2008 Mazda 3 Brakes and tires,

[walltico]

Hi Everyone, I am wondering if anyone will be able to direct me as to where I can get a good deal on new tires, disks and pads for my 08 Mazda 3 sport.
I know that Mazda will most likely charge me close to 2 grand. I got a quote from Canadian tire for $1300 taxes in for Motomaster SE 2 tires and Monroe brakes and pads, comes with a 5 year warranty on the tires,balancing included, with free rotation every 10k and free flat tire repair anywhere in Canada, brakes come with lifetime warranty. I currently have the Toyo tires which probably have 10-15% thread left in the front and 40% in the back. The brakes probably have 15% pad left and disks are warped.


Any suggestions or advice is appreciated!, Ideally I would like to get this done under $1000, I think Canadian tire is overcharging as well.

[sube]

Stay away from Motormaster tires, stay with brand name tires, as for brake pads for every day driving Mazda OEM are hard to beat. If you are paying a Mechanic to replace the brake rotors and pads along with tires there is no way you are gonna get that all done for a $1000. Do the brakes yourself it is not rocket science.

Pat.

[walltico]

thanks for the tire advice, I am looking at budget tires with thread, at this point any new tire with thread is better than my worn down Toyo's. OEM disks and pads are $$$$ from Mazda, Ive heard $800+ just for the brakes and pads alone.

[S.F.W.]

Check out our sponsor section. Many tire sponsors, and lots of choices. Contact one in your area, and ask for budget tire options. Breaks, also look at our sponsors. Labour is where you can save a lot, try Street Performance in Markham.

[Hotsky]

Wal-Mart is good for cheap tires. I got a set of snow tires 2 years ago and they are great. For disks and pads just call a fee places find a discount auto parts shop.

[walltico]

I will most likely use Simply Tire for the tires and install, now just looking for someone to point me to where I could go for brakes and pads.

[Johns 08 3 GT]

thanks for the tire advice, I am looking at budget tires with thread, at this point any new tire with thread is better than my worn down Toyo's. OEM disks and pads are $$$$ from Mazda, Ive heard $800+ just for the brakes and pads alone.

Have you called a dealer to get a price or just guessing? Its $550 for pads & rotors. (parts only) And thats list price. Call a forum sponsor dealer and it will be less. Also don't cheap out on tires. You get what you pay for.

[walltico]

Have you called a dealer to get a price or just guessing? Its $550 for pads & rotors. (parts only) And thats list price. Call a forum sponsor dealer and it will be less. Also don't cheap out on tires. You get what you pay for.

I'll give the dealers a call tomorrow, I bought my vehicle new from Yorkdale Dufferin Mazda, (formally Dufferin Mazda). Service is next to zero and staff are as incompetent as they get, I asked years ago and was quoted 800ish so I decided against going the dealer route, besides that the OEM tires, disks and pads are cheap low quality parts.

[Johns 08 3 GT]

besides that the OEM tires, disks and pads are cheap low quality parts.

Well, I wont fight you on the OE Toyo's, but the pads and rotors are far from low quality. ATE & Akibono are the brake suppliers for the Mazda3.

[walltico]

As I expected Mazda dealers charge of $1000 plus HST which is a joke. still looking for an auto shop if anyone knows a reliable good one with no nonsense pricing. around $140 just for front pads, for much less you could get the best ceramic pads available for an 08 mazda 3.

[peterm15]

Purchase parts from sponsor or hot spot auto parts. ( different grades of quality/prices)

Go see jimmy at street performance.

Got my front and rear pads and rotors a few weeks ago for $200ish. ( mid grade parts,) and installed myself.

[tweak_s]

IN the end it depends on what you're looking for.

I was using Hawk HPS pads for a few years and went back to OEM this time and the reason simply is that there is more initial bite.

Most of my time is spent on a commute or regular driving so that's nice. Less effort for me than the "gradual modulation braking" of the Hawks (which is not bad, just depends on application). Basically just had to echo that the OEM pads are decent parts.

If you prefer aftermarket you could try Nextmod or Garage16 for pads and rotors.

