Snow Tires ???

[scott42]

This should help for calculating any speedo/odo changes you might get with changing overall tire diameter.
http://www.net-comber.com/tirecalc.html

 

[NetGuy]

That mechanic is totally full of crap. Unless, of course, our cars come with those new "wheel size detectors". If the total outside diameter of the wheel and tire is say...20", how on earth can the car tell if the wheel is a 15" or a 16"? And let's pretend it IS true...how come nothing bad happens when you put BIGGER wheels on the car?

 

[Bosephus]

That's what I thought. I'm going to call a few other people today and see if I they can confirm or deny what that guy told me. I was pretty convinced he was bs-ing me.

Maybe Mazda trains them to say that so they don't get sued.

 

[gar777]

They are worth every penny.

The dry road performance is even better than the stock tires!

What the heck is hydroplaning? [mine are new though].

I put them through 180kph in the pouring rain. I had to stop accelerating b/c the wipers couldn't keep up. AMAZING!

Then I put them through some pouring snow at 160kph.

Both times I was pretty much the only one on the road.

I might go for the 240's [V rated] next year.

Try Rain-X and turn your wipers off at high speeds (may not work as well for snow, though, guess you'd need Snow-X).

Also, thanks for the great review of the Pirellis. Just what I was hoping since I ordered them from 1010tires.com last week (US$562 shipped).

 

[mtnbiker26]

To clarify dsm_rally's post a bit more for Bosephus: You want a fairly thin snow tire so it will "cut" through the snow and not float on top of it, like not bigger than a 195, and it's hard to find that "narrow" width for a 16" wheel. I know that the stock rubber on a P5 is a 195 16" but it's kinda rare. The only snow tires that I've seen for a 16" are 205's. Tirerack is out of the 15" steelies and I'm giving myself a headache trying to find some winter wheels. Ahhh, crap the snow is already 4" deep out there.

 

[Action Jackson]

Try Rain-X and turn your wipers off at high speeds (may not work as well for snow, though, guess you'd need Snow-X).

Also, thanks for the great review of the Pirellis. Just what I was hoping since I ordered them from 1010tires.com last week (US$562 shipped).

I actually use the Rain-X winter washer fluid. Great stuff. It does let me drive without the wipers on. Although I'm sure it's not like the real treatment.

From what other people who use regular Rain-X treatment tell me, it's a lot of work to do to apply it on. Other's recommend the STP Accuvision stuff too.

Besides 180kph is plenty fast enough in the rain.

Have fun with the 210's!

 

[feldenkrais]

I just switched over to my 15" steelies with the Blizzak's I kept from the car I had last winter. Here comes the snow- expecting about a foot. Can't believe that Mazda dealer said that :bs: about going to a 15" rim. would not want that place working on my car!
Hey-mtnbiker26 up in MA- what town and how much snow are you getting? I'm a CT roadie- too lazy to clean a mtnbike after the ride .

fks

 

[gar777]

I actually use the Rain-X winter washer fluid. Great stuff. It does let me drive without the wipers on. Although I'm sure it's not like the real treatment.

From what other people who use regular Rain-X treatment tell me, it's a lot of work to do to apply it on. Other's recommend the STP Accuvision stuff too.

Besides 180kph is plenty fast enough in the rain.

Have fun with the 210's!

actually, I use the Rain-X washer fluid (year round) combined with periodic treatments of the regular Rain-X. Application is easy: (1) wash window, (2) squirt Rain-X on top of window, then rub around evenly as it's running down the window (I use it liberally, they say apply to cloth then rub on but I find this doesn't do as good a job or else requires 2 or more applications), (3) let dry - it will form a haze, 1-2 minutes (do the other side while first side is drying, L/R, outside only), (4) reapply, if desired (not usually needed with my "squirt on" method), then (5) sprinkle water on window and rub around (this helps remove the haze)--you'll see the water bead up and race down the windshield like on a freashly waxed fender.

I started using this on a racecar where the wipers were completely useless at speed (wind raising them off windshield) but slowing down was not an option. It worked so well, I have used it on my street cars ever since, sometimes even the back window, especially where i don't have a rear wiper. Only downside I've noticed is that I need to replace wiper blades more frequently, I think the Rain-W treatment breaks down the blade rubber a bit more quickly. With the Rain-X, though, having perfect wipers isn't as critical.

The regular treatments work best but the washer fluid is a good supplement in between treatments.

 

[mtnbiker26]

feldenkrais, I live in Taunton which is about 30 miles south of Boston. Right now there's about six inches of snow here which is enough to keep the P5 trapped in the garage. I'm getting so stir crazy I just might have to (gasp!) ride my rollers. I train on the road in the summer but I'd much rather be on the MTB. I'm more of an agile finesse kinda rider so I have some skills in the woods but I get tooled on the road big time. I suffer so bad that Blue Hairs on comfort bikes offer up their GU as they whiz by. I need to hit up the squat rack and work my little chicken legs or something.

 

[feldenkrais]

I'm digging the P5 (actually, my 14 year old is doing the digging-that's why we have kids!) out now for the second time. We got a total of 14" or so. Can't wait to see how the snow tires do. Glad I removed the roof/bike rack earlier.
Guess it's time for the rollers for me as well. Damn, and here I was thinking we'd have an easy winter! Rollers are evil!

fks