It's that time of year again...

[mcstark]

Put the snowies on my car today. The OEM Dunlops made it 12,800 miles. What pieces of crap! I rotated them every 5000 miles, they're down to 3/32 across the entire width.

Anyway here they are: 1993 Mazda 929 rims w/ 195/55-15 Pirelli Winter Carving tires. Let the snow fly!

I need to thank Flat_Black for all the info on the wheels: thanks man!

[Sir Nuke]

I just don't know why so many of you trash the stock tires so fast....guess you drive them pretty hard. We got nearly 30,000 miles out of the first ones....and we are at 52,000 on the car now and there is plenty of tred left on them. They are pretty sticky tires...and have decent wet traction as well.

[DraconicPenguin]

I just put on my snow tires today. I ordered the winter package from tirerack. New steel wheels and Dunlop Graspic DS-2's. I think it doesn't look too bad, for steel wheels.

http://www.granville.k12.oh.us/~justo/p5/IMG_0624_small.jpg

[Cellerator]

they got crap traction for wet weather. snow isnt too bad but wet is horrible. On the highway, i couldn't do over 55 on a 65. I hate stock dunlops but i cant get new tires until they are worn out.

[ELEmental59437]

I partially blame the stock dunlops for my accident back in June. If I had my other tires on I could have avoided a head on collision with a divider on the highway...

[Phatbungo]

Yeah the stock tires suck in wet weather. I can hydroplane i swear for about 25 feet everytime it rains going down the road near my house.
Anyone recomend any tires to get?

[kcbhiw]

The Dunlop stockers never gave me an issue in terms of wet or dry grip until about 21k miles. I often have spirited driving moments and the Dunlops served me well. I never had any hydroplaning issues until the tires were nearly done. Heh, I only rotated them twice throughout that period.

[Lord_Zath]

No problems w/stockies here either. Though last winter I did have a few scares with fresh powdery snow...

Wet weather gives me no problems besides the slight understeer at hard right-angle turns.

LZ
Z

[Jimvh3]

what is this thing you call snow???? I have never actully seen the snow fall, and if it does, I am not driving in it. I am locking the door and not going out side. Can I get a big Yippie for no snow! YIPPIE!!!

[Suomi]

what is this thing you call snow???? I have never actully seen the snow fall, and if it does, I am not driving in it. I am locking the door and not going out side. Can I get a big Yippie for no snow! YIPPIE!!!

Yippie indeed. I've had enough snowy winters. I need to move to a warmer climate.

[mazdaspeedpower]

funny you mention snow tires...it's currently snowing here...enough to cover the grass...

[NJP5Guy]

snow rocks the caszba...dunlops in wet don't. (rockon)

[Pesty]

Ive found the stock dunlops to be pretty decent on dry and damp roads. I say damp, because if there is ANY standing water they hydroplane at 50+.

On day's that it's raining I regularly hydroplane at least 5 times going 55mph (cruse set) during the 20 mile drive up the Dallas North Tollway to work. I mean, runnoff comming down a hill will make these tires float. Were talking maybe 1/8th inch of "standing" water. 1/4", forget it. That drops the hydroplane speed down to like 40. First time I drove my P5 in the rain, I thought I was going to die. Now I just figure it's going to take me twice as long to get where I'm going.

If there's no standing water their fine, I can take corners nearly as fast as I can on dry pavement, but anything that even looks like a puddle actually scares me now.

Oh, and my car/tires have less than 12k miles on them, and probably have another 20+k left on the tread.

[sonosesso]

Yeah the stock tires suck in wet weather. I can hydroplane i swear for about 25 feet everytime it rains going down the road near my house.
Anyone recomend any tires to get?

continental extreme contact! Love those tires, and have awesome treadwear!

[misbehave]

Look's good! Have a European styke look.

The stock Dunlop almost got me into an accident. I was doing 20 going down hill and the road ended in a turing red light. My wheels locked up and I almost slide under a Toyota Land Cruser.
Another time I was "gliding" on I-5 in a raining night just goint 45. My P5 become a speed boat.

[Protephile]

The stock Dunlops are horrible in the rain. They were ok at first but as soon as my treadwear hit about 50%, the hydroplaning got really bad. They've been awful in the snow, too, even when they were brand-new.
Thank god they finally need to be replaced, but for this winter I'm getting the winter package from tirerack.

[chuyler1]

I've got 34,000 miles on my stock tires. Sure they are a little slick in the rain but you should be driving defensively in the rain anyway. If winter wasn't around the corner I'd keep my tires on for another 6,000 miles. Next spring I'll probably get new tires.

BTW, how much did you end up paying for the 929 rims? I've got a set of steelies for my snows but I am dreading how they will look on my car.

