I have a 2009 R3 and am looking for info on winter tires and rims. I can't seem to get a straight answer even from mazda on whether or not the caliper size has changed for the R3's. I have 19 inch rims with 245's on it right now (stock) and have been told by one tire company to stay with 19 inch 245 blizzaks on my stock rims. I want to know what size tire I can go to and what size rim I can go down to. I was hoping 17's but I'm not sure. Can anyone out there help steer me in the right direction? Thanks in advance!!!!

 

Here's the 17" rim/snow tire package for the '09 R3 that Tirerack bundles:

Dunlop Winter Sport M3 (Performance Winter)
(4) 215/55-17 $540.00

Sport Edition A7 (Silver Painted)
(4) 17X7.5


http://www.tirerack.com/snow/preferredpackages.jsp

 

Thanks a lot!!

 

Read other threads on here, someone else was asking the same thing not long ago.

Get steelies, and Blizzak 17" 215's best set up. 245 way to fat, and you don't want to screw your nice new rims over by driving them in the winter. Who ever you were talking to never talk to them again, cause they don't know shat!

 

225 is best due to suspension design of the rx8, 215 will just screw up your suspension in the long run...

At least thats what 2 dealerships told me...

 

LOL...no it won't! 215 will also have more sidewall, therefore softer ride and easier on the suspension.

Go 225 if you want since that is stock size (minus the R3) but less traction. I would still do 215 personally. Ran them last year amazing!!

 

assuming the brake size is the same as the mkI RX-8, I find Mazda3 and Mazda6 17" rims are good cheap options.

 

I run 225/45/R18 stock size winters... so awesome, not to mention.. pure ballin'... ahahahaha
Natalia's gotta have nice winter boots too right?

 

LOL....you might have better handling than me, but I can snowplow with the best thanks to my sweet 215's

 

like those above said.

Go with 17 inch 215s. Thicker side wall + thinner tire FTW. Don't touch any performance winter tires either. You'll be sacrificing a better performing tire compound for a higher top speed (which is a stupid sacrifice to make for a RWD vehicle in the winter).

I have a set of Michelin X-Ice and Blizzy WS60s for each of my cars and I love em both.





you've been misinformed. Likely because the dealer's snow tire package is a 225.

 

Thinner and taller tires are the way to go for Winter (again 215x55). You want to present less "snowplow" tread frontage and achieve greater ground clearance. The steel 17" wheels are a cost saving measure. No point in spending a lot on rims that will be abused by sand/salt/snow.

Dunlop M3's, Bridgestone Blizzaks and the new Michelin X-Ice's are all top notch dedicated snow tires.

edit: of course you want performance snow tires. Most of the time you're driving on well plowed roads. Why sacrifice performance in a sports car???

 

or, you can roll in style all year round on 18" winters

 

Hate to break it to you but a RWD vechile is not a sports car in the winter. Running 215 with a big sidewall is already going to give you a huge comprimise in handling, way before you even lose grip you'll feel the body roll of the sidewall. I'll happily sacrifice what you call "performance" for better grip when conditions are really awful.

 

Just roll on 18's.. pure ballin.... great control with dunlop wintersport M3's

 

Calgary is never "awful." I always enjoy visiting there, year 'round.

Noted that in general snow tires can never equal the performace of Summer tires, but I was responding to the comment that essentially advised getting any ol' snow tires. M3's, Blizzak or X-Ice are the way to go, imho.

 

wait till you guys see my baller-*** winter rims this year! I already got them! ahahah...

 

I'm looking for winter steel rims. I've noticed that Tire Rack dosn't carry them. Do you know where to get them. Thanks!

 

Where you located?? Can. Tire sells them and I MIGHT be selling my setup.