Anyone use 15" tires/steel rims for winters?

[blindemboss]

I still have relatively new 15" winters (195/65/15) from my old VW Jetta.

I was told by one dealership that these should work fine on my 2012 Madza 3 Sport GS. I just needed to buy 15" steel rims.

Another dealership said, no...I needed to go to 16" tires (205/55/16).

My understanding is that the thinner and smaller the tire, the better it is in snow. Then again, I'm in Toronto, so I doubt it would make that much of a difference, given the amount of white stuff we get.

[FD22]

Your understanding is correct. The thinner the tire is, the better in snow.

However, if I'm not mistaken, unless you've got a 2.0L, 15s won't clear the brakes on the 3 and thus will not fit. If you do have the 2.0L however, and wish to get something nicer than steelies, you should buy my rims!

Link: http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...ims&highlight=

EDIT: Just read your post more carefully, and looks like you've got a Sport. Thus, not a 2.0L, which means you can't fit 15s. You need 16s and above. Sorry, disregard my earlier comments.

[tmpz]

+1 16" minimum.

[Johns 08 3 GT]

If you have the 2.0L engine you can go to 15". Or check your spare tire for the size in it. That is the smallest you can go.

[blindemboss]

Thanks for the confusing feedback.

I do indeed have a 2.0L and it's also a Sport.
FD22, I had a look and I think I'll just get some new cheap steelies. Thanks.

[tmpz]

Thanks for the confusing feedback.

I do indeed have a 2.0L and it's also a Sport.
FD22, I had a look and I think I'll just get some new cheap steelies. Thanks.

Are you sure it's a GS? 2.0L is only available on the GX Sport and GS-SKY Sport. The Mazda 3 GS Sport is 2.5L.

[blindemboss]

Are you sure it's a GS? 2.0L is only available on the GX Sport and GS-SKY Sport. The Mazda 3 GS Sport is 2.5L.

Sorry, you are correct. I have a lowly the GX Sport
I keep thinking I have the GS as I got the upgraded 16" and bluetooth package.

[tmpz]

Then you're good to go with 15"

[MarkWB]

Then you're good to go with 15"

I'd try it first lol like literally just take your wheel off and try to affix a 15 inch rim. Loosely secure the bolts after and try to spin it...if there's any resistance it wont work. If not, you spent 15 minutes figuring this out and learned how to change a wheel/tire (if you don't already know).

[FD22]

Thanks for the confusing feedback.

I do indeed have a 2.0L and it's also a Sport.
FD22, I had a look and I think I'll just get some new cheap steelies. Thanks.

Ah, well in that case 15s would indeed work.
Well, let me know if you change your mind; I'm flexible on the price.
Good luck with your rim search.

[killerbichon]

im a noobie,, will my '07 gt with bridgestone protenzas 17" get me up a hill in snow?

im now aware 15" tires wont fit.....baaaaahhhhh..as i have a set!

[S.F.W.]

im a noobie,, will my '07 gt with bridgestone protenzas 17" get me up a hill in snow?

not likely. The Potenzas are a performance summer tire.

[killerbichon]

yer better than a mazda expert SWF i went to tire rack


described as a summer sport performance tire


i should have looked into the situation more... i have a relatively new set odf 15 inch snows i used on my '97 mpv.... just assumed some steel rims were in order... i guess not!

[killerbichon]

I bought 4 Nexen Winguard 205 50 17's for $89 each. Tireworld in Brampton will hold the tires till late December and install/balance the tires for that.


The tires i have on the car till the snow flies will be Bridgestone Potenza GO 19 Grid... rated all season performance.

I feel like I got a pretty good deal on the snows. 1010tire.com has them for $122 each.

SFW I can't find that thread re the extended warranty. If you recall you suggested it was $35... never got to the negotiations as I dont qualify as Ill be using the car as a delivery/courier driver.

[dietsprite]

any disadvantages for downsizing to 15" for winter tires ?? does it look worse estheticly ?

[timmycruise]

I have a similar questions as /I am getting conflicting information....

I have a 2012 Mazda3 Sport GS-SKY and would like to confirm if I can use a 15x6.5 5-114 et42 wheel on the car for the winter. Older posts lead me to believe I can, but two service advisers locally said that the SKY models got bigger brakes/have issues with 15" wheel hitting the calipers and need a 16" wheel... Tire Rack says they will fit the i Grand Touring or i touring, but I don't know that this would directly correspond to our models??

[Johns 08 3 GT]

The Sky will fit a 15" wheel. The Sky does not have bigger brakes.

Look at what size your spare tire is.

[timmycruise]

Spares is the same - 115/70-15 - however, is the ID (inner diameter) of the spare wheel the same as the ID of a 15" steel wheel? The spare is a temporary use thing only, whereas a regular wheel will be designed for continuous, long term use. Not say they will be different. Also I don't have the car here to verify... hence me asking the question. Have those that have mentioned that they have 15" wheels been able to confirm it will fit with no clearance issues??

Also, why would two people that work at Mazda say that there are interference issues?? I would expect to be upsold on things like a car, etc., but wheels?

[Johns 08 3 GT]

100% you can put 195/65R15's on a Skyactiv Mazda3.

As for the dealers, there are some people that work at them and know what they are doing and look out for the customer, and there are some that don't.

[FLIPDADY]

100% you can put 195/65R15's on a Skyactiv Mazda3.

As for the dealers, there are some people that work at them and know what they are doing and look out for the customer, and there are some that don't.

That's why people like Andrew, John, Jeff and myself are on here.

All 2.0 can use 15" and MS3 will also take 16".

[aarnone]

Just got my winters mounted and balanced last weekend im running 195/65/15 Goodyear Nordic tires which i found on clearance at Canadian Tire

[alexo]

If buying 15" rims for the 2.0L cars, what width and offset should be used?
Since 195/65R15 tires are narrower than 205/55R16, perhaps 6" wide rims should be OK?

[Johns 08 3 GT]

6 to 6.5" wide will be good. And an offset around 50 will work.

[GSSKY_Canada]

So did you end up getting the 15" set?

[GSSKY_Canada]

Does anyone have a GS SKY 2.0 with photos using a 15" set?
How does it ride, traction, handling ?

cheers