Switch to 16" winter rims?

[asif9t9]

My Mazda 3 came with the 17" rims. I have some old.... not that old..... 16" winter tires. 205/55R16. Do I just get some cheapo 16" steelies from the CT down the street? Is there anything more to consider? I assume a lot of people are going 16" for winter.

[S.F.W.]

yes, most run 16" steelies for winter. Get them from wherever you like.

[asif9t9]

Cool, thanks. Ordered my weathertech winter mats today, so I'm ready for winter. I like to plan ahead.

[Tokic_o]

^^^ where did you order the winter mats? and how much? do you think it would be cheaper when winter coems along or now? Thanks

[marchz24]

I purchased protoge 5 rims for the winter. Check out the TO protoge club.

[Skarbro]

You can often get package deals around late October or early November that include the tires and steelies. A lot easier and maybe a little cheaper than buying the steelies separate from the tires. You have to also consider the costs of mounting and balancing them. I got mine through MoT last year. Flippy had some good sales.

[Wild Weasel]

^^^ where did you orther the winter mats? and how much? do you think it would be cheaper when winter coems along or now? Thanks

Weathertech's may be more expensive than the OEM ones, but they're very good mats. I've been using them for years in the Sunfire.


Cool, thanks. Ordered my weathertech winter mats today, so I'm ready for winter. I like to plan ahead.

Do they make mats specifically for the 3? If so, I'll have to get some as well...

[fastNugly]

i got a set of OEM 16" Mazda 3 rims that can be used for winters... it currently has tires but i can part it out.

[asif9t9]

I bought the weathertechs online from weathertech canada. $103 with shipping and tax, but just for the two front seats. The ones they make for the rear seats are not custom fit anyways (you need to cut them), so I'll just get some cheap ones at CT for the rear.

I am worried that the front driver side mat won't cover the dead pedal area. I'll put something plastic over that area.

And I'll just wait for CT to have a sale on 16" steelies.

[asif9t9]

Yo, check this. I just got my weathertech mats. I haven't had a chance to try them out in the car yet, but the sticker on the mats say Toyota Camry, but it has the correct model no. for my Mazda 3 (W71).

Anyways, I emailed weathertech and they say they use the same mats for the Camry and the Mazda 3. Are the footwells of the Camry and Mazda 3 coincidentally the same? I'll see how well they fit later on.

[FLIPDADY]

Yo, check this. I just got my weathertech mats. I haven't had a chance to try them out in the car yet, but the sticker on the mats say Toyota Camry, but it has the correct model no. for my Mazda 3 (W71).

Anyways, I emailed weathertech and they say they use the same mats for the Camry and the Mazda 3. Are the footwells of the Camry and Mazda 3 coincidentally the same? I'll see how well they fit later on.
Weird considering the Camry has more leg room than the 3 does.

[raggs]

Hey Flip,
Are you planning any pre-winter sales of steel wheel/winter tire combos?

[FLIPDADY]

Hey Flip,
Are you planning any pre-winter sales of steel wheel/winter tire combos?
Yup stay tuned for the winter tire/rim packages. Also our sponsors will post up some specials come October/November. I just got a big shipment of Michelin X-Ice tires last week.

[Wild Weasel]

Yo, check this. I just got my weathertech mats. I haven't had a chance to try them out in the car yet, but the sticker on the mats say Toyota Camry, but it has the correct model no. for my Mazda 3 (W71).

Anyways, I emailed weathertech and they say they use the same mats for the Camry and the Mazda 3. Are the footwells of the Camry and Mazda 3 coincidentally the same? I'll see how well they fit later on.

Go put them in and let me know! :) I'll go get a set if they fit nicely.

[asif9t9]

They fit.....all right. Not perfect, though. The cut-out at the top-left of the driver mat is not as much as the Mazda OEM mats. So, the mat does cover a bit of the dead-pedal area, which is good....but then the mat is not flat down on the ground...not as flat as it could be.

