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Mazda 3 winter tires?

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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,399
Yo guys,

I just bought a 05 Mazda 3 hatchback and im looking to pick up some winters for it.

I thought since lots of you are skiers/car fanatics you may have some suggestions on what to pick up. Im pretty broke right now so im looking for a cheaper option.

Thanks for the help!

Zac
Oct 7 2013 11:43PM
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Chubbs.
Posts: 1018 - Karma: 2,647
throw some chains on ur summer tires
you could drive through 6 feet of pow with those puppies
Oct 7 2013 11:50PM
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~bagelz~
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 1,067
my parents had a mazda 3 for a while. they just went to costco because at the end of the season they buy back the mud/snow tires and you get your street ones back or something like that. that was 5 years ago shit might be different now
Oct 8 2013 12:01AM
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Troy.
Posts: 5070 - Karma: 12,545
Bridgestone Blizzaks.

I don't know if they have a costco in Canada, but buy your tires there if you can. You pay a cheaper price, and they have the best customer service in the tire game. Case in point:

I blew the sidewall out of my tire a week ago, which is the result of either A) curbing your tire or B) a screw/nail/etc. Most places will not cover this. Costco, however, "pro rates" the tire. What they do is they measure the amount of tread left vs the amount of tread the tire comes with, and create a percentage of tread left. You pay that percentage to a brand new tire.

No one else does that. Also, if you're nice, they're given a lot of leeway to hook you up. Another case: I got a flat from wear and tear that they were going to replace for free, but my Subaru was close to needing a new set for all 4. They charged me $40, the cost to discard my old tires or something stupid like that, for a set of ballin new tires.



Sparknotes: buying tires anywhere but Costco is plain dumb.
Oct 8 2013 12:07AM
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Chubbs.
Posts: 1018 - Karma: 2,647
I think i have Blizzacks on my VW Golf, never slipped once
Oct 8 2013 12:09AM
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Willgum
Posts: 3254 - Karma: 3,071
Thats so awesome. And I have blizzaks on my civic, they're the only snows I've driven with so I cant really compare to any other brand but they've never let me down.
Oct 8 2013 12:22AM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,399
Word thanks boys!

Hopefully I can get some many asap and pick up those blizz's
Oct 8 2013 1:54AM
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rigzz
Posts: 1768 - Karma: 147
My dad, mom and me are all on Hakapelittas, and they are AWESOME. Granted we all roll on AWD but still, they grip, noisy but either ice, snow, slush, never add any problem!
Oct 8 2013 4:12AM
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cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
not true.  if costco isn't an option ask around about this because it's pretty common practice
Oct 8 2013 6:13AM
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stoggieman
Posts: 315 - Karma: 78
General Altimax Arctic, similar to blizzacs, but I think you might be able to find them a little cheaper. Grabs some steelies for them and you have a beast in the winter.
Oct 8 2013 8:26AM
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Chubbs.
Posts: 1018 - Karma: 2,647
if driving into a ditch and proceeding to drive out of the ditch makes me a bitch... i guess so
Oct 8 2013 10:05AM
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MRoden
Posts: 753 - Karma: 211
as everyone has said, get blizzacks. I have them on my Jeep and can go through anything. If you do get winter tires make sure you only drive on them below the recommend temps and speeds because they are a much softer compound compared to all-season tires. If you dont, they'll wear insanely fast and you just blew $700-$1000.
Oct 8 2013 10:16AM
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Elg
Posts: 2998 - Karma: 3,880
Nokian tires are the best winter tires you can get. Check out the hakkapeliitta series, the R2 is a great non-studded one, but nothing beats the hakkapeliitta 8.
Oct 8 2013 12:33PM
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ged.bend
Posts: 156 - Karma: 1,483
sell the mazda then maybe you could buy a set of tires for a real car..
Oct 8 2013 3:27PM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,399
Yeah okay brother!
Oct 8 2013 3:36PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
I did that last winter in my 06 mazda 3 with summer tires. Did I mention I was going uphill too?
Needless to say though, I slipped into the ditch like I was on sheer ice. And that was only 1 of 3 times I went into a ditch that winter.
Oct 8 2013 4:45PM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,399
fuck im a n00b,

How do tire sizes work?

http://whistler.en.craigslist.ca/pts/4089544173.html

225/50/r17s The 17 is the rim size...correct?

Will those fit my mazda 3?
Oct 8 2013 11:41PM
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Chubbs.
Posts: 1018 - Karma: 2,647
the struggle is real.
Oct 8 2013 11:43PM
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1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,003
cool claim thread OP ;) ;)
Oct 8 2013 11:45PM
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LoathesRaisins
Posts: 3612 - Karma: 4,735
17 is the rim size. Check the tires you have and see what they say.
Oct 8 2013 11:45PM
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Brentizzle
Posts: 1584 - Karma: 1,871
Zac you are looking for either 215/50/17 or 205/50/17 if you want them on your current rims

Your bolt pattern is 5x114.3 so if you find a set with wheels then just make sure they are that bolt pattern.

Another option would be to look at a set of tires that are 205/60/16 if they are already on 16" wheels.

I just picked up a set of 1 year old Kumho i'zen wis kw19 studable tires for 350 bucks from kijiji so I would suggest you find something used like that otherwise you are looking at about 220-260 per tire for brand new ones plus mounting and balancing.

I hope you are liking your 3, I absolutely am in love with mine.

and those ones in that craigslist are not winters haha.
Oct 9 2013 3:25AM
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Chubbs.
Posts: 1018 - Karma: 2,647
Where is kijiji?
Oct 9 2013 8:46AM
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Brentizzle
Posts: 1584 - Karma: 1,871
http://whistler.kijiji.ca/

its like the same thing as craigslist but only in Canada. its what most people seem to use because its much more organized i feel.
Oct 9 2013 11:53AM
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