winter driving adventure, new Blizzaks FTW!

[major error]

I forget which thread it was mentioned in, but someone said that there's a known issue where the TPMS sensors are subject to RFI from the auto-wiper sensor...

I had a case where the alarm didn't go off until I'd lost close to 10psi on a punctured tire....but it has gone off after dropping about 5 just from overnight temperature changes. Now that it's really cold, I'm wondering why the alarm hasn't sounded yet.

As for winter tires, I've had a set of Nokian RSi on for a month now (break in new tires in good weather; rely on them in bad.) The compound has firmed up nicely, but not too much, now that the freezing temperatures are here. They're loud, but what winter tire isn't?
They haven't really received a true test, but I was able to get up the 5-10 degree sloped driveway in icy conditions. I'm withholding judgment until winter truly arrives and the city plows can't keep up.

 

[sherwood1]

Anybody know if some slightly larger snows will fit my 05 3'hatch? the dealers and tire store say 205/55 on 16's but I've got the chance to pick up some barely used, one season old Blizzaks 215/60 R16's from a guy who just got rid of his 03 MPV. I've got the stock 17's on there now so I would imagine that the slightly larger tire on smaller rims would fit fine... just not sure about the width of the tire and the length of the lug bolts. Anybody try this before or got any info that might help? By the way, I am much to cheap to go and buy new snows and steel wheels in the right size and make my life easier!

 

[happy and angry]

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Check tire sizes there. You might run in to problems with ABS sensors going nutty on you if the tire speed differs too much from the speedometer speed, so you generally want to keep tire size to within +/- 3-4% in terms of total circumference.

215/60R16 is about 4.5% off stock tire circumference, you may not want to do it, but they'll work fine.

 

[sherwood1]

That calculator is great. do you know if there is one out there for 3's instead of miatas?

 

[redspeed3tk]

now that its snowed im so happy i bought good winter tires the bliz lm22's i dont have to listen to the loud annoyin noise of most winters and i still have really good dry performance and they grab the road in snow better than my winter forces on the audi i think $200 extra is well worth the quite good handling ride

 

[fourthmeal]

Check this calculator out that Koenig (the forum member) found...its on my sig.

 

[sherwood1]

That site is great. Thanks a lot. It looks like the snows are just going to fit without cuasing major problems. I guess I just go and stick one on and see how it goes.

 

[sherwood1]

Next question for you smart people... How about ASA 17's from an infinty. Tirerack comes up with a bolt pattern of 5x114 for the infinity where as my 3 has a pattern of 5x114.3. Think they'll fit?

 

[happy and angry]

It's the same bolt pattern. People usually just drop the .3 part of 5 x 114.3

Unless it's a non-standard bolt pattern. But that would be pretty ****** up.

 

[fourthmeal]

Next question for you smart people... How about ASA 17's from an infinty. Tirerack comes up with a bolt pattern of 5x114 for the infinity where as my 3 has a pattern of 5x114.3. Think they'll fit?

The hub bore is what is in question, at this point. Mazda's hub bore may be bigger then Infiniti, or smaller. But unless it is the same, there is going to be an issue.

 

[sherwood1]

I just check and they give the pattern without the 3 for my car as well so that problems solved. Now about the width... I think the offset might be too large and I'll get some heavy rubbing. I'll have to wait and see what he comes back with.

 

[sherwood1]

Just thought I'd let everybody new that I'm just going to get new wheels after all and say thanks for all the input. Plain black steelies, mad max stlye. I'd did find used snows in the right size though. One seasons use and I saved about $400! If you're looking for good quality snows there are plenty of people out there who have changed cars becuase of a lease or something like that and have tires that dont fit there new car. Why pay full price, check something like craigslist first.