NEMOC Random BS Thread

[bazooka joe]

so I should probably pass?

thanks chris....you'd appreciate this, so i go for a spirited test drive yesterday, and the sales guy wants to come with me...he's about 6'-5", about 240, built guy, he barely squeezes into the car and has to turn his head a bit to the right, his knees are touching the dash and i tell him "hold on, i'm gonna test the brakes a few times too" he didn't laugh...kind of grunted! i wish i snapped a cell pic!

 

[altspace]

Just rain here. Going to be a nasty weekend.

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

its a mix here....the car is all snowey. BAH!

 

[CheoMSP3-C3]

Good morning fellow NEPOCEEEERS.
Officially snowing here in Boston College and early morning in Waltham.
Went to Direct tire yesterday and they gave me an estimate for steeler
18x8 and four used Pirellis with plenty tread, one season of use.
The wheels 142.00 each and the tires 85.00 each. Plus shipping, balancing and lug nuts.
I don't like much the idea of on and off tires on the same rims, I think they can get damaged.
What you guys think about this.
Don't know what to do.
Any suggestion?

 

[Sport6]

Good morning fellow NEPOCEEEERS.
Officially snowing here in Boston College and early morning in Waltham.
Went to Direct tire yesterday and they gave me an estimate for steeler
18x8 and four used Pirellis with plenty tread, one season of use.
The wheels 142.00 each and the tires 85.00 each. Plus shipping, balancing and lug nuts.
I don't like much the idea of on and off tires on the same rims, I think they can get damaged.
What you guys think about this.
Don't know what to do.
Any suggestion?

I wouldn't by 18x8s for winter use, really too wide to break through the snow so you will end up floating on top of it. 205 tire width is what I would suggest for a tire, and 16s or 17s so they will be cheaper tires. Regular Mazda6 and Mazda3 wheels fit fine as long as they are 16s.


http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/pts/1418461935.html

 

[Astral]

First snow today! Not enough to stick... and good, 'cause my snow tires ain't here yet!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uksi/4016793642/" title="First snow! by ilp, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/4016793642_7ff1ee374d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="First snow!" /></a>

Good morning fellow NEPOCEEEERS.
Officially snowing here in Boston College and early morning in Waltham.
Went to Direct tire yesterday and they gave me an estimate for steeler
18x8 and four used Pirellis with plenty tread, one season of use.
The wheels 142.00 each and the tires 85.00 each. Plus shipping, balancing and lug nuts.
I don't like much the idea of on and off tires on the same rims, I think they can get damaged.
What you guys think about this.
Don't know what to do.
Any suggestion?

Steel wheels for $142 each?! That's a lot! Check out tirerack.com... I put in a 2008 MS3 and there are 16" wheel packages with $55 steel wheels and $96/100 alloy 16" wheels.

I definitely agree on going with 205 width tires.

I'm not sure if the 2010 MS3 fitment is any different though. You want to be careful about the offset. I think the craigslist link Zach posted is 38mm offset, so that may rub.

Update: did a little research....

2009 MS3 has a 18x7 stock wheel with a 52.5mm offset, and the 2010 MS3 goes .5 wider with the same offset (52.5mm). So I don't see why the fitment would be all that different for snow tires.

If I go to TireRack and put in 2008 MS3, and click on View Preferred Package... that's $744 (plus about $75 shipping) mounted and balanced (VERY WELL I might add! so no vibration). The packaged wheel (Sport Edition F10) has 50mm offset, 7 wide, weighs 17.5lbs (not bad), and you get a 205 width tire (better snow traction). Hells yeah.

If I do an almost-bottom of the barrel setup (can't bring myself to recommend Firestone Winterforce to anyone) and go with 205/60R16 Dunlop Graspic DS-3 ($77 ea) and 16x6.5 steelies, you're looking at $528 mounted & balanced + shipping.

If you want to retain some kind of a "fun to drive" factor with snow tires and get better dry traction and responsiveness (but give up some ice traction and a little snow traction), then you can opt for "Performance Snow" tires. In the 205 width, I see TireRack offer Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 for $144/ea... pricey, but those are pretty good and won't be quite as mushy-feeling as a regular snow tire.

