MS3 in the snow!

[Scoobs]

Any of you spent a real snowy winter with your MS3. You know, the snow storms, black ice -20 celcius? The MS3 is well planted in the rain, I can't wait to have fun in the snow.

All that torque must be something in start-ups at red lights.

Can't wait to hit the hills!

[scriccs]

We had a pretty mean winter last year in VT. I have a pair of Michelin Icex2 s and they kick ass. Yes the power is overwhelming at times but with a good pair of snow tires you will be fine.

I was amazed at how well it did in some storms. Traction control helps.

[Scoobs]

I love driving in the snow, I'm always sideways. Good tires are a must for any car. A lot of people try to save money buy getting crappy tires, tires are the most important part. You can have the best brakes in the world but if your tires sucks well you won't stop.

Is your MS3 lowered?

[MZDSPD]

I love my MS3 in the snow! I have the x ice2 as well and they are amazing!

[Scoobs]

I'll post pictures at our first snow on the MS3 and the Mazda2. It will be the first winter at our new house. We're moving in this February. The deal was the house first, next modding the cars....now where's me AP??? Oh yeah, after the move

I just looked at my snowboard equipment at my boots are toast, one of the bindings is broken and my snowpants are ripped.....well more spending on the way!

[dizzydtrain]

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/foru...beaters-90309/

[Scoobs]

Originally Posted by dizzydtrain http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/foru...beaters-90309/

Nice thread!

I won't be getting a beater, the MS3 seems like a good choice for my DD use. I'll drive that little beast until it dies.

[I_Heart_Haters]

do you all get all four snow tires or just two up front?

[Scoobs]

All 4, if you put snow in the front you will oversteer all the time and it will be dangerous. You will never have control of the car, it will be like the rear would be on ice all the time.

If you put 2 snow tires at the rear well you won't steer and this is understeer. It's important to match all 4 tires too for even traction.

So save your life and car and get 4 of the same tires.

[Ckmazdaspeed3]

2 good tires in front = bad idea. I have totaled one car and it was because I figured since I had fwd I would bs better off w my good tires up front, but on wet pavement, if u fuck up u spinja!

[ms3_kidd]

i went all winter last year on potenzas, everyday in every bit of snow we got. never got stuck, never lost control. i was always powersliding through my neighborhood like it was nobodies business

[Scoobs]

Drifting on the streets all the time even when you don't want to.

Your life is worth more than 2 more snow tires. Hell, keeping your car in one piece is worth more than 2 snow tires.

Buy 4 good snowtires, stay alive and have fun in the snow....

[Scoobs]

Originally Posted by ms3_kidd i went all winter last year on potenzas, everyday in every bit of snow we got. never got stuck, never lost control. i was always powersliding through my neighborhood like it was nobodies business

I love driving in the snow, I used to do winter autocross with my old ZX3. What a blast that was.

Potenzas are a good tire, the oem Dunlop just sucks. I wouldn't want to see snow with these POS. I drove a few months in the snow with Toyo T1R on the ZX3 and it was a hand full but it makes you a better driver.

[JNR5005]

I lost control twice at 20mph. Almost hit a curb and a guardrail. That was last winter on hankook v12s. I hate this car in the snow. I could picture it being acceptable with snow tires but not fun really.

[Scoobs]

Originally Posted by JNR5005 I lost control twice at 20mph. Almost hit a curb and a guardrail. That was last winter on hankook v12s. I hate this car in the snow. I could picture it being acceptable with snow tires but not fun really.

hell, snowtires makes a big difference. Hankook v12 in the snow, I hard a hard time with my ZX3 with summer tires on. With the right tire this car will be fun, snow tires is the law here for a good reason.

[Burger2002]

I had my speed all last winter up here in MN and we had it pretty rough. Records for snow fall and low temps were set and the car handled everything just fine. There was only one or two days that I got stuck, but that was because the snow was a couple of inches over my floor boards. With good snow tires (mine are 17" hankooks) the speed does just fine as long as the snow is not too deep. Plenty of control and traction.

