Winter Tires/Steelies question [Archive]

TriniFyah7

11-15-2010, 02:18 PM

hastiej

11-15-2010, 02:29 PM

this has been answered many times, but for 16's, 205/55/16 is the standard size, might be different for Speed3's, but i doubt it. Also, i believe you wouldn't want to go with a wider tire as more snow surface the tires has to deal with, the worst. imo that is..

gotak

11-15-2010, 03:03 PM

I have 16s on right now. Works fine. Talk to either Simplytire or Nextmod an they'll hook you up. I got mine with Peter at nextmod. We made sure it fits. Tirerack also lists 16s for the speed 3 and considering their business model I am sure they make sure they know it works before they list it.

VaderX

11-15-2010, 03:56 PM

NVM - wrong post

MajesticBlueNTO

11-15-2010, 04:21 PM

So that time of the year is here and I am looking for a winter tire/steelie setup. I was researching online and didn't find a 'best' answer as to what size steelies/tires i should get. I am considering going 16" but I was concerned that there might be issues with them rubbing on the calipers. Some have said that there shouldn't be any issues with that size, but I would like to see if anyone has done this before without any problems for a peace of mind. Also, what tire size should I go with the 16's?

As I am decreasing the rim size, I believe the tire profile needs to be increased to offset the difference...therefore would 225/55/16 be fine?

Check the Sponsor section for tire dealers such as Exclusive, Simply Tire, Tires23, etc listing sizes for the Speed3.

16" you're looking at 205/60/16. If you get steelies from them, they all sell 16" steelies that will clear the front calipers in the Speed3. OEM Mazda3 16" rims will clear the caliper just fine.

MajesticBlueNTO

11-15-2010, 04:24 PM

this has been answered many times, but for 16's, 205/55/16 is the standard size, might be different for Speed3's, but i doubt it.

they're different.

you can run a 205/55/16 on the ms3 (i did last winter) but it is smaller in overall diameter which throws the speedo off by ~2%, and increases the fender gap which makes the ms3 look somewhat "lifted".

horto

11-15-2010, 06:11 PM

fender gap which makes the ms3 look somewhat "lifted".

wheel gap hurts my soul

17's ftw

BlK98Cx

11-15-2010, 06:45 PM

for 16's you need to run 205-60-16....anything less will throw off your speedo which means wrong reading for your traction control and abs. you must test fit the rims if your going 16's if your buying private but if your buying from our sponsors they know the deal with the caliper issue.

if your going 17's you will not have any issue with the calipers but make sure they are hubcentric... i think tires should be 205-50-17 or the stock 17's oem mazda tires size works.

MajesticBlueNTO

11-15-2010, 08:09 PM

if your going 17's you will not have any issue with the calipers but make sure they are hubcentric... i think tires should be 205-50-17 or the stock 17's oem mazda tires size works.

if you go 17s, you need 215/50/17 as they are a closer match than 205/50/17

Fobio

11-15-2010, 08:12 PM

if you go 17s, you need 215/50/17 as they are a closer match than 205/50/17

I run 215/50/17's.

BlK98Cx

11-15-2010, 08:23 PM

i'm running 205-60-16 coz it's cheaper :chuckle

MajesticBlueNTO

11-15-2010, 08:37 PM

I run 215/50/17's.

same here :)

kartmac

11-15-2010, 10:25 PM

I have a Mazdaspeed 3 2009 I'm running 215/45R18 on Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 on the stock wheels $900 is what I'm running this winter for my car and it loves it so far.

gotak

11-15-2010, 11:46 PM

i'm running 205-60-16 coz it's cheaper :chuckle

:bana

TriniFyah7

11-16-2010, 12:33 PM

whoa! guess I was way off with the tire size lol. Also one of the reasons why i'm going with 16's since they are cheaper than 17's. The problem now is choosing which brand of tires?

I have a couple that I am considering and they are: Continental Extreme WinterContact, Bridgestone Blizzak WS60, Dunlop Sport 3D, Hankook W300, and Michelin
X-Ice 2. IF any of you have tried any of these before please let me know how did they perform. I like the Dunlops but since they are performance winter tires I've heard that they are not all that great in harsh/heavy winters, but on dry surfaces/light snow they work just fine.

DualSoul

11-16-2010, 03:13 PM

I have the Dunlops. Great tire, though considering I only picked them up last year, didn't really get a chance to see how they handled in heavy snow. They are fairly loud, so if you don't like cabin noise I'd rule them out.

Zoom Zoom Boy

11-16-2010, 10:22 PM

I run the Hankook W300 Icebear 205/60/R16 on steelies. Purchased as a package from Simply Tire.

horto

11-17-2010, 02:11 PM

Hankook W300's here too, 205-50-R17's purchased on recommendation from members here and Allen at Simply Tire -- based on the fact I do a lot of highway driving in TO. No complaints from last season, they did their job. No steelies here, mounted on advanti tenzo clones. Pimpin!