Another edit:

OK, I noticed stock tire size is 225/40/18, which is a little smaller than the old Mazdaspeed3 size of 215/45/18. Against that, TireRack's recommended 16" tire size is a bit too large (2.4% larger). You'd be better off with 205/55/16 tires, which are 0.8% smaller (so closer to OEM). You can use this Tire Size Calculator to compare tire sizes and their effect on the speedo. 2.4% is not that big a deal anyway... 205/55/16 snow tires *are* more expensive (so the same Blizzak WS60 tire is now $107 instead of $77).

 

[CheoMSP3-C3]

I wouldn't by 18x8s for winter use, really too wide to break through the snow so you will end up floating on top of it. 205 tire width is what I would suggest for a tire, and 16s or 17s so they will be cheaper tires. Regular Mazda6 and Mazda3 wheels fit fine as long as they are 16s.


http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/pts/1418461935.html

Zach do you think those rims will fit my car?
If they do I will be buying those.
Thank you so much for the Info.

 

[slug420]

thanks chris....you'd appreciate this, so i go for a spirited test drive yesterday, and the sales guy wants to come with me...he's about 6'-5", about 240, built guy, he barely squeezes into the car and has to turn his head a bit to the right, his knees are touching the dash and i tell him "hold on, i'm gonna test the brakes a few times too" he didn't laugh...kind of grunted! i wish i snapped a cell pic!

hah, yea i know the routine....
my buddy INSISTED on taking me for a ride in his s2k a few years back. Would not have been physically possible with the top up or window closed so....yeaaa...terrrible

 

[bazooka joe]

Ya so, snow,wind,rain for the next 4 days and I just bought a convertible!!

 

[CheoMSP3-C3]

First snow today! Not enough to stick... and good, 'cause my snow tires ain't here yet!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uksi/4016793642/" title="First snow! by ilp, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/4016793642_7ff1ee374d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="First snow!" /></a>

Steel wheels for $142 each?! That's a lot! Check out tirerack.com... I put in a 2008 MS3 and there are 16" wheel packages with $55 steel wheels and $96/100 alloy 16" wheels.

I definitely agree on going with 205 width tires.

I'm not sure if the 2010 MS3 fitment is any different though. You want to be careful about the offset. I think the craigslist link Zach posted is 38mm offset, so that may rub.

Update: did a little research....

2009 MS3 has a 18x7 stock wheel with a 52.5mm offset, and the 2010 MS3 goes .5 wider with the same offset (52.5mm). So I don't see why the fitment would be all that different for snow tires.

If I go to TireRack and put in 2008 MS3, and click on View Preferred Package... that's $744 (plus about $75 shipping) mounted and balanced (VERY WELL I might add! so no vibration). The packaged wheel (Sport Edition F10) has 50mm offset, 7 wide, weighs 17.5lbs (not bad), and you get a 205 width tire (better snow traction). Hells yeah.

If I do an almost-bottom of the barrel setup (can't bring myself to recommend Firestone Winterforce to anyone) and go with 205/60R16 Dunlop Graspic DS-3 ($77 ea) and 16x6.5 steelies, you're looking at $528 mounted & balanced + shipping.

If you want to retain some kind of a "fun to drive" factor with snow tires and get better dry traction and responsiveness (but give up some ice traction and a little snow traction), then you can opt for "Performance Snow" tires. In the 205 width, I see TireRack offer Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 for $144/ea... pricey, but those are pretty good and won't be quite as mushy-feeling as a regular snow tire.

Another edit:

OK, I noticed stock tire size is 225/40/18, which is a little smaller than the old Mazdaspeed3 size of 215/45/18. Against that, TireRack's recommended 16" tire size is a bit too large (2.4% larger). You'd be better off with 205/55/16 tires, which are 0.8% smaller (so closer to OEM). You can use this Tire Size Calculator to compare tire sizes and their effect on the speedo. 2.4% is not that big a deal anyway... 205/55/16 snow tires *are* more expensive (so the same Blizzak WS60 tire is now $107 instead of $77).

