What winters are being used on speed3?

[f50spyder]

Well I was wondering what the majority Speed3 owners are using for their winter tires? I would like to go to 16'" if it isn't a problem due to price and availability. Chime and and let us know what your combination is!!!!!!!!(shrug)

 

[dcomiskey]

Go with the 16" (or 17"?) steelies from TireRack (they're way cheaper than rims) and something along the line of Pirelli WinterSports or other PERFORMANCE-based snow tire. Trust me, you don't want the cheapest available. I learned the hard way last year.

 

[Sacrilicious]

Trust me, you don't want the cheapest available. I learned the hard way last year.

good lord i'm doomed...+_+;

 

[Coolfactor]

I bought a set of Sport Edition E3 17 inch wheels with Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 from tirerack. A very happy Canadian camper here! I was also contemplating the 16" steelies for the price but I personally think it doesn't look good on the speed and they don't allow much clearance with the front calipers..

 

[f50spyder]

winter tires

Go with the 16" (or 17"?) steelies from TireRack (they're way cheaper than rims) and something along the line of Pirelli WinterSports or other PERFORMANCE-based snow tire. Trust me, you don't want the cheapest available. I learned the hard way last year.

What did those cost you????(boobs2)

 

[happy and angry]

16 inch steelies rub on the front caliper when I test fit a set from my other car. You might get more clearance from a cheap set of 16" alloys letting you fit somewhat less expensive winters.

Personally I'm getting a set of 17 x 6.5 inch alloys and running Blizzak WS60's on my 'speed3, but I'm up in Canuckistan where we get a lot of snow. I won't have the greatest performance for the winter, but I won't put my car into a lamp post, which means I'll get to drive it in the summer.

You might be able to get away with M+S where you are.

 

[ottawaP5]

I'm running Toyo Garrit KX 215/50/17. I prefer keeping the same width and only dropping to 17" since I can imagine how much wheel hop I'd get with a narrow 16" wheel.

 

[redspeed3tk]

18' blizzak lm22 high performance winters 800 from tire rack..hey its better than the dect for wrecking ha im puttin these on the stock wheels and buyin new wheels for summer and put original tires on those

 

[flipstylex]

im still using stock....hasn't snowed yet, plus i'm broke !!1....how much for cheap winter tires..plus hubcap ?>

 

[ottawaP5]

I installed mine today, I think it looks pretty good.

 

[roadhog]

Cables/snowchains

In SoCal, snow chains or cables are sometimes required by the highway patrol. Do any of you members know if cables are available for application on the Mazda speed3? Just looking at the wheel wells, it appears that there may not be sufficient clearance between the wheelwell and tire for addition of cables. Anyone have relevant experience with this?

 

[Hirudin]

I installed mine today, I think it looks pretty good.

Hell yeah! That look very cool!

[edit]Me fail English? That's unpossible![/edit]

 

[ottawaP5]

In SoCal, snow chains or cables are sometimes required by the highway patrol. Do any of you members know if cables are available for application on the Mazda speed3? Just looking at the wheel wells, it appears that there may not be sufficient clearance between the wheelwell and tire for addition of cables. Anyone have relevant experience with this?

I seriously doubt this would work on the speed 3. You'll need a lift kit first

 

[f50spyder]

What did the Toyos and wheels run you and from where? Thanks.

 

[dcomiskey]

What did those cost you????(boobs2)

The rims or tires? I got Winterforce tires (i.e. s***) which were maybe $90/each. The steelies were about $50 ea. I had no clearance issues. (at least I'm pretty sure they're 16 not 17....)

 

[ottawaP5]

What did the Toyos and wheels run you and from where? Thanks.

The Toyos wern't cheap, around $230 CDN a tire (last year - check 1010tires to see what the price is this year)

 

[redspeed3tk]

i bought the blizzaks lm22 from tire rack in the stock 18' size....i am very impressed wit the non snow performance of these tires so far they are very quite and handle pretty similar to stock tires i cant wait to see how they grip in the snow...my thought was 800 is less than my dect for wrecking ha and i want nice 18's for summer so il use the stock wheels for winter

 

[CosmicBlueMS3]

im running dunlop wintersport 3d 215/55/16's on steelies
got em from tirerack, pretty good setup for those of us who need a winter tire but arent in snow every day

 

[Twisted]

I just posted a set of brand new Michelin X-ICE (4) for sale on the Marketplace thread. I sold the Speed3 and bought a Jeep, so I don't need them anymore.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123689035

 

[M3 5MT]

The rims or tires? I got Winterforce tires (i.e. s***) which were maybe $90/each. The steelies were about $50 ea. I had no clearance issues. (at least I'm pretty sure they're 16 not 17....)

dude...just put my 16" steelies w/ Winterforce tires on today. (Had them for 2 previous winters on my 3 sedan). They really DONT suck. These things dig into snow like BF Goodrich All Terrains. Yes, there's mushy roll in corners, but what do you expect?

My point for signing on today was to see if there was a solution to the TPMS light. I checked the fuse guide and, of course, its most likely on a fuse with several connections...so no luck there. I'm already sick of that light and its been like 20 minutes....