16/17/18

[bwar]

Okay. Quick question. My dealership indicated that I can put 16 or 17 inch winter tires on my 15 GT 3. So, saying I 'can' is one thing, but would you folks recommend it? Or is it better to stick with 18 inch winters? I always thought that used to be an issue with the amount that the tire rotates blah blah blah.

Thanks in advance !
B.

[Flagrum_3]

Okay. Quick question. My dealership indicated that I can put 16 or 17 inch winter tires on my 15 GT 3. So, saying I 'can' is one thing, but would you folks recommend it? Or is it better to stick with 18 inch winters? I always thought that used to be an issue with the amount that the tire rotates blah blah blah.

Thanks in advance !
B.

Usually recommended, and I believe most here subscribe too; Go one size lower then what the car came with. So if it came with 18in wheels go 17in for winter, 17s go down to 16. The smaller the rim size the more sidewall you'll gain. More sidewall is better for deep snow situations.

[mazdaagain]

It's less about the sidewall and more about the tire being not as wide. A narrower tire will go through deeper snow with less effort.

[Kiewan]

17" or even 16" snow tires are usually cheaper than 18" as well.

[natspriceless]

Okay. Quick question. My dealership indicated that I can put 16 or 17 inch winter tires on my 15 GT 3. So, saying I 'can' is one thing, but would you folks recommend it? Or is it better to stick with 18 inch winters? I always thought that used to be an issue with the amount that the tire rotates blah blah blah.

Thanks in advance !
B.

I'm putting 16" on a GT

[Cab0oze]

Usually recommended, and I believe most here subscribe too; Go one size lower then what the car came with. So if it came with 18in wheels go 17in for winter, 17s go down to 16. The smaller the rim size the more sidewall you'll gain. More sidewall is better for deep snow situations.
Huh??? How do you figure lol


It's less about the sidewall and more about the tire being not as wide. A narrower tire will go through deeper snow with less effort.
I know lots of people say this, and it has a bit of truth if you look at extremes, but in practice between the marginal difference in tire widths we're talking about on mazda3s there is going to be next to no difference. Also, larger contact patch gives you more chance of being on a surface that gives you traction and personally I feel that is equally important.

Anyway, that isn't what the op is asking.

Smaller diameter tires:
- Worse handling (due to the higher sidewall - more flex/squish in the corners)
+ Smoother ride (due to the higher sidewall - more flex for hitting potholes)
+ Cheaper. Also smaller rims are cheaper.

If you don't have any rims that you're planning on using/reusing, just go as small as will clear the brakes (sounds like 16" in your case) unless hard cornering is important to you in the winter.

[ottoyu34]

Huh??? How do you figure lol


I know lots of people say this, and it has a bit of truth if you look at extremes, but in practice between the marginal difference in tire widths we're talking about on mazda3s there is going to be next to no difference. Also, larger contact patch gives you more chance of being on a surface that gives you traction and personally I feel that is equally important.

Anyway, that isn't what the op is asking.

Smaller diameter tires:
- Worse handling (due to the higher sidewall - more flex/squish in the corners)
+ Smoother ride (due to the higher sidewall - more flex for hitting potholes)
+ Cheaper. Also smaller rims are cheaper.

If you don't have any rims that you're planning on using/reusing, just go as small as will clear the brakes (sounds like 16" in your case) unless hard cornering is important to you in the winter.

Thank you! just listen to this man. saved the thread.

[dentinger]

16s will be your cheapest option, unless you care about looks, then go 18s or 17s.

find some steelies (16s are around $60 each), or find some used alloys off of here, or kijiji, then rotate them yourself in the spring/winter to save $$$

[Flagrum_3]

Huh??? How do you figure lol


I know lots of people say this, and it has a bit of truth if you look at extremes, but in practice between the marginal difference in tire widths we're talking about on mazda3s there is going to be next to no difference. Also, larger contact patch gives you more chance of being on a surface that gives you traction and personally I feel that is equally important.

Anyway, that isn't what the op is asking.