[forcedinduktion]

if you can only get 2, put them in the rear

[mtran]

Originally Posted by Scoobs I'll post pictures at our first snow on the MS3 and the Mazda2. It will be the first winter at our new house. We're moving in this February. The deal was the house first, next modding the cars....now where's me AP??? Oh yeah, after the move I just looked at my snowboard equipment at my boots are toast, one of the bindings is broken and my snowpants are ripped.....well more spending on the way!

Last year I went all out on my snowboard gear.. but neglected new boots to replace my mangled pair. Almost rolled my ankle because it was so loose lol.

Aside from that, last year I had a Civic Si with snow tires in the snow. Got stuck in 2 feet of snow because I had to pull over to pee.. my bad? Will be fun this year going boarding with my MS3!

Originally Posted by JNR5005 I lost control twice at 20mph. Almost hit a curb and a guardrail. That was last winter on hankook v12s. I hate this car in the snow. I could picture it being acceptable with snow tires but not fun really.

Driving any car with "Maximum Summer Perfomance Tires" in the snow is like shooting yourself in the foot and blaming someone else. Try snow tires and you'll never question yourself ever. Sometimes it will create a god complex and you push too hard. (I'm guilty of that)

[fooqr]

Agree with above. With decent tires, the MS3 is fine in snow.

It doesn't snow much or get real cold in the DC area, so I managed to get by for an entire winter on my OEM summer tires. First snow of the second winter, tho, and I couldn't pull away from a stop. Got Pirelli Pzer Nero M+S tires, and have made it through two more winters without problems.

Even made it through the foot of heavy, wet, slippery slush we had on the ground during my 10-hour commute home during Snowmageddon in 2010. Was worried that I would have issues w/o AWD, but no. It was the BMW 3's that were all spinning out that day...Seriously, must've seen a half-dozen spinning helplessly on the 1% grades of the GW Pkwy. Probably still had their summers on...

[I_Heart_Haters]

even though i dont have bad winters in charlotte, ill probably grab some ms6 rims or some cheap rims off of discount tire and throw some blizzaks or something on there. ill do my searching around late october

[jonlax]

I just orderd my blizzaks because last year they were sold out by Nov for the 18's.

If anyone wants to get some in the PA/NJ area let me know. My buddy works for firestone and gets GREAT prices. Nows the time to get them before they sell out!

[I_Heart_Haters]

what size works good for stock ride height? do you guys keep the stock tire size or up it to 235?

[jonlax]

Originally Posted by I_Heart_Haters what size works good for stock ride height? do you guys keep the stock tire size or up it to 235?

205-215 is ideal.

Narrow width for snow/icy conditions.

I lived in Deutchland for almost 5 years and found out the hard way. They say snow tires or GTFO!

[dooderek]

maybe your genpu smile will eat the snow

[I_Heart_Haters]

oh yeah definitely

[JTMS3]

I have a set of 215 Blizzaks on a winter setup and the car handled like a champ last winter through some of the worst snow we have had for a while in No IL.

[Scoobs]

My first car was a 1979 Z28, back then snowtires were not used. It was a beast and almost dangerous at all time. But I had a blast, until I killed the engine while doing donuts in a parking lot. The next car was a Hyundai Pony......slow ass car but rear drive and that was a fun car too in the snow. Felt like a nimble tanks, nothing like a rear drive shit box to explore your first winter.

To any one that fear winter driving:
Put on snowtires,
Find a clear, snowy parking lot,
Go there and explore the limits, e-brake to induce oversteer and enjoy.

Everything goes well with practice....

[Scoobs]

Found these!
Michelin X-Ice Xi2

I found my tires!!!!

[dizzydtrain]

Thank God.

[2k4_8]

2 years ago I drove my Rx8 with some toyo proxes 4's....that shit sucked lol I never got stuck, but growing up in the rockies you better plan ahead when you drive. I leave before the plows are generally out, so things can get pretty hairy on the way to work. The studded snows were much better, and I plan to just move em over to the speed and mob it all winter!

