Goodbye summer mode...Hello winter mode

[Jetmech]

Well it is time here in Canada to start thinking about winter driving so off with the summer and on with winter tires and rims.

Summer Mode...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/airbusmazda6/Photobucket002Medium.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/airbusmazda6/Photobucket001Medium.jpg

Winter Mode...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/airbusmazda6/Photobucket004Medium.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/airbusmazda6/Photobucket005Medium.jpg

Cheers (beer)(beer)

[skyhawk]

hmm. Too early? Regina, Saskatchewan here. 20 Celcius today. We are squeezing whatever is left of the summer. lolz. As per forecast we still have about 1 week before the white stuff comes. Winter tires with steelies still in their storage.

[HondaNoMore]

werd, as soon as i put my winter wheels/tires on the weather went from snowing to 60 and sunny..... damnit

[Oh_Seven]

I just threw the snows on Yesterday ... the week looks pretty mild though. Regardless, I'd rather change them in decent weather then freeze!

What kind of rims are those for winter? For some reason they remind me of something off a chevy! haha

[Jetmech]

I just threw the snows on Yesterday ... the week looks pretty mild though. Regardless, I'd rather change them in decent weather then freeze!

What kind of rims are those for winter? For some reason they remind me of something off a chevy! haha


I'd rather change them while the weather is warmer as well. The rims are off an escape limited. Too good a deal to pass up and I am sick of steelies so they will have to do for now.

[Oh_Seven]

very nice! definitely looks better then the plain-jane steelies (drinks)

[deepfry]

werd, as soon as i put my winter wheels/tires on the weather went from snowing to 60 and sunny..... damnit

Same here in Toronto ... snowed about 2 weeks ago and I just had my winter tires / wheels mounted this past weekend and bam ... 20C tomorrow and upper teens for the rest of the week (boom01)

[Jetmech]

The temps are crazy, you can literally see the tires disappear in front of you but at least you can take solace in the fact you will not be one of the souls at the tire shop when the snow flys and the line up is out the door.(lol2)(lol2)

[skyhawk]

Can't stretch it anymore. this morning I unpacked the winter tire/steelies. Measured pressure on all of them. 1 tire had 25.4 psi on it. The rest had 34psi. Alarm bells! checked every inch of the tire. Found a nail nicely pierced in between sipes. I could have patched it myself.. (using those 'emergency patch one can buy off the shelf) but I brought it to the tireshop for repair and balancing.

[blacktalon13]

i still haven't put snow tires on my 5 yet.. i kinda doubt i'll be putting them on this winter.. i love driving in the snow with bald tires.. hahahaa

[5phreak]

man i really like the RX-8 wheels. they kick it up a notch for sure. want.

[skyhawk]

Our MAZDA5 now joins the club.
Zoom-zoom is now on seasonal disconnect.

from this...
http://users.accesscomm.ca/reygamar/winter1.jpg


to this.. ewww!
http://users.accesscomm.ca/reygamar/winter3.jpg


It will be the hankook winter-ipike's 3rd winter.
http://users.accesscomm.ca/reygamar/winter2.jpg

[Jetmech]

For 3 winters it looks like you still have decent tread depth. I have a friend who has the iPikes and he loves them. I'm riding on Michelin Pilot Alpins for the moment and have another set of Gislaved that I might be selling or switching and selling the Michelins. The Pilot Alpin are a little bigger than I need where as the Gislaved are the proper fitment.

Also the tire retailers are saying that will be a shortage of tires this year because of Quebec making it mandatory to have winter tires as of Dec 15. Anybody on the fence might want to buy sooner rather than later.

[jibwagon]

i put mine on yesterday. i was thinking i may be early but then the weatherman is calling for snow all next week(headbang) firestone winterforce205/60 16

[midMOdan]

Unless the random flakes spotted this last Saturday count, winter has not made it to Missouri yet. But an "appearance modification" I made today has me wondering about you folks who regularly deal with deep snow.

I managed to scrape the bottom of the bumper cover driving out of the tire store parking lot after buying snow tires. Luckily, you'd have to be lying in front of the car to see the black plastic abrasion.

So, even with those gnarly snow tires you all have posted fotos of, how often do you find yourselves wishing for more ground clearance? I recall years ago seeing my sister's Escort sitting and spinning after driving itself right up on top of the snow.

I'm a recovering Subaru owner and maybe being extra paranoid about winter driving with 50% less drive wheels.

[skyhawk]

Another reason why the MZ5 has to have winter tires. To help avoid ending in the ditch or up on top of the snows. But you are right. There rare times when I wish I had a cx-7. Happens in a really heavy snow fall. Last winter, it happened 3 times. The winter before that, twice I wished I had an SUV. Other than those rare occasions, Winter-tire equipped MZ5 is just fine.

[065]

Well it is time here in Canada to start thinking about winter driving so off with the summer and on with winter tires and rims.

Winter Mode...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/airbusmazda6/Photobucket004Medium.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/airbusmazda6/Photobucket005Medium.jpg

Cheers (beer)(beer)

What size are those tires? They look pretty meaty.

[AIMWO4]

I have sone General Altima Arctics

[Jetmech]

225/55R16 are the size of the tires...

[red headz]

I like this thread.

It has M5's w/ RX8 wheels and M5's w/ winter setups. Similar to what we will be doing.

Either RX8 or MS3 wheels for summer and somethin for winter...

michael.

[mrbwa1]

I like this thread.

It has M5's w/ RX8 wheels and M5's w/ winter setups. Similar to what we will be doing.

Either RX8 or MS3 wheels for summer and somethin for winter...

michael.

Lol! I've never done the rims in winter thing, but the steelies do get dull looking after a while. On the plus side, just got the rims back on for summer and they sure look nice!

I also finally got around to getting real wheels for my ride (the 5 is the Wife's). No more plain-jane econocar! (same thing I thought when we bought the 5 ironically)

[Jetmech]

Time to update this thread for the coming winter and the new RX 7 FD rims that are being installed. Pics will follow soon...

[SGT_OKINAWA]

*Thanks the stars he does not have to do this*

Gee, that's a bummer, but someone has to live in the tundra land ...

:)

Peace!(rei)

[KBrian]

Jetmech, how wide are those Escape rims to fit 225 section width tires?

[Jetmech]

The escape rims are 16 x 7. The rx7 rims that are going on shortly are 16 x 8.

The lower the profile of tire the wider the rim has to get because of less sidewall flex.

[Jetmech]

Took the plunge yesterday and mounted the winter rubber as I'm going to be busy for the next few weekends so took the opportunity to mount them early this year. Flame away...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/airbusmazda6/DSC_0001.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/airbusmazda6/DSC_0003.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/airbusmazda6/DSC_0004.jpg

[BlueThunder]

Nice wheels. What kind are they?

[Jetmech]

Third Generation Rx 7 Oem.

[Jetmech]

Just an update as I was getting a weird noise under full lock steering. The problem was the wheel weights for balancing on the inside of the rim were rubbing the tie rods on the steering rack. Luckily I was checking for this at slow speed and the fact that the weights are lead so they are very easy to rub away.

Had to install a set of 3 mm spacers and the problem is solved...

Only prob is the wheel sits a little further out now but I can live with that...

[DKaz]

Took the plunge yesterday and mounted the winter rubber as I'm going to be busy for the next few weekends so took the opportunity to mount them early this year. Flame away...

Tires aren't shiny enough! lol. Nice though. :) Great rims.

Still a bit too warm to go to winter mode here...