Smaller diameter tires:
- Worse handling (due to the higher sidewall - more flex/squish in the corners)
+ Smoother ride (due to the higher sidewall - more flex for hitting potholes)
+ Cheaper. Also smaller rims are cheaper.

If you don't have any rims that you're planning on using/reusing, just go as small as will clear the brakes (sounds like 16" in your case) unless hard cornering is important to you in the winter.


Hahaha another know it all....First lets get things straight; "Smaller diameter tires"??? The tire diameter stays the same no matter what size rim he chooses. Secondly, yes it is common knowledge a taller sidewall is better for DEEP SNOW SITUATIONS as I stated i.e.; you want some flex...The OP didn't mention anything about handling characteristics, just what size should he use and was concerned about the effect of rotation and I would assume speedo effect; "I always thought that used to be an issue with the amount that the tire rotates blah blah blah."

I use 18s in summer 16s in winter and my handling is just fine with the taller sidewall.

_3

[bwar]

Wow! Thank you all very much for your input. I was initially thinking of going down to 17's. I thought that might give a bit more room for any snow accumulation between the tire and the wheel well. But because there are no adverse effects going smaller, ie. 16s, I will do just that. That will save a ton of money!

Great help all!

[bwar]

Yes. The 'speedo' effect was also a concern.

[Cab0oze]

Hahaha another know it all....First lets get things straight; "Smaller diameter tires"??? The tire diameter stays the same no matter what size rim he chooses. Secondly, yes it is common knowledge a taller sidewall is better for DEEP SNOW SITUATIONS as I stated i.e.; you want some flex...The OP didn't mention anything about handling characteristics, just what size should he use and was concerned about the effect of rotation and I would assume speedo effect; "I always thought that used to be an issue with the amount that the tire rotates blah blah blah."

I use 18s in summer 16s in winter and my handling is just fine with the taller sidewall.

_3I really don't enjoy arguing with you. When I was talking about smaller diameter tires, obviously I was talking about the inner diameter... I'm not a moron for fncks sake. But OK, maybe I should have specified just in case the OP had no idea what the 16/17/18" measurement represented.
Next, how the fnck is a taller sidewall going to make any difference in deep snow? You want some flex? What? Why? Please explain to me, because that makes absolutely no sense at all.
The op didn't mention handling characteristics, but that is important to consider. And "handle just fine" is obviously a relative term. Obviously there are millions of cars with 16" ID tires with nice fat sidewalls, that are able to turn. I don't considering those millions of cars to handle well. I just figured I'd point it out so the OP is aware of all the pros and cons.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Hahaha another know it all....First lets get things straight; "Smaller diameter tires"??? The tire diameter stays the same no matter what size rim he chooses. Secondly, yes it is common knowledge a taller sidewall is better for DEEP SNOW SITUATIONS as I stated i.e.; you want some flex...The OP didn't mention anything about handling characteristics, just what size should he use and was concerned about the effect of rotation and I would assume speedo effect; "I always thought that used to be an issue with the amount that the tire rotates blah blah blah."

I use 18s in summer 16s in winter and my handling is just fine with the taller sidewall.

_3


it's not the taller sidewall that is better for deep snow situations...it's the smaller tire width (which, when going -1 or -2 on rim diameter, you go smaller in tire width but taller in tire sidewall) that allows for a contact patch that has a greater contact patch pressure over a contact patch area.

in the case of the regular 3 with 17" rims, the tire size is 205/50/17. A -1 tire/rim combo, a 205/55/16 winter tire, has a similar tire width so the resulting contact patch could be the same with no other benefits aside from the 16" tire being cheaper and having more sidewall to absorb bumps and holes.

Generally, the smaller tire width (i.e. going from 235 tire to a 205 tire) results in
1) longer contact patch length
2) shorter contact patch width
3) greater contact patch pressure - depends on things like load on the tire, etc

you can see a visual here (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=10)

more pressure over the smaller width means a better ability to "cut" through the snow versus being toboggans with a wider tire.