Jon2000

11-19-2010, 06:35 PM

Last year I ran Hankook W300's - 205/60/16 from Tires23 - worked perfect. This year I'm running Mazdaspeed6 rims with Bridgestone Blizzak LM22's - 215/45R18.

J_Logik

11-25-2010, 11:57 AM

Hi Guys,

Just as an FYI for all 2010 Speed owners, this package will fit your cars too. I got the same package from Allen and their are no brake clearance issues.

I run the Hankook W300 Icebear 205/60/R16 on steelies. Purchased as a package from Simply Tire.

Kinn

11-25-2010, 01:04 PM

I've used the Dunlops for 2 seasons. Excellent urban winter tire. They do not have the extreme winter traction you'd get in a traditional winter you might need for driving mountain passes...that haven't seen a plow all season...during a blizzard. But as a compromise for that you get excellent dry performance even at very low temperatures and very good traction in the snow, even some deeper stuff.

For city and highway driving I never felt the need for adjust my own driving for the snow...only for other peoples inability to deal with it and I never got stuck or ever felt I couldn't get through because of snow build up. Maybe not as easily as a 4X4 on studs...but I ran into problems. More importantly, during the 90% of days when the roads aren’t covered in snow…I could get on it.

hilzen

12-28-2010, 08:15 PM

Last year I ran Hankook W300's - 205/60/16 from Tires23 - worked perfect. This year I'm running Mazdaspeed6 rims with Bridgestone Blizzak LM22's - 215/45R18

Before the winter came to Toronto, I went to the dealer and bought winter tires and they suggested me to get the Mazda 6 or mazdaspeed 6 rims with michelin x-ice xi2 i think the size was 205/forgot this part/r16 16 steelies rims works, doesn't touches the brake at front and a lot cheaper than 17 or 18 inches tires.

Tokay444

12-29-2010, 05:54 AM

I tried four sets of 16" steeles, before I found a set at Burlington tire that fit without clearance issues. I'm surprised that someone said they got 16s to fit an 010 model. Thought that would be impossible. 60 bucks a wheel, and I'll have them for a long time. Then I grabbed a used set of michilen icex for 200 bucks. They're not amazing, but we haven't had much snow or freezing rain this year, so they do till next winter. Ideally I'd like the bridgstone LM22s on either the stock, or other 18" wheels and save some of the sidewall flex that is plaguing me right now.

bluemazda3

12-29-2010, 05:03 PM

16" should fit 2010

Tokay444

12-29-2010, 08:01 PM

Mazdaspeed forum.

VertigoM

12-30-2010, 02:16 PM

So will 16" steelies fit a 2010 MS3 or not? Seems to be different opinions here.

Is there anyone with a 2010 MS3 that is actually running on 16's?

VertigoM

12-30-2010, 02:20 PM

Sorry, ignore my previous post (how do I edit posts on here anyway?)

It looks like 16's will indeed fit based on this:

Hi Guys,

Just as an FYI for all 2010 Speed owners, this package will fit your cars too. I got the same package from Allen and their are no brake clearance issues.

I run the Hankook W300 Icebear 205/60/R16 on steelies. Purchased as a package from Simply Tire.

PR3Y11

12-30-2010, 03:11 PM

yes 16s will fit, i'm running 17s myself and it still looks tiny, so 16 will look really small on the 2010

these are my 17's for winter
http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb398/PR3Y11/5643502b.jpg

VertigoM

12-30-2010, 03:24 PM

yes 16s will fit, i'm running 17s myself and it still looks tiny, so 16 will look really small on the 2010

these are my 17's for winter

Thanks for the pic. Those rims look good even though they're a little small.

I think I'm going to cheap out and get steelies... that way 16's won't look as small since they'll just blend in with the tire lol

PR3Y11

12-30-2010, 03:33 PM

that's what you say now.... =P

Thanks for the pic. Those rims look good even though they're a little small.

I think I'm going to cheap out and get steelies... that way 16's won't look as small since they'll just blend in with the tire lol

Tokay444

12-30-2010, 06:15 PM

What size tires are you running on the 17s?

PR3Y11

12-30-2010, 10:56 PM

What size tires are you running on the 17s?

215/50/17

gotak

01-02-2011, 12:33 PM

Thanks for the pic. Those rims look good even though they're a little small.

I think I'm going to cheap out and get steelies... that way 16's won't look as small since they'll just blend in with the tire lol

Blah I drive the car not look at it on a lawn chair on my driveway.
I will always gets the smallest I can cheap out on for winters.

Btw on the black car 16s in steels looks fine. Just black on black.

eliminator

01-02-2011, 02:15 PM

VertigoM

01-04-2011, 02:56 PM

I'm running 16s on my 07 Speed 3 with stock suspension. Winter rims and tires arent suppose to look cool. Get the 16s, same some cash, and enjoy the extra rubber cushion till you swap the 18s back on for the summer.

Yeah... looks like 16's it is.

Besides I can't afford anything else after I factor in my weathertech mats, tint and Ventureshield bra.... lol!