winter driving adventure, new Blizzaks FTW!

[chufa]

My new set of Blizzaks mounted on 17" Kazera black wheels arrived yesterday from Tirerack for my '08 MS3 GT, just in time for a big winter storm (snow/ice/sleet) here in Iowa. I drove to the dealership to have them put on in the middle of the storm with my stock tires. It was scary and horrible. I could barely get out of stop lights, drove 25 MPH max in 3rd gear on a 55 MPH road, everyone passing me. Rear end wanting to come loose in turns, even at a crawling speed.

When I got out with the Blizzaks on, I could not believe it! My wife couldn't keep up with me with her 4x4 Ford Explorer. I was comfortably getting out of stoplights while 4x4 SUVS were slipping and sliding. I was stopping nicely, easing through turns, feeling more like rally-car-fun than scary. What an amazing difference! My previous car was an AWD Audi S4 before, with Dunlop Winter Sport tires in the winter, and these Blizzaks, even on a FWD car, gave me a lot more confidence and performed better in the snow/ice.

One thing I noticed is that I purchased this package without the TPS sensors, and I was expecting the dashboard TPS light to be on, but it wasn't. Maybe the dealer swapped the sensors for me?

I will attach some pics, with the inclement weather, I could not get good shots outside of my small garage, so I apologize. Also, I chose those black wheels as my previous silver winter wheel package got regularly "blackened" with all the dirt in the winter roads, so I thought it would be more dirt-friendly (we'll see...)

[6262MS3]

Nice! What width did you go with? With proper winter tires this is one of the best FWD cars I've driven in the snow. I'm actually glad that the boost doesn't come in until 2500rpm or so, the engine has the perfect amount of torque off-boost for icy roads and it's perfectly happy chugging along at 1000rpm. The lsd makes a huge difference (I was able to get up a steep, snow-covered gravel driveway from a dead stop in the middle of it) and the steering has so much feedback that I can feel exactly when the tires are about to break loose before they actually do.

[happy and angry]

I'm actually glad that the boost doesn't come in until 2500rpm or so, the engine has the perfect amount of torque off-boost for icy roads and it's perfectly happy chugging along at 1000rpm. The lsd makes a huge difference (I was able to get up a steep, snow-covered gravel driveway from a dead stop in the middle of it) and the steering has so much feedback that I can feel exactly when the tires are about to break loose before they actually do.This is one of the reasons I bought the car. If you don't flog it, it can be a regular, sedate daily driver. I live up in the great white north, and we get some serious snow some winters. Having 280 lb/ft of torque on tap isn't always a good thing in that sort of weather, but so far in two storms this car has been very predictable.

I got Blizzak WS60's as well, 215/50R17 mounted on a set of the Mazda snowflake alloys from the '07 Mazda3. Prettiest winter rims I've ever had, and so far the tires have been incredible.

[ottawaP5]

Nice! What width did you go with? With proper winter tires this is one of the best FWD cars I've driven in the snow. I'm actually glad that the boost doesn't come in until 2500rpm or so, the engine has the perfect amount of torque off-boost for icy roads and it's perfectly happy chugging along at 1000rpm. The lsd makes a huge difference (I was able to get up a steep, snow-covered gravel driveway from a dead stop in the middle of it) and the steering has so much feedback that I can feel exactly when the tires are about to break loose before they actually do.

You're right about the LSD making a difference...you can actually feel the 2 wheels pulling through the snow/slush. I'm really happy with how this car performs in winter.

[Hirudin]

That first pic looks bad-ass!

[Falconx84]

One thing I noticed is that I purchased this package without the TPS sensors, and I was expecting the dashboard TPS light to be on, but it wasn't. Maybe the dealer swapped the sensors for me?

were your factory rims in the car?

[Foolish]

were your factory rims in the car?

Ah, yeah. If the wheels/tires with the TPS system were in your MS3 on the drive home, you're going to have an unpleasant surprise (the TPS light) when you go for your first drive after dropping them off. (rofl)

It was 63* and sunny here today. I'm so glad I moved South from D.C. :D

[Falconx84]

^^ or you can carry them around all winter.... just in case your have a bright, sunny 70deg day this winter :D

[chufa]

the rims were in my wife's explorer, which was following me. Interesting, are they wireless, and can they reach that far?

[Falconx84]

never tried.... in that case, see if a buddy with a mazda can drive next to you all winter!

[Capt Crunch]

When I had my STI it started to snow so I tried to get back home to my winter tires.

http://web.mac.com/robdussault/iWeb/Site/winterwhizzles_files/DSC00777.jpg

Let me tell you, Azenis 615s and snow don't mix. There was like a 0.5% grade and I was just sliding down backwards at 1 mph. Some guy with a truck took me to my house to pick up my wheels and I changed them on the side of the road.

I drove 45 mph on the way home.

[Hirudin]

LOL: AWD too!

[Young Roids]

YEa blizzacks are pretty cool aren't they. I have had similar experiences with them. What kind of blizzacks are those one pictured?

[Foolish]

Let me tell you, Azenis 615s and snow don't mix. There was like a 0.5% grade and I was just sliding down backwards at 1 mph. Some guy with a truck took me to my house to pick up my wheels and I changed them on the side of the road.

I drove 45 mph on the way home.


When I had my Miata and lived outside of D.C. I ran the old Azenis spring-summer-fall, and Michelin Arctic Alpins in the winter. One of those winters, I didn't get the Alpins on before the first snow. It was less than 1/2 an inch, and the Miata wouldn't move! Pop on the Alpins, and it was good to go! :D

Snow tires kick ass, but I'm glad I don't need them anymore! :)

[chufa]

YEa blizzacks are pretty cool aren't they. I have had similar experiences with them. What kind of blizzacks are those one pictured?