For some interesting calculations on this topic, you can read it about it here (http://www.performancesimulations.com/wp/fact-or-fiction-tire-contact-patch-size-is-determined-mostly-by-weight-and-tire-pressure/)

[Flagrum_3]

it's not the taller sidewall that is better for deep snow situations...it's the smaller tire width (which, when going -1 or -2 on rim diameter, you go smaller in tire width but taller in tire sidewall) that allows for a contact patch that has a greater contact patch pressure over a contact patch area.

in the case of the regular 3 with 17" rims, the tire size is 205/50/17. A -1 tire/rim combo, a 205/55/16 winter tire, has a similar tire width so the resulting contact patch could be the same with no other benefits aside from the 16" tire being cheaper and having more sidewall to absorb bumps and holes.

Generally, the smaller tire width (i.e. going from 235 tire to a 205 tire) results in
1) longer contact patch length
2) shorter contact patch width
3) greater contact patch pressure - depends on things like load on the tire, etc

you can see a visual here (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=10)

more pressure over the smaller width means a better ability to "cut" through the snow versus being toboggans with a wider tire.

For some interesting calculations on this topic, you can read it about it here (http://www.performancesimulations.com/wp/fact-or-fiction-tire-contact-patch-size-is-determined-mostly-by-weight-and-tire-pressure/)

Okay enough already. Do you guys read carefully or just skim over things? I stated a known fact that a taller tire is better in DEEP snow, ...i.e. DEEP snow and there are other reasons for going with a taller sidewall, but I did not state anything else especially pertaining to "traction ability", as that was not the issue being addressed. The OP was or seemed to be concerned only with size differential and possible speedo change...nothing else, so I limited my info.

No disrespect, but seriously all theses comments, and your points may be valid, but are not teaching ME anything new. I've been around cars longer then most here have been alive and directly involved, anyways maybe the OP has grabbed some useful knowledge from it all.

Cheers,

_3

[bwar]

_3...
Yes I have learnt a lot and it's made my decision much much simpler now, which is all that we want I life! :)

Thank you!

[bwar]

Might as well throw this out there....

Best winter tire ( now that we have size out of the way) for my Mazda 3? For not just snow and ice, but also handling...

I'm thinking either: Yokohama ig52c, Bridgestone Blizzak WS 80, Toyo Observe Garit KX, Michelin X-ice Xi3 or Pirelle Winter Sottozero 3.

Thoughts?

[bwar]

Or maybe the Pirelli’s Ice Zero FR?

[ottoyu34]

Are you in the GTA? or somewhere else. You should pick the tire depending on the conditions you drive in, after all each is designed differently.

[Dubcee]

Hokay so my tl;dr opinion on winter rubber

18s = zomfg why. Have fun with potholes, frost heaves and an empty wallet.

17s = Unnecessary for winter. You're not going fast enough to enjoy the benefits most of the time.

16s = yes please. Potholes, don't care. Frost heaves, don't care. This is Lincoln level comfort compared to 18s. And cheaper.

As for the best tire, really depends on what area you're in. Waterloo has more ice/packed snow then deep stuff so I go for X-Ice. If you get more deep snow than ice days, get something with chunkier tread.

Save the 17+ sizes for summer. That's where you can have the most fun and destroy the fewest struts!

[bwar]

Okay...so then 16's it is. Makes sense. I never really thought that a larger tire size could not only make for a rougher ride, especially with the winter potholes, but could further damage the struts due to said rough(er) ride.
I live in Thunder Bay, which is northern Ontario. We may only get 3-4 good snow falls a year (we are right on the top of Lake Superior, hence we don't get the amount of snow that others might further north). So it's mainly hard packed ice/snow, clear roads, but COLD! Lol

[Marauder2]

Hi guys,

I bought my first car this summer, a 2005 Mazda 3 Hatch 2.3L, and am looking at winter tires. I didn't want to create a new thread just yet without asking in existing ones. My car came with P205/50R17 all-season, but from what I understand, it can take as low as 16", and some say it's even better in the snow. My question is, when looking for 16" tires, I should be looking for P205/55R16 correct?