[FunkyBuddha]

Never hydroplaned at all even going 100+ kph in rainy weather on the highway. It sux in the snow though. No grip at all. My tires are at around 40K+ km and the middle strip is bald now.

[mcstark]

I just don't know why so many of you trash the stock tires so fast....guess you drive them pretty hard. We got nearly 30,000 miles out of the first ones....and we are at 52,000 on the car now and there is plenty of tred left on them. They are pretty sticky tires...and have decent wet traction as well.Hey Sir Nuke!

I'm not terribly aggressive with my driving, and I've never gotten more than 20,000 miles from a factory tire. What shocked me was that the tread depth was even all the way across, so I couldn't have been driving that hard because I usually round the corners off first. We'll see when I get my replacements on in the spring - Pirelli Pzero Nero M+S.

I've never had traction issues with them (wet or dry), except for snow - but that's to be expected from a high performance all-season tire. My only grip is the mileage, but (like I said) that's pretty common for me.

How often do you rotate them? I do mine every 5000 miles.

[eMKay]

Mine lasted 20,000 but 3 of 4 were less than 2/32 so I knew all summer that they had to go, just waited for winter. Just put Dunlop Graspic DS2's on my spare set of stock wheels (old twist style). The polished stockers get a setr of FM901's in the spring.

[Replica]

I got 36,000 miles out of the stock Dunlops and I drove like an asshole. My second tires however, Cooper 2XS's, lasted 18,000 miles and are already showing cords!

[mcstark]

I got 36,000 miles out of the stock Dunlops and I drove like an asshole. My second tires however, Cooper 2XS's, lasted 18,000 miles and are already showing cords!
I've never had much luck with Coopers...

[mcstark]

Mine lasted 20,000 but 3 of 4 were less than 2/32 so I knew all summer that they had to go, just waited for winter. Just put Dunlop Graspic DS2's on my spare set of stock wheels (old twist style). The polished stockers get a setr of FM901's in the spring.
Hey Mike! How'd auto-x go this year? Got a Neon now huh...I guess the Mitsu/Eagle didn't work out. I had a 95 Neon Sport (ACR suspension with all the toys/heavy accessories), but it was a fun car. It just begged for 16's.

I was checking out the Graspics, but went with the Pirelli's instead. We'll see how they work out.

[loccusst]

I hate the factory tires. Once you hit around 15,000 miles on them spirited dry driving the tires don't grip.... wet you can forget about it even driving normal. Last winter when the tires were nearly new they did alright in the snow. My potenza's on my civic do rather nice in wet weather, not gonna try em in the snow.

[Protege52003]

I go through the dunlops between 20-25K. my sister gets 40-50 out of them. believe she still has the original OEM's that have not been rotated since 01' and her car has over 60K.

i drive pretty hard and don't expect much out of a performance tire. believe most of us in this forum can't expect much out of performance tires?

the dunlops suck in rain after 50% worn and are terrible in snow....especially packed snow!!!

i guess i am going to get my 14' snow tires with steel rims on soon? i love driving on the snow.......

[eMKay]

Hey Mike! How'd auto-x go this year? Got a Neon now huh...I guess the Mitsu/Eagle didn't work out. I had a 95 Neon Sport (ACR suspension with all the toys/heavy accessories), but it was a fun car. It just begged for 16's.

I was checking out the Graspics, but went with the Pirelli's instead. We'll see how they work out.
The Neon is FAST, totally different league than the P5, I ended up winning DSP and then selling the car. I'm getting a Miata next, slower (stock class as opposed to heavily modified like the Neon) but more competative in the class.

Dunlop and Toyo are the only companies that make 195/50/16's so I had to choose, and the Dunlops were 1/2 the price so it was easy. I wasn't willing to get a set of steelies since I already have an extra set of stock wheels.

[gonzo_id10t]

Hey all - my first post!

I put my winter tires on last weekend and I'm ready for the snow. Last year I got Pirelli 210 Snow Sports (195/55/R15) on Borbet rims and I was pretty happy with the ride. Snow and water traction much better than the Dunlops. The Pirelli's are noticeably louder on the highway though.

[mcstark]

The Neon is FAST, totally different league than the P5, I ended up winning DSP and then selling the car. I'm getting a Miata next, slower (stock class as opposed to heavily modified like the Neon) but more competative in the class.

Dunlop and Toyo are the only companies that make 195/50/16's so I had to choose, and the Dunlops were 1/2 the price so it was easy. I wasn't willing to get a set of steelies since I already have an extra set of stock wheels.
Nice...I was looking at Miata's too, as a weekend car but I've always wanted a late 70's 911 so I've gotta sit on my money for a few years. Maybe I'll get out to see you guys racin' next summer. Don't think I'm ready to beat on my P5 yet...it's gotta last for a while!