Great info Oleg.
This definitely will help me to make a decision really quick.
I will let you guys know what's going to be, before putting any cash on it.

Thank you for taking me by the hand on this.
Really appreciated.

 

[CheoMSP3-C3]

Ya so, snow,wind,rain for the next 4 days and I just bought a convertible!!

Sorry Mark I know you were looking forward to the weekend.

 

[Reitrof]

Ya so, snow,wind,rain for the next 4 days and I just bought a convertible!!

It's kind of cool driving with the top down and snowing.

Sorry Mark I know you were looking forward to the weekend.

Nah, he has work to do on the house. He's not going anywhere.

Little snow flurries here this morning. Looks to be decent but cold tomorrow.

 

[CheoMSP3-C3]

Ok I think I am going with 744.00 package.
Blizzak 205/60/R16 and 16X7 sport edition F10 wheels.
But after looking at Oleg edit on his post the difference of 68.00 dollars for a better piece of mind is worth it to go as closer as possible to OEM.

 

[Sport6]

Yeah the one thing I am not sure about is the offset of those wheels. Though my wheels are +42mm (90% sure) for winter and no rubbing. Not sure how close it is but I will look into it.

 

[CheoMSP3-C3]

Yeah the one thing I am not sure about is the offset of those wheels. Though my wheels are +42mm (90% sure) for winter and no rubbing. Not sure how close it is but I will look into it.

Thank you Zach
I'll be grateful for any info.

 

[Sport6]

Well Sport Edition has no website to speak of, so finding out the exact specs is hard, especially since I don't think they make my wheel anymore. I guess I will have to do the easy thing and go look at the wheels when I get home (lol2)

 

[Astral]

Yeah the one thing I am not sure about is the offset of those wheels. Though my wheels are +42mm (90% sure) for winter and no rubbing. Not sure how close it is but I will look into it.

Sport Edition F10 that Cheo mentioned are 50mm offset, so that should be plenty safe at a 7" width.

I don't know what to tell you about OEM size difference, it may be worth it on top of an $800 purchase, but if you can live with the speedometer error, I doubt you'd be rubbing or anything with a larger wheel.

 

[CTt3P5]

I just ordered the snows for the P5... broke down and got 15" alloys...

Nice....what kind of alloys? One day I might break down and buy a used set to replace the steelies.

And Cheo....the package you have picked sounds like your best bet....unless you wanted to save some cash and get the steelies.

Not sure if anyone knows but does the '10 MS3 use the same calipers as the 08/09 MS3's? For reference I sold my 05 Tribute wheels (16x7 +45 offset) to the owner of an 08MS3 and they just cleared the calipers.

 

[Sport6]

Sport Edition F10 that Cheo mentioned are 50mm offset, so that should be plenty safe at a 7" width.

I don't know what to tell you about OEM size difference, it may be worth it on top of an $800 purchase, but if you can live with the speedometer error, I doubt you'd be rubbing or anything with a larger wheel.

Yeah I totally missed his post on the package he's buying, those should fit fine.

Its only a 1.1% difference so it shouldn't be a big deal.

Nice....what kind of alloys? One day I might break down and buy a used set to replace the steelies.

And Cheo....the package you have picked sounds like your best bet....unless you wanted to save some cash and get the steelies.

Not sure if anyone knows but does the '10 MS3 use the same calipers as the 08/09 MS3's? For reference I sold my 05 Tribute wheels (16x7 +45 offset) to the owner of an 08MS3 and they just cleared the calipers.

Yeah the '10s and 07-09s have the same brakes.


Another thing to consider Cheo is if you can deal with having the tire pressure light on all the time, unless you swap over your sensors from each wheel.

I don't have them in my winter wheels, but it doesn't bother me and not worth the $90/sensor. The light stays on all winter, but it doesn't make any noise so its not a bother.

 

[Astral]

Nice....what kind of alloys? One day I might break down and buy a used set to replace the steelies.

it's a 15x6.5" 15lb alloy, sport edition cd... it ain't bad for $89/wheel. i'll post pics when i put these on.