Winter tire specs

[D3monix]

Hey

I bought a 03 P5 this summer and it had Hankook Ventus tires on the stock 16in Mazda Alloys but the dimensions were not per spec of the manual the tire specs are = 205/50R16 91V

From the manual P195/50R16 83V

I went into a local retail tire place (Canadian Tire) looking to get some Hankook Snow tires when the guy pulled up the specs for my car he claimed that it was some weird tire size and that they didn't have any.

Now was this guy smoking something and if not where would be a good value place to get tires? Just to be be clear "value" does not mean cheap it means worth the money paid out.

Thanks!

D3monix

 

[thestone11]

not alot of company make our stock size nowadays, usually as you said 205/50R16 or 205/45R16

 

[the tortoise]

You can also use 15" wheels. 195/55/15

 

[CTt3P5]

185/70/14 will fit too.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3924465&postcount=19566

 

[Tom03es]

Yep. The 16" size is sort of the bastard stepchild of the tire world.

 

[wiprotege5]

You can also use 15" wheels. 195/55/15

Yeah that is the common size for winter.

Check out Tire rack

It is the key to tire questions and tires, period.


Tire Rack

 

[Purrfectangel]

I use the stock tire size even in the winter. Skinnier tires cut through the snow better. They are an odd ball size but they are out there. I get the Dunlop Graspec's in 195/50/R16. I find they wear really well, usually get two winter's out of them and traction is A1 even when it's icy.

I'm assuming your in Canada because you mentioned crappy tire so just call around, that's what I did. Most shops will be able to get them for you and if you go to a shop that sells tires instead of a tire store they usually get them at a better price = less money for you.

 

[kboutsider]

Hankook make a winter tire called Icebear W300 that's what i use and they are great and i got them in 195/50/16. I picked them up a Coast Tire here in NS

 

[MarvinM02]

Please save your alloys. Get some 15" winter rims (canadian tire will do) and 195/60R15. The extra sidewall width also helps with the frozen ruts. The canadian tire goodyear nordic ice tires do a very good job at a decent price. Michelin X-Ice at Costco also a good deal.

 

[ARFF]

I second the post of the Hankook Icebear W300's. Fantastic tire and available in our stock size. Check out 1010 tire.com and if you are near the US border check out Discount Tire in the US, got mine in Washington for 100 per tire

 

[gdcwatt]

Look at 1010tires.com and tiretends.com. I guess what you want depends where you go in BC, but I think 15" steelies are a good idea for winter. The Toyo Garitt KX (195/55-15) works very well althougth its treadwith is very, very wide - must be those walnut shells. Note that a 195/60 tire should have a narrower treadwidth than a 195/55 from the same manufacturer, and a 195/50 should have a wider treadwidth: the width of all 195 tires should be the same (ie 195mm).

A 185/60/15 would also give the same diameter as stock, although there are not many options (ie so they might cost more than a 195/60/15), but those that you find are typically very light. I have always resisted putting 195/60/15's on my 03 automatic, not wanting to make it any slower than it already is (taller gearing and more weight).

On those Toyo Garitts, I keep telling my teenage daughters that "You can't just drive around like it's summer...", but they just look at me and ask, "Why not?"