I was totally ready to return it, but I'll keep them. They are well constructed. I don't understand the cut-out at the top-right of the mat, which is like the OEMs. So, no mat under the gas pedal.

The passenger side..... I need to shove it a bit to the left, for the right side to tuck itself in. So, the passenger mat rides up the left side, but is flat along the right side. That doesn't help. It would make more sense for the mat to ride up on the door side.

Anyways, do I recommend them. No. Quite simply, they do nothing more than my old CT mat, which was the thickest one I could find.....and which also didn't fit perfectly. I'm really shocked Weathertech is using a Camry mat as its Mazda 3 mat. I mean, they have that little drop-down menu where you choose your car. Wtf?

[rcd001]

When do you switch to winter tires? I understand the rubber compound is based on the outside temperature and not the pracipitation? I'm running summer rubbers now.

[asif9t9]

Switch when it's below 7C outside. But practically speaking, the high and low temps outside are always fluctuating. So, switch when it feels about time. And don't wait to switch the weekend after the first snowfall. Everywhere gets busy.

[rcd001]

We I guess I'll buy them when I see the sales posted on here and will install around November/December.

With my luck it won't snow like it did last season, after spending 6 bills on tires and steels.

[GGM3]

I'm also looking for 16's but I was wondering do they make skinnier tires that will fit the Mazda3 Sport, like 195's?

[garboui]

if you want skinny you can always go 185/60/16 if you want narrow.

[FLIPDADY]

You're safe with 195/55R16.

[Fuman]

You're safe with 195/55R16.

at 195/55/16 you're speedo is reading 2.5% too fast (so ur going 2.5% slower than what the speedo says).
At 195/60/16, ur speedo is reading 0.6%too slow(ur going 0.6 faster than the speedo).

I would go with 195/60/16.

[GGM3]

Thanks, so anyone have 195/60/16's on their car or is everyone running 205/55/16's? I can't find any 195/60/16's only 15's.

[Fuman]

Thanks, so anyone have 195/60/16's on their car or is everyone running 205/55/16's? I can't find any 195/60/16's only 15's.

205/55/16 (stock size in 16'')... if you call Steel Case tires, get Gislave Nord 5. Its really good in the snow, dry traction is satisfactory. They might recommend another tire. I'm not sure what tires they cary this season.

[FLIPDADY]

I've sold 195/55R16 X-Ice to a few members. No issues with driveability and it cuts through snow better. You get the 195/60R16 the sidewall will be taller. Not to mention it will be hard to find that size.

[thrasher]

A 2007 Mazda 3 GT has 205/50R17s.. so switching to 16 inch 205/55/R16 is the correct tire size when dropping a inch on the rim?

I am looking at dropping an inch for the winter tires - tires are bit cheaper.

[Fuman]

A 2007 Mazda 3 GT has 205/50R17s.. so switching to 16 inch 205/55/R16 is the correct tire size when dropping a inch on the rim?

I am looking at dropping an inch for the winter tires - tires are bit cheaper.

yeah. when ur speedo (when ur 16'') reads 60mph, ur going 59.5mph

[thrasher]

I was told by a tire installer that when I put 16 inch steel rims in place of 17 inch I would have to find a steel rim with the correct hub hole size or else I will get vibrations going at highway speeds. Anyone have any reccomendations on where to get the steelies from?

[baymoe]

I was told by a tire installer that when I put 16 inch steel rims in place of 17 inch I would have to find a steel rim with the correct hub hole size or else I will get vibrations going at highway speeds. Anyone have any reccomendations on where to get the steelies from?

Dealership. Joe is having a groupbuy on them at the moment.

[FLIPDADY]

I was told by a tire installer that when I put 16 inch steel rims in place of 17 inch I would have to find a steel rim with the correct hub hole size or else I will get vibrations going at highway speeds. Anyone have any reccomendations on where to get the steelies from?
You can start here.:)


http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=20729


Mazda OEM steelies with proper bolt pattern and hub center.