Author Topic: Time to replace the 3-season tires on the Mazda 3 (Read 36228 times)

Noto · « **on:** March 17, 2019, 09:48:37 am »

Yeah, yeah, long time no post...My new (well, 9 months or so) job actually keeps me busy so I don't need to stay on here daily to help pass the time

I got the Mazda (2010 3 GX) at 4,413km in April 2017. It's now just over 51,000km. Most of the mileage went on in the first few months as I drove back and forth between Toronto and Ottawa, and then Hamilton and Guelph. I now basically only drive Guelph to Toronto twice per week and that's it. I'm guessing about 20,000km/year split with the dedicated winter tires (Blizzak WS80s - I prefer the X-ice3 to them, btw - the WS80s are slightly better in the snow but are louder and worse performing on dry/wet).

Any way, tire size 205/55R16.

Currently still have the OEM Bridgestone Turanza EL-400 at 8/32". Obviously plenty of tread, but they've seen 9 years of use (and many weeks/months of sitting stagnant in the early years). No visible cracking/dryness, but I noticed the hydroplane resistance was not great last fall.

The car is 9 years old. I'm likely only going to keep it for another 3-4 years max. (doubt the 3-season tires would see more than 50,000km over that period, but would be at least 30,000km).

I'm thinking I'd rather replace them now and enjoy the benefit of the new, better tires, rather than replace them in a year or two when I need to just to sell the car with nearly new tires (it'll be worth very little by that time any way).

I had decided on the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ ($854 installed at Costco), but wanted to wait for a Michelin rebate (none currently available). I'm in no specific rush.

Kal Tire has a promo on now until April 1 that they'll give you $75 off on top of any other rebates, excluding Michelin/BF/Uniroyal:

https://www.kaltire.com/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-KaltireShared/default/dw76c0407e/rebate%20forms/FD-March-2019.pdf

I have the Nitto Motivo on the Forester and find that they're pretty good - fantastic dry and wet grip, immense hydroplane resistance, and very quiet.

... But they're a stiff tire and increased steering weight considerably.

So I'm considering the Nokian Zline A/S. They'd be $192 cheaper than the Michelins, and perhaps slightly more comfortable, to boot. Not much in the way of reviews though. ... But it's Nokian - the makers of the Hakkapeliita - so I'm fairly confident that the tire isn't crap - just not as well marketed (and newer - only available since 2017).

Thoughts?

I'm thinking that beyond being cheaper, they may also be a better fit for me. It's a Mazda, will never be taken to a track, I just want better performance and quieter since the car lacks sound deadening material...

Gurgie · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2019, 10:19:59 am »

Apparently the Michelin rebate is coming out April 8th. What about the Michelin Primacy MXV4, or the Premiere AS?

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Noto · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2019, 01:03:24 pm »

I can wait - the question was whether the Nokians are a 90% the way to the Michelins but for $200 less. Even after Michelin's rebate comes out, the Nokians will still be like $140 cheaper.

Question is whether anyone has experience with the new ZLine? There are very few reviews.

Also question is whether the Nokian's may suit the Mazda 3 better since it's not das Auto/a performance sedan.

Premiere A/S was on the Corolla. Handled extraordinarily well, but hydroplane resistance was really disappointing (supposedly it's strong suit). The MXV4 are more of a grand touring solution than a UHP like the Pilot Sport or ZLine.

Great_Big_Abyss · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2019, 01:14:33 pm »

I really liked the Cooper CS5 Grand Touring we had on our Altima. They were very quiet, and had excellent wet weather qualities.

They are $132.99 EA plus mounting/balance at Canadian Tire, in your size

me_2 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2019, 01:42:34 pm »

No experience with Nokian Zline A/S https://www.nokiantires.com/summer-tires/nokian-zline/

I own only Nokian Hakkapelitta R (Volt #1) & R2 (Spark EV & Volt #2) so far but they were excellent winter tires, the may won't last as long as harder one due to soft rubber but they are super grippy and efficient, an uneasy combination!! My only complant may be a little bit noisier but not that much, if compared to the Michelin X-ice 3 on Saturn.

Bulkley · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2019, 02:50:27 pm »

We have a 2005 Mazda 3 Sport. Last year we put Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tires on it. These are Goodyear's all-weather tires which means they have the winter mountain/snowflake rating and are good all year. They were a little bit stiff when new but settled in after a couple hundred kms. Where we live we can get out of season snow storms, particularly in the mountain passes. We have had no problems driving in snow with them. The car handles quite well with these and they are comfortable.

If you have been getting away with OEM 3-seasons up to now an all-weather might be a good option.

tortoise · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2019, 05:19:08 pm »

3 more years with a base Mazda3? I'd go wth the General RT43s (or the other General model) when they're on sale at CT.

IMO the Pilots and Nokians would be overkill.

