tire dillema...

[Dexter]

great its snowing here. i need to get better tires.
what should i do?
either winter tires (thinking michelin) and steel wheels
or
sumithumo (sp?) high performance all seasons.
id like to order from tire rack

do you think my racing harts could be damaged from mounting new tires on there? call me paranoid, but whatever has the chance to go wrong, will

im leaning to just getting all seasons mounted on the racing harts because it will be cheaper. ill just wash the salt and s*** off them every couple days...or..hell..even every day lol

any other hints, suggestions, ideas, flames?

 

[JasonH]

All season 17" tires for the Racing Harts normally cost almost as much as 15" or 16" steel wheels with snow tires. Of course, right now snow tires are scarce, so you'll end up with less selection and higher prices if you're looking at snows.

 

[Limited Edition]

My suggestion...
Go with the snow tires and steelies. You can't beat it.
Snow/Winter tires are designed for winter and all - seasons aren't designed for either IMO at least.

You've got a nice set of RacingHart wheels, don't take any chance. Save them for Summer.

When the temperature is below - 20 degrees, like we often get in Toronto, Who cares if you're riding on black steelies... It's a matter of getting going and not getting stuck.

 

[Dexter]

yeah Limited, i dont really care how it looks.
its supposed to snow 2 to 4 inches now. bad.
well, **** it, ill get steels.

any tire recommendation? tirerack only has one tire at 15"
or perhaps a good tire i can get locally?

 

[Limited Edition]

2 - 4 inches by tommorrow in Chicago?

We're expecting another 2 CM tonight. boo... I still haven't washed my car since day 1!!

if you really want to save money, go with a set of 'Wal-mart' winter tires. I've had a set on my previous car and i can tell you that they are just as good as name brand tires. The only downside is that they are LOUD!

If you don't mind the noise, after all you do have a Kenwood 450 watts of power to blow that away , it's the best way to go IMO.

Since my car is very new, i decided to get something better, so i went with a set of Bridgestone Blizzaks this time. A lot quiter and they perform well in the snow as well. (thumb)

there's always the option for 'CHROME' hub caps! (bling)

 

[Dexter]

hrm, blizzaks sound good to me

 

[Limited Edition]

There's a lot of good winter tires out there...you just have to look at the rates or better yet, ask someone who has them to get you their insight of them...

good luck.

 

[Logan]

I can say some things about tires....
You really DO get what you pay for.
I'm a rally guy, involved in lots of rally stuff, and as far as street cars in the winter, the Blizzak is the tire to get.
Lots of Mazda dealers like to sell Nokian Hakkapeliitta 1's.
And they are a good SNOW tire, but once the snow is plowed off the road, and it's slushy or icy, they are just a regular tire.
The blizzaks are a FANTASTIC tire in the slippy stuff.
Read up on them to find out why they work so well.
Worth every cent.

 

[Grimace]

Another question: Where can you get steelies in the Toronto area? Is it best to get them through the dealer? (Can they even order 16" steelies?)

 

[Logan]

Limited Edition has 15" on his car...
I don't want to pay for 16" snow tires myself, so I plan on getting 15" steelies too.

 

[Limited Edition]

Grimace..steelies can be found anywhere.

I got my at Automotive Import Market on Dension rd. just east of Woodbine Ave. The specialize in wheels and rims.

Logan, welcome to Mazdamp3.com

 

[Grimace]

Logan-
I'm just a little nervous about the clearance (or lack thereof) of the 15" wheels and big brakes. I'm going to price out both 15" and 16" tire/rim combinations, and if the 16-inch combo isn't too expensive, I'm going to go that route.

L.E. - what did they charge you?

 

[Limited Edition]

Grimace...
The day i went to put them on, i didn't think 15" would clear the brakes either. With my own eye's judgement, i said it wouldn't fit. But the guy that was going to install it for me, said that he would try. If 15" doesn't fit, then we will just go with 16's.

Anyway, after a long wait for my turn, they told me 15" fits fine. Although after they i drove off, i checked the brake clearance upfront and rear and i can tell you that it's REALLY tight. I'm guessing b/t 2 -7 mm clearance upfront and a bit more on the rear. The guy told me it would be fine, as long as there was a clearance of a paper's thickness. I guess what he meant was that as long as the inner wall of the rim doesn't touch the caliper, you're in business.

I took his advice and believed him, after all, in cold winters, the brakes can't get that hot anyway. So no need to worry.

I 'think' the price b/t a 15" and 16" combo will cost you a few hundred bucks more. I don't see the need unless you're going alloy wheels.

It cost me $700 after taxes, with installation and balancing. NO hub caps. Booo...

 

[ZiO]

I have arctic alpin from michelin... they are working great... my one complaint is that the tread depth doesnt look like it will last as long as i hope.. but as for grip on ice and packed snow.... NO allseason tire can match it... and i am saving my alloys from the harsh elements by using steelies.......

 

[scott42]

I second the good report on the arctic alpins. I'm having a great time with them. also just picked up some sweet S4 looking hubcaps...no s*** really!...I was rockin the black steelies, but didn't want that thuggish look...I know all the car people in the world knew what was up, but that's all of what, 2% of the population They look really good...best part-$10 for all four, brand new. Thank you Target...

 

[White 6s]

i've run both the artic alpins and the blizzaks. the blizzaks do much more better in snow/ice. but the michelins drive better in the non-threating blizzard like.

all depends in what kinda climate u live in. for dexter and us chicago people. get the blizzaks.

 

[twiztedjeckel]

your going to have a hard time finding anything in a snow tire right now. trust me i tried. the artic alpins are the only thing the tire rack has in stock. bad for us. if you can find something cheep locally then go with it. other than that your probably outta luck. i went with 16" stock ES aluminum wheels and the factory dunlops on them. check out my thread about it. the tires work a whole lot better than the bridgestone do but they're not great by any means. so that right there has to tell you the bridgestones are the superior bad tire in the slippery stuff. but thats not what there made for so its understandable. best of luck to ya

 

[Swerny]

Winters

Hey Guys, bought mine from Erin Mills Mazda 2 weeks ago.
I picked it up with the Racing Harts bagged in the back seat and trunk.
I bought a set of 15 inch steelies with 195-55-15 Michelin Pilot Alpin's. Nice tires, not loud and not too much rolling resistance compared to other winters. Plus, they're "H" speed rated, so good to 210 kmh.
I've had regular Alpin's before on my Integra, and these are a lot quieter.
As for mounting other tires on the Racing Hart's, it depends if they use sand or salt on the roads in your area. Also, if you slip and bump anything, i'd rather be repacing a $50 steelie then a $200 + Racing Hart!
By having 2 sets of wheels, you can also do the seasonal changeover yourself, without having to install and balance 2 x year.
Sweet car! Can't wait till it's broken in and not -30 outside to let her rip!
Doesn't look great, but anyone with half a clue knows what they're for.
Mike - Spicy Orange MSP

 

[Limited Edition]

Hey MS MSP....

Nice to see another Torontorian on this board with a MAZDASPEED. Where 'bouts you located in Toronto? Dpmmsp and i have a mini meet a while back...and would like to get together again sometime, when the weather is better...you interested in coming out? I'm hoping to get all the MAZDASPEED Protege's in Toronto that i can..

Just a curious, why did you go with 55 series tires? Those seem to be a bit low profile for my likings, don't you think? I believe they are more expensive too.

I finally got mine broken into today!!

 

[Logan]

Broken into???

NO!

Anything stolen? Or was someone just curious?

That's one thing I am not too worried about.
I don't live in the "big" city, so when mine finally arrives, I think I will be able to sleep peacefully at night.