These are 215/50QR17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50. $109 a piece from closeout sale. Bridgestone is coming out with a new Blizzak model, I think it is the WS-60. The wheels are 17x7.5 Flat Black w/Mach Lip Kazera KZ-A Dual PCD.

[chufa]

On a strange update note, like I said before, the TPMS light had stayed off even though I had not purchased new sensors. I even made several trips (supermarket, work, etc) away from my stock tires with the sensors, and no light came on. But today I hit a pothole, then the light came on and stayed on.

[Falconx84]

Actually.... I just switched my tires today.... I've put about 50 miles and 3-4 starts on it and the light still isn't on. My TCS light was on, but thats beside the point, lol. Gotta get a feel for the new tires somehow, right?

And I know for a fact that my TPMS is on my factory rims... I watched them mount the tires

[blacksheepms3]

I got the blizzacks too from tirerack. it's amazing. i got it one 3 days before it snowed and boy was i glad. my stock tires were balding, even when they were new i couldnt get out of a parking space one time when it snowed 6 inches. It cost a lot but it's worth it.

[Falconx84]

I got the blizzacks too from tirerack. it's amazing. i got it one 3 days before it snowed and boy was i glad. my stock tires were balding, even when they were new i couldnt get out of a parking space one time when it snowed 6 inches. It cost a lot but it's worth it.

still less than your deductible and subsequent increase in premiums I'll bet ;)

[Hirudin]

Gee, I hope my sensors are working! I put on new rims, but I did transfer over the TPMSes. The light hasn't come on, but so far as I know there hasn't been a reason for it to. Maybe I'll let a bunch of air out of one of the tires and see what happens.

If you're not sure if they're on your wheel or not just look at the valve stem. If it's a black rubber jobbie then you do NOT have the TPMSes installed.

[major error]

I forget which thread it was mentioned in, but someone said that there's a known issue where the TPMS sensors are subject to RFI from the auto-wiper sensor...

I had a case where the alarm didn't go off until I'd lost close to 10psi on a punctured tire....but it has gone off after dropping about 5 just from overnight temperature changes. Now that it's really cold, I'm wondering why the alarm hasn't sounded yet.

As for winter tires, I've had a set of Nokian RSi on for a month now (break in new tires in good weather; rely on them in bad.) The compound has firmed up nicely, but not too much, now that the freezing temperatures are here. They're loud, but what winter tire isn't?
They haven't really received a true test, but I was able to get up the 5-10 degree sloped driveway in icy conditions. I'm withholding judgment until winter truly arrives and the city plows can't keep up.

[sherwood1]

Anybody know if some slightly larger snows will fit my 05 3'hatch? the dealers and tire store say 205/55 on 16's but I've got the chance to pick up some barely used, one season old Blizzaks 215/60 R16's from a guy who just got rid of his 03 MPV. I've got the stock 17's on there now so I would imagine that the slightly larger tire on smaller rims would fit fine... just not sure about the width of the tire and the length of the lug bolts. Anybody try this before or got any info that might help? By the way, I am much to cheap to go and buy new snows and steel wheels in the right size and make my life easier!

[happy and angry]

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Check tire sizes there. You might run in to problems with ABS sensors going nutty on you if the tire speed differs too much from the speedometer speed, so you generally want to keep tire size to within +/- 3-4% in terms of total circumference.

215/60R16 is about 4.5% off stock tire circumference, you may not want to do it, but they'll work fine.

[sherwood1]

That calculator is great. do you know if there is one out there for 3's instead of miatas?

[redspeed3tk]

now that its snowed im so happy i bought good winter tires the bliz lm22's i dont have to listen to the loud annoyin noise of most winters and i still have really good dry performance and they grab the road in snow better than my winter forces on the audi i think $200 extra is well worth the quite good handling ride

[fourthmeal]

Check this calculator out that Koenig (the forum member) found...its on my sig.

[sherwood1]

That site is great. Thanks a lot. It looks like the snows are just going to fit without cuasing major problems. I guess I just go and stick one on and see how it goes.

[sherwood1]

Next question for you smart people... How about ASA 17's from an infinty. Tirerack comes up with a bolt pattern of 5x114 for the infinity where as my 3 has a pattern of 5x114.3. Think they'll fit?

[happy and angry]

It's the same bolt pattern. People usually just drop the .3 part of 5 x 114.3

Unless it's a non-standard bolt pattern. But that would be pretty fucked up.

[fourthmeal]

Next question for you smart people... How about ASA 17's from an infinty. Tirerack comes up with a bolt pattern of 5x114 for the infinity where as my 3 has a pattern of 5x114.3. Think they'll fit?

The hub bore is what is in question, at this point. Mazda's hub bore may be bigger then Infiniti, or smaller. But unless it is the same, there is going to be an issue.

[sherwood1]

I just check and they give the pattern without the 3 for my car as well so that problems solved. Now about the width... I think the offset might be too large and I'll get some heavy rubbing. I'll have to wait and see what he comes back with.

[sherwood1]

Just thought I'd let everybody new that I'm just going to get new wheels after all and say thanks for all the input. Plain black steelies, mad max stlye. I'd did find used snows in the right size though. One seasons use and I saved about $400! If you're looking for good quality snows there are plenty of people out there who have changed cars becuase of a lease or something like that and have tires that dont fit there new car. Why pay full price, check something like craigslist first.