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tsx_guy · Postby **tsx_guy** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Memphis @ Sep 24 2007, 11:36 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=1469]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Oh you just gotta bite the bullet and do it,, if you sit there and say your gonna buy them over and over and never do,, then you never will.. just gotta make yourself do it.. I did, and I did it when my wife was 7mths prego.. she bout killed me,, but I dont regret it at all, I love having rims and wouldnt have it any other way..[/b]

come now, don't be like that. I have been looking for months for the perfect rim (style, size, weight,price) for my ride. I think I have finally found it
but don't really want to install new rims going right into winter. I will be getting 17" as 18" + tires are $$$$, right now I am focusing on tires to get me
through the winter as the oem ones are kinda scary in the snow and ice .... [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/6a434460.gif[/img]

DemonOfTheFall · Postby **DemonOfTheFall** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:14

Sweet, we just received four of these badboys today in fact for my girlfriends Jetta. Going to have them mounted and ballance this week then driving to Glenwood for the weekend. I'll be able to post some (hopefully) dry highway ride/grip/comfort impressions shortly.

Anh Bi · Postby **Anh Bi** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (6i_guy @ Sep 25 2007, 09:03 AM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=1516]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

come now, don't be like that. I have been looking for months for the perfect rim (style, size, weight,price) for my ride. I think I have finally found it
but don't really want to install new rims going right into winter. I will be getting 17" as 18" + tires are $$$$, right now I am focusing on tires to get me
through the winter as the oem ones are kinda scary in the snow and ice .... [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/6a434460.gif[/img][/b]

You can sipe your OEM tires to give them some extra traction in the wet and snow.

To be honest with you, I have never seen the need for winter tires if you live in the front range area.

Of course, if your car runs on Falken Azenis or Yohohama ES100, you need specified winter shoes. But for a daily driver, all-season tires will do just fine as the snow doesn't stick very long.

It's another story if you live in the mountains tho, but I took my car plenty of times snowboarding with regular all seasons. A pair of chains wouldn't hurt, either.

MazdaTom · Postby **MazdaTom** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Anh Bi @ Oct 3 2007, 06:25 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=3213]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

But for a daily driver, all-season tires will do just fine as the snow doesn't stick very long.[/b]

I disagree. Since rubber in all-season tires was formulated to work in ALL seasons, it therefore doesn't work really well in ANY season. Just like how a good summer tire works well in rain and dry pavement when it's hot, it sucks in the snow and dry pavement when it's cold- I drove on a set of worn autox Azenis RT-215 year round in Kansas one winter, so I have a fair amount of experience. An all season tire is a compromise across the board for all conditions while summer/winter tires are more purpose built.

A good winter tire will keep its rubber soft and pliable in the coldest conditions- allowing the rubber to deform and grip the road surface much better. A summer tire's or all season tire's rubber will get hard when it gets cold. In dry conditions below about 45 degrees, a winter tire should be able to out-brake an all season tire. And as the temps get colder, the winter tire will do better and better compared to the all season tire.

Last winter was my first winter on a winter tire. I was amazed that when I hit the brakes on ice or snow packed roads, the car would actually slow down- almost as if I was on dry pavement. The same car during the previous winter on all seasons, I would have to fight wheel lock up all the time when braking. Winters in KS are filled more with ice than snow. The driveway at my house in KS was sloped pretty good. If I stopped midway on the ice packed driveway with all seasons and then tried to resume up the driveway- lots of wheels spin and usually only backward motion. I'd have to get a running start from the street to have a chance at making it up. With winter tires, I could stop midway just like the previous winter, but actually climb the driveway from a stop.

Sure, millions of people drive through each winter on all season tires (and some on summer tires) and don't have any issues, but I like having the added safety and confidence that a dedicated winter tire offers.

Anh Bi · Postby **Anh Bi** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:14

Tom,

There is no argument that winter tires will always offer better performance in the snow and ice compare to all-seasons. But how often do you see the snow stacking in the front range area rendering most roads useless?

Okay, last winter was pretty bad, but it usually snows the most in the spring here when snow melts within a couple day. Winter is rather very mild with clear skies here and city workers do a great job plowing the streets.

For a daily driver in the front range area, you can get away with all-seasons. Feel free to go with winter tires, but unless you travel through Wyoming, you'll lose quite some change between new rims and winter tires.

-Bi

MazdaTom · Postby **MazdaTom** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:14

Oh I know all about Front Range winters. I slipped and slid my way through several on all seasons in passed years. I'm looking forward to a sure-footed approach this winter on these tires. I'm done with all seasons.

And winter tires don't only offer benefit on snow/ice roads over all seasons, but they also offer better dry traction in cold weather over all seasons. True, winters are fairly mild here- but it can also get very cold here.

tsx_guy · Postby **tsx_guy** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:14

I remember back in the day, I would have two dedicate snows and two all season tires and would rotate them depending on the season. it was the poor man's approach to traction all the time.
I have since been using decent all seasons on all 4 wheels. Not as good as dedicated tires, but have managed
thus far....don't like having to worry about when the change the tires, ie getting caught in a snow storm in your
summer tires could be a very bad scene.

DemonOfTheFall · Postby **DemonOfTheFall** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:14

I've been pretty impressed with the Hankook Winter iPike tires. I am comparing them to the Dunlop Wintersport M3's. Overall I think the Hankooks offer better traction and a smoother ride, while the Dunlops offer better handling, and stiffer sidewall and there seems to be less road noise. For the price difference and focus of each tire its pretty much exactly what you would expect.

In the absolute worst conditions the iPike seem to be a better tire, but with the weather in CO (half a foot of snow one day, sunny skies and dry roads the next) I think the Dunlops are a better compromise of grip vs handling for me. They are however a fair bit more expensive. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

MazdaTom · Postby **MazdaTom** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:14

I've been happy with mine.

SpeedRacer · Postby **SpeedRacer** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:14

w00t I have Wintersport M3's and agree with everything Demon said.

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