Northeast MSPers--

[DeputySherif]

Unfortunately, I don't have the cash flow neccessary to maintain both summer and winter cars. Therefore, my MSP will be an all-season driver

In any case, from what I hear and read (in old posts) the stock tires are not recommended for the winter days ahead. So, I was wondering two things if this is the case:

1) For those who live wintery conditions, have you purchased another set of tires for the winter? If so, what brand is highly recommended?

2) Since I suspect I need a winter set of tires, do most of you guys get another set of rims? If so, what type? size?

Please, outline your winter setup to give me an idea of what needs to be done....

 

[jersey_emt]

Just get some 15" steelies and winter tires. It will save the Racing Harts from serious winter damage...seeing as how they cost $300 each, I'm not going to mind running with ugly wheels for 3 months.

 

[oldschool]

I'm getting a set of steel rims and snows. i'm not sure which brand yet. I've had Blizzaks in the past, they're good but wear fast. I've heard good things about Pirelli but no experience. if you can scrape together the extra $ get the rims its alot easier (no remounting & balancing every season) Plus if you get a stretch of nice weather you can always throw the good sneakers on!

 

[Leadfoot]

Just get some 15" steelies and winter tires. It will save the Racing Harts from serious winter damage...seeing as how they cost $300 each, I'm not going to mind running with ugly wheels for 3 months.

My thoughts exactly...I was gonna get some 15" steelies w/ all seasons. I got stuck last year in a snow storm...needless to say, the Bridgestone's on the MSP suck big time in snow (8 nerve racking hours to go 19 miles)

I think the bolt pattern is 5x114.3...I know it's in another thread as well.

 

[DeputySherif]

So, steel rims and tires, what are we looking at, $800+ bucks

 

[oldschool]

Tirerack.com has them for about $500. Changes depending on the tire you choose.

 

[jred321]

1st mp3 is trying to put together a group buy for winter wheels and tires in the northeast section, you might want to check that out.

 

[ping]

The other thing to check is a set of P5 or es wheels, should run about $300, then Semperit or other 205/55/16 tires at $70-80 each - that'd be the "premium" package and gets you in for ~6-700 the set. Steelies and winter tires can be had for much less as noted above.

There are other threads on this also. Search on "winter". Note that other Mazda wheels may fit (early 929, someone said?). You can get by in winter with a decent set of all-seasons, but trust me, real live winter/snow tires will run RINGS around all-seasons in the snow.

Types of tire? I've had excellent luck with Semperits and Michelin Arctic Alpins. The AA is more an ice tire, but is quiet and wears pretty well for a snow (got 3 1/2 seasons out of the last set on the minivan and we drove the wheels off that thing). All snows are somewhat a tradeoff though, and will feel squishier than an all-season, though from what I hear the Blizzaks and Yokes are squishier than others. The Semperits actually feel quite disturbingly normal! (which is really good).

Good luck!

Think of this: With snows and the LSD, you WILL have more control than most SUV's on all-season tires. I've tested it. My neighbor couldn't climb the hill in front of our house in his 4WD Blazer on new all-seasons, but my previous 2WD Passat on 2-year-old Michelin AA's clawed its way right up...

 

[Gbourdon]

I just got some cheap snowtires mounted on new steelies. make sure that you get lugnuts too! The steel wheels are much thinner than the RH wheels are. You will ruin the wheel locks and lugs if you torque them down on steelies. I got rims, tires, lugnuts, hubcaps, mounted etc etc for $450. The tires are Multimile Powerking winter tires supposedly it is a goodyear mold for the tread pattern.

 

[oldschool]

jred 321 where did you see 1st mp3's group buy searched for about 5 different combos and didn't find it

 

[jred321]

http://msprotege.com/vbb230/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36908
he was also talking about it in one of the other threads, i think the talk in the other thread got more response than the thread he started in northeast general, but for more info contact him

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

Instead of buying steelies and snow tires (spending 500-800 bucks),
why not buy a winter beater......I know its not the best winter beater (but its alotta fun!), I bought my rx-7 for 400bucks and beat the heck out of it all the time, plus the insurance is alot less than the MSP.

 

[jred321]

well some insurance is more than none if you only have 1 car plus then you have to pay to fix it if it breaks, have to have a place to store it, etc... it'll end up costing more, it may be more fun however

 

[twiztedjeckel]

maybe if your lucky and you search like i did you can come up with some 16 aluminum wheels off an ES with decent tires. and yes,not much clearance but the wheels do fit with the MSP brakes obviously since 15"s fit.

 

[adm]

that reminds me, anyone here put snow tires (with something like 15" steelies) on a lowered msp? currently i have stock suspension but was thinking of lowering it down about 1.8-2" in the spring. if that's gonna cause trouble for snow tires i'd prefer to know ahead of time though.
thanks.

 

[doctor]

winter

I put Nokia Hakka's Q 195's on black steel rims and added hub caps all done for around $700.00 mounted and balanced.

 

[Glowmunkey]

I've had really good luck with Firestone Winterfire tires in the past, a little more aggressive than Blizzaks, not as good dry road manners, but killer in the snow. And half the price.

But for this car, I purchased an old 94 thunderbird to do the winter duties. This is my first new car, I'm going to keep it just the way I like it. Insurance was cheap, only an extra 260/year.

 

[scapamouche]

I got a tip from a NE WRX racer that Green Diamond tires are awesome in the winter. I'm not sure about it, but I'm planning to try them out this winter: They cost in the mid 60s for a 15" tire...

 

[Rush]

I'll be able to tell y'guys how the Pirelli tires do in about .. three weeks. I just ordered a set of 16" steel wheels and Pirelli's from Tire Rack, and am gonna have them installed over Thanksgiving. I'm from Central PA, so hopefully it doesn't snow before then. :mad:

And yeah -- that's a good question, about how lowering will effect things with the snow tires. I was wondering about that myself, as I'm planning on purchasing either the Tein S-type or Eibach Sportline springs in the .. spring. Anyone have any advice on that?

 

[jred321]

i wouldn't think lowering would affect the tires as long as camber stayed fairly close to the same so you have an even contact patch still. it may, however, turn your car into a snow plow