152/tire without shipping and mounting/balancing).

The only concern I have is they are all rated for 7.5-9.0" wheels while the stock wheels are 7". I called Tirerack yesterday to see if they would fit, they said it isn't advised but not uncommon for them to be put onto the stock wheels.

Accidbbg, what size wheels/tires that were on the Miata did you get? If I can find a cheaper alternative like you did, I may try that.

Specs:

Title: Miata MX5 4 Snow Wheels and Tires - 17 inch - Pirellis
Condition: Used
Rim Information
Rim Brand: -- Number of Bolts: 5 Rim Material: Alloy
Rim Width: 7.5 Bolt Pattern(s) (millimeters): 5x114.3 Rim Structure: One Piece
Rim Diameter (inches): 17 Offset: -- Rim Manufacturer Part Number: --
Tire Information
Tire Brand: Pirelli Tire Type: Winter Passenger Load Index: --
Section Width: 205 Car Type: Passenger/Performance Speed Index: H
Aspect Ratio: 45 DOT: --
205/45R17 XL Pirelli Winter 240 SnowSport tires

 

[c23118]

I did two winters on the stock tires and it sucks. Like driving on hard pencil erasers. I'm in Kansas and have a short drive to work and very little stop and go traffic to deal with, but I'm still lucky to have not wound up in the ditch.

I just bought 16" Momo wheels and Michelin PA3's from Discount Tire Direct that will net for $757 after rebate. They are out of the PA3's now, but you can get the same wheels with Yoko Ice Guards for $759 shipped.

The cheapest new alternative I've found for you is 16" steel wheels and the $77 Dunlop Graspics from Tire Rack for $639 shipped (+$25 rebate) to Jersey. Both these deals are mounted, balanced and ready to bolt on.

I know neither of those meet your $100 or less criteria, but before you bite on weak all season tires (yet stronger than stock) I thought I'd throw this out there for you.

Good luck.

 

[kaganb]

Thanks c23118,

I found a listing on Craigslist from a guy selling used tires starting at $20. He has a set of 4 Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S-C's in the 215/45ZR18 size. He responded but I have yet to find out how much he wants for them. If this falls through, I may go with your 2nd suggestion for $639 mounted and balanced.

 

[mndsm]

You can do better than that, I got my Goodyear GW3's on steelies with one season on em for 450$. Keep a close eye out, the deals are there. A local member regularly buys his wheels and tires for winter off CL for ~300. Also, start looking at what other wheels might fit from an OE car that someone has upgraded. Monte Carlo wheels are common, especially because everyone puts 22's on em and ditches the stock 16's.

 

[nukechemist]

Picked up a set of Michelin Ice-X on 16" steelies for $300 off of Craigslist.. Paid $25 for balancing and I'm good to go.

 

[kaganb]

Managed to get a used set of Goodyear Eagle F1's for $100. 2 of the tires were in really good shape, the other 2 had a bit of tread left. Good ones will go on front, the not as good ones in rear. They just need to get me through the winter and next year, I can get 2 new F1's if I like the tires and move the good ones now to the back.

 

[kaganb]

So, got my tires installed yesterday, soon as they warmed up I started hearing a thup, thup, thup sound and could actually feel the car kinda hitting bumps. When slowing down, the thup's slow down. I'm thinking it's a bubble in the tread =(

My mechanic is gonna pick the car up tomorrow and see if he can narrow down the issue. Guess you get what you pay for =/

 

[destrux]

Yeah, used tires are a crapshoot.

Sounds like a broken belt in the tire to me, it can shift once the tire warms up and throw the balance off.

 

[kaganb]

Turns out my rim is bent =( Working on getting Mazda to cover it under the extended warranty. I'm bringing it in on Monday and causing a ruckus if they don't since they never told me it has to bent a good amount to be covered when I bought the extended warranty. Never mind I can't safely go over 70.

 

[KP WHIP]

I can say that the stock tires that come on the mazdaspeed 3 are no go in the winter, so i bought a set of 16 inch steeles and some 205-60-16 Continental The ExtremeWinterContact from tire rack, i cant wait to get them on. Ill kepp every one posted on how they work we get some nasty weather in MN, should be fun..