[spwalker09]

Check up on tirerack.com, when I had my A4, I priced a set of 15" or 16" (can't remember) wheel/tire combo mounted on steelies for less than $400. They'll come balanced for you too so all you'd have to do is slap them on yourself. (I never used them b/c the car got sold soon after I priced them lol)

One suggestion on 3 vs. RX350...if the RX350's got the stock all seasons, you're better off investing in snow tires for the 3, which will handle the smaller snowfall better than the RX350 because of the lower center of gravity. If you've got 3 ft snowdrifts than obviously the RX is better (although in that case you'd still need snows...I bet the RX's all seasons are no better than the 3's all seasons)...I don't trust all-seasons/OEM tires on any car in the snow, I'm a firm believer in winter tires

 

[2010mazda3gte]

General Altimax is the way to go for the price. Excellent tire on M3. Stock tires are crap in the snow. Turn DSC off in the snow. Have snow tires mounted on separate black rims then they are easy to change come the spring. I own a 2010 M3 with 17" stock tires and I saved myself about $200.00 by buying General Altimax tires with 16" tires and rims. Purchased these tires at Canadian Tire using their don't pay for 6 month deal. Got my income tax refund and paid them off...

 

[RTFM]

the first gen and second gen are pretty damn bad in the snow! Winter tires are a must! I remember with my 07 mazda 3 I couldn't make it up my damn driveway. We didn't even get that much snow that night...

 

[ZPrice]

I might suggest this for a snow vehicle

 

[jmaister]

+1 on stock tire is death trap.

I swapped mine out with Conti DWS.

 

[Frnchplayr15]

I dont know about you guys but I love snow and I always look forward to it when it comes. But its funny but when I bought my car 09 we had two blizzards in a few months and I had the stock tires and DSC turned off at all times and I was destroying everyone all around! Not saying im good just saying the car did an amazing job then I put winter tires the next year and when it snowed boy was she perfect! Now maybe that the fact that I was raised in France in an area with lots of snow and mountains nearby and lots people who know how to drive over there kinda affects things but all I have to say is this car if treated right and given good enough equipment well take care of you in snow!
Im ready for this again

 

[HJLee]

so winters coming soon.... and im starting to wonder if I should get winter tires for my car..if so, what tires do you recommend? Blizzacks seem to be a favorite. I'm kinda short on cash so I'd like to get something that would last a few seasons and is still great in the snow.

 

[Havocforming]

so winters coming soon.... and im starting to wonder if I should get winter tires for my car..if so, what tires do you recommend? Blizzacks seem to be a favorite. I'm kinda short on cash so I'd like to get something that would last a few seasons and is still great in the snow.

The blizzaks are high quality. An continental also has a great winter tire. I'm taking my buddies continentals from his mini Cooper since he sold his. And he used em for a whole Alaskan winter on a 210 horsepower/torque turbocharged fwd car and they show nearly no wear. So they've got my vote

 

[Frnchplayr15]

Here are two that arent too expensive
General Altimax Arctic
Dunlop Graspic DS-3

 

[jmaister]

I never installed winter tires on my M3 but pretty much the tires should be all season anyways. I was out yesterday and all the sudden it started to snow. When I was heading home I made a couple turns and in those couple turns I noticed the same thing. Going into the turn was fine but when I was exiting the turn my steering wheel and tires were completely straight and I decide to give the car a little gas so I tapped the gas pedal. The traction control goes on and my car starts sliding towards one side but its a controllable slide because I was going so slow. I saw this happen to another M3 in my area too, 2010 M3 Hatchback.

I was wondering if:
(A) It's the way I'm driving in the snow
(B) I need winter tires to make me invincible
(C) The M3 isn't a great car in the snow

Thanks!

stock tires is [censored] crappy.

No car is bad in snow, its the shoes you give them. Yes, I'm talking light snow only.

 

[Tristessa]

Snow Performance ?

I just got a 2011 Mazda 3 itouring this summer. I had a '08 Nissan Sentra before for a few years with no problems in the snow. My sister owns the exact same model of Mazda but a year older and had alot of trouble with it in the snow. It could just be her tires but she complained about the traction control kicking on all the time. I'm worried about the approaching winter and want to be prepared. I live in Southeastern PA so I don't invest in snow tires because the weather is so inconsistent. Usually if is snows ridiculous, I dont drive to work in the car and drive my SUV. The Mazda I bought came from the dealer with all season Kuhmo Ecsta 4x tires. Is this sufficient for a few inches of snow in case I get stuck driving in it on the way home from work? Looking for advice because after hearing the traction control stories, I'm a bit worried. Thanks!

(I think its just the traction control that scares me. I drive manual and used to own a 1989 Mazda 323 with snow tires. Never had any problems. Even when I switched to all season, I still only got stuck once and that was on an untreated road in bumper to bumper traffic with crappy tires)

 

[BlueHaloGirl]

Love driving in the winter!! This is a great car with the right tires...that being winters. I run Michelin X-Ice Xi3 and love them!! They are not by any means the cheapest but I look at it this way. My life (and car) is worth more than $800 for a good set of winter tires that will help save my life. Also I'm up in Alberta and we have winter for 6 months of the year, so very much worth it.
I had a blast racing her on an ice track last season with just my X-Ice and no studs.

 

[JS593]

use winter tires. If you use all seasons you're just asking for issues. Proper tires for weather conditions is always a recommendation by any auto MFG. Cheaper the tire is, normally the more "garbage" it is. Get a decent set of tires and you'll be laughing. I'm dropped on Eibach's running Xice (original) and they function fine.

 

[Ven]

Mine wasn't too hot last year, now I've got proper winter tires and it actually does very well!

Don't cheap out on the things that seperate you from the ground. Shoes, beds, motorcycle gear, TIRES!

 

[sangaroo]

I find Conti DWS pretty good in snow (Currently on my Audi for 2 winters). Other all season tires seem pretty bad in snow otherwise. One all season tire that may be good is Michelin Pilot AS but the new version is too new to have any reviews and data. Anyhow, my Mazda is getting Blizzaks for winter so my significant other stays safer. And yes, OEM all season Yoko's are absolutely terrible.

 

[sube]

I have a suggestion for anyone having trouble winter driving a Mazda3 fitted with proper winter tires, do us all a favour yourself included. Park your car and get a bus or walk. I live in Ottawa Canada we get a fair amount of snow, and this car fitted with winter tires is practically unstoppable.

Pat.

 

[Jon0407]

I live in the Midwest and did decent with the stock tires the last few winters. I think it's more about the driver than anything else but at some point with too much snow no one is getting anywhere no matter what tires you have.