29056
12-10-2008, 05:37 PM
Hi folks!
It's my first post and I would like to help all those having a dilemma about the size of winter rims and tyres for their Mazda 3. Some of your posts helped me choose the right rims and I would like to contribute to this issue.
I have recently bought 2008 Mazda 3 2.0 diesel Active plus (Austrian spec model). Great car, rather frugal, fantastic in-gear acceleration (with 360Nm / 262lb.ft , it ought too!).
Standard tyres 205/55/16, with Mazda "snowflake" rims.
I was considering getting narrower 195/65/15 winter tyres, which would have been perfect, but...
However, limiting factor for winter rims were 300mm front discs, as found on North American 2.3 model. So, I had to caugh up extra 200CAD over the price for four 15" steel rims, to get original Mazda steelies.
Incidentally, they are from Mazda 6, with 55mm offset, as there aren't any 16' steel rims for Mazda 3, at least in Europe.
These fit perfectly, almost too perfectly :)..not much clearance between calipers and rims, as you will see on my photos.
So, word of advice: check your front disc size. If it's 10.9in (280mm), you can fit 15" rims, but if it's 11.9in (300mm), tough luck, you have to go for 16".
As for tyres, I've chossen Dunlop Sport Winter 3D, as one of top three winter tyres in Europe, for last 4 years. No winter tyre has ever won so many tests or been praised for so long.Not to mention, they retain their qualities longer than almost any other winter tyre you can buy, even after 10,000km.
Therefore, personal recommendation!
But if you drive in deep snow 4-6 month a year, perhaps some of Finnish products (Haakapellittaas...) would be more appropriate.
No I just have to figure out how to post my images here...:)
It's my first post and I would like to help all those having a dilemma about the size of winter rims and tyres for their Mazda 3. Some of your posts helped me choose the right rims and I would like to contribute to this issue.
I have recently bought 2008 Mazda 3 2.0 diesel Active plus (Austrian spec model). Great car, rather frugal, fantastic in-gear acceleration (with 360Nm / 262lb.ft , it ought too!).
Standard tyres 205/55/16, with Mazda "snowflake" rims.
I was considering getting narrower 195/65/15 winter tyres, which would have been perfect, but...
However, limiting factor for winter rims were 300mm front discs, as found on North American 2.3 model. So, I had to caugh up extra 200CAD over the price for four 15" steel rims, to get original Mazda steelies.
Incidentally, they are from Mazda 6, with 55mm offset, as there aren't any 16' steel rims for Mazda 3, at least in Europe.
These fit perfectly, almost too perfectly :)..not much clearance between calipers and rims, as you will see on my photos.
So, word of advice: check your front disc size. If it's 10.9in (280mm), you can fit 15" rims, but if it's 11.9in (300mm), tough luck, you have to go for 16".
As for tyres, I've chossen Dunlop Sport Winter 3D, as one of top three winter tyres in Europe, for last 4 years. No winter tyre has ever won so many tests or been praised for so long.Not to mention, they retain their qualities longer than almost any other winter tyre you can buy, even after 10,000km.
Therefore, personal recommendation!
But if you drive in deep snow 4-6 month a year, perhaps some of Finnish products (Haakapellittaas...) would be more appropriate.
No I just have to figure out how to post my images here...:)