Originally Posted by Scoobs To any one that fear winter driving: Put on snowtires, Find a clear, snowy parking lot, Go there and explore the limits, e-brake to induce oversteer and enjoy. Everything goes well with practice....

Number one rule in the winter is to be smooth. No jerky motions, jack rabbit starts, stomping the brakes (unless you have to), and all is well.

[Sinister_Speed3]

Currently I live in LA but go up to Mammoth quite a bit during the winter. If I get snow tires how will they handle the ~200 miles on the freeway until I get to the higher areas where the snow sticks? I am assuming they might wear a little quicker but I would rather be planted to the road.

-Nick

[Scoobs]

Originally Posted by 2k4_8 2 years ago I drove my Rx8 with some toyo proxes 4's....that shit sucked lol I never got stuck, but growing up in the rockies you better plan ahead when you drive. I leave before the plows are generally out, so things can get pretty hairy on the way to work. The studded snows were much better, and I plan to just move em over to the speed and mob it all winter! Number one rule in the winter is to be smooth. No jerky motions, jack rabbit starts, stomping the brakes (unless you have to), and all is well.

^^^^^the only way to keep the car on the road.
This is why there's so many Fins that are great rally drives, 7 months of snow driving. If you are quick and precise in the snow you will kill on tarmac.

Find a snow rally-cross solo2, and have fun.

[2k4_8]

Originally Posted by Sinister_Speed3 Currently I live in LA but go up to Mammoth quite a bit during the winter. If I get snow tires how will they handle the ~200 miles on the freeway until I get to the higher areas where the snow sticks? I am assuming they might wear a little quicker but I would rather be planted to the road. -Nick

They will be squishy feeling and slow to respond, but they will do you fine for normal driving. I would recommend you feel them out a bit though... as they won't be near as solid as performance tires. I would bet that they won't wear out any faster than my stock dunflops though. Keep in mind that a set of performance tires are very soft also, and that you have quite a bit more rubber to wear off with a set of snows.

Originally Posted by Scoobs ^^^^^the only way to keep the car on the road. This is why there's so many Fins that are great rally drives, 7 months of snow driving. If you are quick and precise in the snow you will kill on tarmac. Find a snow rally-cross solo2, and have fun.

A snow rally x would be alot of fun, I know that here in idaho they do some rally x, but I am not sure if they run in the snow at all.

[Sinister_Speed3]

2k4_8 thanks for the reply I am going to keep my eyes peeled for a used set of winters. If not I will probably pick up a set before Dec. Mammoth opening day is right around the corner.

-Nick

[supraman]

I ponied up and bought nice snow tires.. the car is a tank in the snow.. just watch out for ice chunks if you're low...

[CaptObvious75]

If you can afford 22k+ for this car... you can afford less than 1k for snow tires.

[kgeier82]

Originally Posted by CaptObvious75 If you can afford 22k+ for this car... you can afford less than 1k for snow tires.

My thoughts exactly. Its stupid to run the stock tires in winter. You deserve to hit something if you do.

[tragik]

i'm lowered and run a set of 16" snows on steelies that i picked up for $200.

1k for snow tires? lolol

[CaptObvious75]

Originally Posted by tragik i'm lowered and run a set of 16" snows on steelies that i picked up for $200. 1k for snow tires? lolol

In Canada, our stuff is always more expensive.

17" steelies with a GOOD set of winters will run you between $800-$1,000, espicially including the 13% tax we pay for everything.

[Blackspeed]

Originally Posted by JNR5005 I lost control twice at 20mph. Almost hit a curb and a guardrail. That was last winter on hankook v12s. I hate this car in the snow. I could picture it being acceptable with snow tires but not fun really.

you do realize that those are called SUMMER tires for a reason. Your not really supposed to drive with them in under 40deg. weather, let alone snow.

I have on street parking and when we had 16" of snow last winter, it still didnt keep me from plowing into any unplowed. parking space i wanted. Winetr tires were the main reason, but another factor is the LSD. without that you only have one drive wheel when iut comes down to it.