I am looking to be moving to CS between now and spring and am trying to get an idea of what the driving is like there for the cold months. I will be moving from PHX,AZ. I am driving a 8.5 MS3 and my wife a 08 mazda3, and was wondering if I will be looking at getting some new feet for it. I have heard that it snows and is usually gone the next day, but I would rather hear it from people there. Off the bat we will be at Peterson and so will our work so I imagine the roads there are a priority at least for the location. I am looking forward to any info anyone can offer. TKS and see yall when we get there.

Welcome aboard! You might want to check this threadfor more info!

http://www.coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3081

The tires on your MS3 will probably cause you to wreck when driven in snow. The tires on the regular 3 should be OK if they still have some decent tread left on them.

if your in the springs, the snow is not too bad. Then again your coming from arizona and i came from cleveland...

For the last two years we have been having the Colorado winters I remember from my younger years. Peterson road(Yes it's leads to the Air Force Base) usually get's some attention, but I would recommend some decent snow tires. I know quite a few people with Blizzak snow tires and they love them. If you're not used to driving in snow, then they will be something you can't live without. I live off of peterson and have for the last few years so I know what the conditions are like. Not usually too bad, but the side streets get no attention.

I would recommend dedicated snows for you and your wife..

I'd personally go with Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi's, but that's cause I like to severely overdo things...

Welcome to the club!

As for winter and tires ect. For your speed you will definitely need a different set of tires. The stockers as i'm sure you know are summer only performance tires and will do nothing but get you killed if you can even get the car going... lol. Today was around 46-50 and my potenzas were rock solid, so its not only snow that makes the stockers dangerous, its temps as well.

As for the 3, the stock Eagle RS-A's may be labeled an "all season" tire, but take my word for it, they are useless in anything more than a light dusting of snow. I had a 3 hatch with the RS-A's and they did nothing for me in the snow two years ago.

You are much better off getting dedicated snow tires, or at the least a top of the line all season tire. If you don't plan on heading to the mountains, or we get "lucky" and don't get a big blizzard like we did two years ago, a good all season would probably be ok in CS.

Welcome again! Can't wait to have you out here!

Welcome! Hope to see your car soon. Snow tires on the speed3 are a must for the winter here.

You just gotta learn how to drive in the snow. My previous car was a '99 GTI with Pirelli P3000 on em. Never had a problem even when we had that big snow storm 2 years ago. I slid a little but never got stuck except where I live because the bastards dont plow.

But I am a native to CO and fortunately I was taught be some damn good teachers how to drive So.....kind of off topic but since your coming from AZ, to be on the safe side for your first winter here, I'd suggest some good snow tires til you and the wifey get used to our wonderful winderlands.

Hey I'm at Peterson, where will you be working, can you say? I work in 16 SPCS and I drive a green 3rd gen RX-7. But I'll be gone the first part of the year. We have meets every Friday night, during the winter it's indoors and during the summer it's outdoors at Sonic. I just got here in April so I couldn't tell you what the winter is like. I'm worried myself. I look forward to you guys getting here!

welcome to the group. and yeah the snow in the springs aint to bad just watch out for the Interstate. it aint the snow that causes accidents it's people who dont know how to drive in the snow

Welcome to the club.