[Protege52003]

Hey all - my first post!

I put my winter tires on last weekend and I'm ready for the snow. Last year I got Pirelli 210 Snow Sports (195/55/R15) on Borbet rims and I was pretty happy with the ride. Snow and water traction much better than the Dunlops. The Pirelli's are noticeably louder on the highway though.
that rim/winter tire package looks great on your 5.

welcome to the forum....people are nice and there are a bunch of nice guys in the NEPOC club. we have some nice drive/meets throughout the tear. maybe some ski meets this winter.....

-ryan

[mcstark]

Hey all - my first post!

I put my winter tires on last weekend and I'm ready for the snow. Last year I got Pirelli 210 Snow Sports (195/55/R15) on Borbet rims and I was pretty happy with the ride. Snow and water traction much better than the Dunlops. The Pirelli's are noticeably louder on the highway though.
Gonzo - Welcome! My Pirelli's (Winter Carving) are the same size as yours and I'm still adjusting to the ride. That extra inch of sidewall definitely kills the feel around corners. My butt-ometer can feel them flexing as the car shifts its weight. They're not terribly loud on the highway -- quieter than stock I feel -- but you can hear them grab at the pavement when accelerating. I catch myself getting off the gas and back on again to hear them grip the pavement -- it's weird and strange. But I didn't buy them for the performance, only the traction in the deep stuff.

I can't wait to laugh at all the SUV's with their all-seasons this winter!!! (drive)

[Iggy]

The Neon is FAST, totally different league than the P5, I ended up winning DSP and then selling the car. I'm getting a Miata next, slower (stock class as opposed to heavily modified like the Neon) but more competative in the class.

Dunlop and Toyo are the only companies that make 195/50/16's so I had to choose, and the Dunlops were 1/2 the price so it was easy. I wasn't willing to get a set of steelies since I already have an extra set of stock wheels.
Kumho also makes a tire in that size. I found it out when I blew one of my tires a month or two back. The only reason I bought the Dunlop again was because my car only had about 9,500 miles on it, and I didn't want to have two different sets of tired on the car.

The Kumno's actually outperform the Dunlop in every category and are also 50 dollars less to boot.

[gonzo_id10t]

that rim/winter tire package looks great on your 5.

welcome to the forum....people are nice and there are a bunch of nice guys in the NEPOC club. we have some nice drive/meets throughout the tear. maybe some ski meets this winter.....

-ryan

Hey thanks Ryan! I just sent an email to NEPOC...

[gonzo_id10t]

Gonzo - Welcome! My Pirelli's (Winter Carving) are the same size as yours and I'm still adjusting to the ride....

I can't wait to laugh at all the SUV's with their all-seasons this winter!!! (drive)

mcstark - yeah I agree with you that the taller sidewalls don't do much for cornering. What PSI do you keep them at? I inflate mine to 32 since thats what it says in the manual. When I took my stock Dunlops off, I noticed their inflation was down to 27-28. I gotta do a better job checking the pressure!

Speaking of SUV's - so many people, even in New England, just don't have enough respect for snow and ice. Every winter you see bozos with big AWD vehicles on the side of the road. Let's hope none of us get hit!
(eek2)

[FlyinMSP]

In the manual I've got it says to inflate winter tires 4.3 psi (say 4) more than what is mentioned on the door (32 psi)

[FlyinMSP]

I just put on my snow tires today. I ordered the winter package from tirerack. New steel wheels and Dunlop Graspic DS-2's. I think it doesn't look too bad, for steel wheels.

I'm wondering what's different compared to the Graspic DS-1. Anyways that's what I've used last winter (and will put 'em back very soon) and they are excellent winter tires!

[chuyler1]

Speaking of SUV's - so many people, even in New England, just don't have enough respect for snow and ice. Every winter you see bozos with big AWD vehicles on the side of the road. Let's hope none of us get hit!
(eek2)Don't get me started on SUV drivers... (flame)

[NJP5Guy]

Don't get me started on SUV drivers... (flame)
(werd)

[mcstark]

My manual says 32psi for 195/55-15 tires so that's what I'm going with. The extra 4 lbs is probably to insure against your pressure going too low -- you lose 1 psi for every 10 degree (F) decrease of air temp. I try to check it every month or so, especially in the winter with wild temperature fluctuations but sometimes that doesn't happen.

My butt's pretty sensitive to tire pressure so I usually feel it before it's too late.

[chuyler1]

Has anyone thought about putting trim rings on their steelies? I'm trying to find pictures of cars with them but all I find are hotrods and the photos aren't that great.