Thanks for your help.

[C_Costa96]

Hi guys,

I bought my first car this summer, a 2005 Mazda 3 Hatch 2.3L, and am looking at winter tires. I didn't want to create a new thread just yet without asking in existing ones. My car came with P205/50R17 all-season, but from what I understand, it can take as low as 16", and some say it's even better in the snow. My question is, when looking for 16" tires, I should be looking for P205/55R16 correct?

Thanks for your help.

that would be correct the 16s will have no problem on your car and p205/55r16 will work perfectly

[Marauder2]

that would be correct the 16s will have no problem on your car and p205/55r16 will work perfectly

Thank you. I am looking at the NEXEN - WINGUARD WINSPIKE - 205/55R16 94T XL tire, can I use an XL tire?

[bwar]

So my dealership only had two options available, unless the ordered in. The General Tire Altimax Arctic and Michelin Ice.

They want $1376.00 for the 16 inch Altimax Arctic with steel rims, installed. Taxes not included! This seems HIGH!! Or am I not in the know??

Contact a local tires shop. They can get me the Firestone Winter Force all in (not including taxes) for 784.00. Another shop has the Kumho KW27 for $795.00 installed ( but they did not specify if this included the rims...).

Hell, Can Tire has the Pirelle ICE for $848.00, including rims, however not installed.

Why the spread?? I get it that the Firestone are not premium tires… But either are the GT AA's!

[Flagrum_3]

So my dealership only had two options available, unless the ordered in. The General Tire Altimax Arctic and Michelin Ice.

They want $1376.00 for the 16 inch Altimax Arctic with steel rims, installed. Taxes not included! This seems HIGH!! Or am I not in the know??

Contact a local tires shop. They can get me the Firestone Winter Force all in (not including taxes) for 784.00. Another shop has the Kumho KW27 for $795.00 installed ( but they did not specify if this included the rims...).

Hell, Can Tire has the Pirelle ICE for $848.00, including rims, however not installed.

Why the spread?? I get it that the Firestone are not premium tires… But either are the GT AA's!

Where do you live? Try our sponsors if you can.

[S.F.W.]

So my dealership only had two options available, unless the ordered in. The General Tire Altimax Arctic and Michelin Ice.

They want $1376.00 for the 16 inch Altimax Arctic with steel rims, installed. Taxes not included! This seems HIGH!! Or am I not in the know??

Contact a local tires shop. They can get me the Firestone Winter Force all in (not including taxes) for 784.00. Another shop has the Kumho KW27 for $795.00 installed ( but they did not specify if this included the rims...).

Hell, Can Tire has the Pirelle ICE for $848.00, including rims, however not installed.

Why the spread?? I get it that the Firestone are not premium tires… But either are the GT AA's!

You can get the Altimax from Simply tire for $730 or the X Ice for $900 plus taxes. Given driving from Thunderbay is not practical, maybe see if they can ship you the order, and then have the dealer install.

In terms of the spread...dealers typically have a higher price than tire shops, though being almost twice the price is nuts.

[natspriceless]

You can get the Altimax from Simply tire for $730 or the X Ice for $900 plus taxes. Given driving from Thunderbay is not practical, maybe see if they can ship you the order, and then have the dealer install.

In terms of the spread...dealers typically have a higher price than tire shops, though being almost twice the price is nuts.

I just saw Chris at Simply Tire this afternoon and they have a great deal on the Blizzak WS80 that wheels.ca gave a top rating to. Chris also recommended them and I trust him lol...$770 for the package with a $70 rebate for 16"

[Drewmtb29]

I have a 15 GT and run 205/60/16 (stock GX/GS size) Michelin Xi3 tires and steelies. Works great!

[Mimizu man]

Edmunds had an article about skinnier tires in winter. A 10mm reduction made a difference in stopping.

http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/testing-the-benefits-of-winter-tires.html