Noto · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2019, 06:35:34 pm »

Of course they're overkill... But the Nokians at least are cheaper than pretty much all other options and promise decent performance and comfort. The Michelins are basically the best I can get, but would be pricey (at least $200 more)

I'm really, really tempted by these Nokians.

dirtyjeffer · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2019, 07:13:43 pm »

Quote from: tortoise on March 17, 2019, 05:19:08 pm

3 more years with a base Mazda3? I'd go wth the General RT43s (or the other General model) when they're on sale at CT.

IMO the Pilots and Nokians would be overkill.

i can vouch that the RT43 tires are decent...see what kind of deal you can get on them...i bought them last for my Rio5 and they seem quite decent...IIRC, they were on sale when i bought them (as was the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S+ you mentioned earlier) and were around $150 cheaper...i even drove them when there was a bit of snow (we had one last snow dump last spring right after i bought them) and i was actually impressed with how decent they were...tirerack reviews also mentioned this, but keep in mind they were brand new tires (max tread)...Michelins and Nokians are certainly solid choices, but the General Tires are decent too, and likely a bit less money (without ending up with some no-name garbage tires)...General Tires are part of Continental Tires (if you didn't know)...essentially, their lower priced brand, but still good tires...perfectly suitable for my Kia (and likely your Mazda).

EV-Light · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2019, 08:02:27 pm »

Check PMCTires...

They have rebates on Pirellis, Falkens, Nexens, Goodyear right now....

I’d go with either a Pirelli All Season or General AS3...

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tortoise · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2019, 09:07:35 pm »

I know tread wear ratings are not universal but I bet there's not much left on the Nokians after 50k km.

I know there's a 50k miles treadwear warranty but I'm not sure it's a metric for real world tire wear.

But if you're ok with that then by all means get the Nokians, I'm sure they'll be fine.

Noto · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2019, 09:46:57 am »

Ordered the Nokians. $137/Tire plus the usual fees ($15/installation, $4 scrap), less the $75 KalTire promo and a $70 visa from Nokian.

Comes out to a few bucks over $600 installed. I'm pretty happy with that since the Michelins were $854 installed at Costco (I suppose less $70 if the promo comes Apr 8 per Gurgie).

The guy at KalTire said there's not much in the way of reviews but nobody has brought them back so he assumes good things.

Jon, as above, I only expect to put maybe 30,000km max on then, so I'm not worried about treadwear.

I priced out the generals - $592, which is within a few bucks of the Nokians any way.

tortoise · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2019, 09:53:54 am »

Reading fail on my part (I'd make a terrible lawyer).

Yeah. You'll be fine. I was thinking they'd be way more than that. Looking forward to hearing your reviews.

Gurgie · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:07:45 am »

Quote from: tortoise on March 18, 2019, 09:53:54 am

Reading fail on my part (I'd make a terrible lawyer).

Yeah. You'll be fine. I was thinking they'd be way more than that. Looking forward to hearing your reviews.

If he logs back in to let us know, lol!

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Noto · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2019, 11:46:19 am »

Hey - of course I'll log back in to read your responses to my own questions

Gurgie · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2019, 12:05:19 pm »

Quote from: No-san on March 18, 2019, 11:46:19 am

Hey - of course I'll log back in to read your responses to my own questions

Sure, sure... just like you let us know when you're in Ottawa for a visit...

Noto · « **Reply #16 on:** March 18, 2019, 01:57:42 pm »

July 24-28.

Slow_lane · « **Reply #17 on:** March 20, 2019, 11:12:04 am »

I had put Pirelli Cinturato P7 Plus tires on my 2005 Mazda 3 and love what they did for the car. So happy I now bought another set for my BMW 328.

Smooth and quiet. No complaints.

Costco now has $80 gift card when you buy Pirelli.

Here is tire rack rankings. The Pirellis use to be higher in rankings I do not know why they have slipped. Please note that the tires ranked higher have less than 1 million miles of experience reported, But the Pirelli's reviews are based on 14 Million miles. That might mean something.

That is my 2 cents

dkaz · « **Reply #18 on:** March 20, 2019, 12:02:17 pm »

That $75 off on top of manufacturer's rebates is a good deal.

Noto · « **Reply #19 on:** March 23, 2019, 04:07:34 pm »

You guys have ruined me... Buying new tires on Monday and yet yesterday I changed over my winters to the 3-season wheels because it's easier for me to do that than or is to haul 4 tires in and then out again of the trunk. Took me 24 mins for the Mazda and I'm down to 18 mins for the Forester (can lift half the car at a time under the differentials - have to lift each corner for the Mazda).

See attached for the condition of the OEM Bridgestone Turanzas on the Mazda - 8/32"+ of tread left, but dry, noisy, and not so great at hydroplane resistance anymore. Drove on them into Toronto yesterday to see Star Wars Empire Strikes Back in symphony at Roy Thompson Hall. They were decidedly "meh".

Really looking forward to the Nokians!!