[Johns 08 3 GT]

As I expected Mazda dealers charge of $1000 plus HST which is a joke.

So they are quoting you with labour I guess.

[walltico]

So they are quoting you with labour I guess.

Yes with labour, the sponsors here have good pricing, just a matter of narrowing down my choices.

[CloudPump]

Stay away from Motormaster tires, stay with brand name tires, as for brake pads for every day driving Mazda OEM are hard to beat. If you are paying a Mechanic to replace the brake rotors and pads along with tires there is no way you are gonna get that all done for a $1000. Do the brakes yourself it is not rocket science.

Pat.

You do realize that motomaster tires are made by brand name manufacturers right?

-Geoff

[mazdaagain]

I just got front and rear brakes (pads and rotors) done at the dealer for approx $800 + taxes so not sure where you are getting the $1,000 + taxes from. Don't fforget affiliate dealersips will offer 10% off labour and 15% off parts on this work.

[mazdaagain]

You do realize that motomaster tires are made by brand name manufacturers right?

-Geoff

Just because they are manufacturing them does not mean that they are using the same rubber compounds as their better tires or the advanced tread patterns. You get what you pay for.

[geeboss]

check Walmart for Nitto NT-SN2 Winter Tire 205/55R16 they work fine in dry weather/wet just pump up air pressure to 35psi. And as others have indicated changing out the front pads and rotors can be done by you. Just take your time and review the various How To's on the Mazda forums. At 63 I've learned to change the oil/filter, automatic transmission fluid flush, even was able to get down and change out the cabin filter. Boy did i wish I was 23 again doing that squeeze job.
So you should be able to save some money and have your car ready for the coming winter.

[sube]

You do realize that motomaster tires are made by brand name manufacturers right?

-Geoff

Yep some of them are but they are the very bottom of the line, it is like everything in life, buy cheap get cheap. Tires are the only connection between your car and the road. The difference in price between junk and decent tires can be as little as 200 bucks. what price your life.

Pat.

[CloudPump]

Just because they are manufacturing them does not mean that they are using the same rubber compounds as their better tires or the advanced tread patterns. You get what you pay for.

Just like the entry level goodyear tires aren't as good as the top of the line goodyear tires.

I could see this being a warning or a concern if the motomaster tires were marketed to be on par with the best offerings as goodyear or michelin, but that's not the case. Motomaster tires are of the same quality as entry level offerings from the "big" manufacturers and are priced accordingly.

-Geoff

[sube]

Are you shilling for Crappy Tire? I offered the advice based on a personal experience. In the past when funds were tight I needed tires and Motormaster were about what I could afford outside of some of the crappy Chinese junk. The first set couldn't be balanced so were replaced under warranty in a month. The second set howled so badly at 80 Klicks on the highway they almost drove me insane. So they were replaced after about a week. The third time I payed extra to have them install general UHP tires.
I stick with my original advice buy cheap get cheap.

Pat.

[CloudPump]

Are you shilling for Crappy Tire? I offered the advice based on a personal experience. In the past when funds were tight I needed tires and Motormaster were about what I could afford outside of some of the crappy Chinese junk. The first set couldn't be balanced so were replaced under warranty in a month. The second set howled so badly at 80 Klicks on the highway they almost drove me insane. So they were replaced after about a week. The third time I payed extra to have them install general UHP tires.
I stick with my original advice buy cheap get cheap.

Pat.

NOW you've provided some advice on personal experience.

This:


Stay away from Motormaster tires, stay with brand name tires, as for brake pads for every day driving Mazda OEM are hard to beat. If you are paying a Mechanic to replace the brake rotors and pads along with tires there is no way you are gonna get that all done for a $1000. Do the brakes yourself it is not rocket science.

Pat.

doesn't reference any personal experience, you simply dismiss CT tires and reccomend he buy tires from... the same people who make CT tires.

-Geoff

[geeboss]

Here in the States ...WalMart has the Nitto NT-SN2 Winter Tire 205/55R16 at about 100 a tire. Decent Reviews at TireBuyer or WalMart. If you are not able to get them at your WalMart.