Topic: Winter tire recommendation - Protege 5

[orangeville]

Looking for ideas for winter tires for a 2003 Mazda Protege 5. Current tire size is 195/50/R16 83V. I am planning on buying winter rims. I think the 16 inch wheel with a lower profile tire was an option. Am I able to use 15 inch rims which are likely cheaper to buy and may offer more choices for tires?

I have had Nokian winter tires on 3 vehicles (Montana van, Elantra wagon, Tercel) and have been very happy with them, but am looking at all options for a quality tire. I do not want a particularly noisy tire though.

The car is driven about 120 km round trip to work max speed 120kph but typically in the 90 to 110 range.

Thanks

[tortoise]

You can fit 14" wheels on the protege5.   My recommendation would be to find an 'H' rated winter tire on a 15" rim.

[ggweci]

I have 15" steelies on my P5 in the winter... I used CT Nordic Icetracs for my first 5 winters, and they were ok, but now it's time to replace them.  I am most likely going to go with Gislaved Nordfrosts.  We have them on our Civic and they are excellent on snow and ice. 

I also love Nokians, had them on my previous car (Prelude), and they were excellent as well... but their price was $20 - $30 per tire higher than the Gislaveds last year when I was shopping for the new Civic.

[ziggy]

I run 195 50 16's (stock size) Hankook winters on my Protege ES GT and am very pleased.  No problems in deep snow and the grip on ice is good as well.

[morty]

We have most doing steels going with the 15" and running the 195/55/15. 15" is the smallest diameter you can go on the P5. Of course the car doesn't handle as good as it would with 16", but pricing and options are better in 15". H-rated winter is ideal if you are doing a lot of high-speed pavement driving with snow. Otherwise if you are in more extreme climate with a lot of deep snow and compact ice then look at Q, T or R rated winters.

From the sounds of your commute...probably the H-rated would be recommended. Less tread squirm means better stability at high speeds.

[orangeville]

Thanks for all the replies. Two quotes this far:

1) using 185/60r15 Gislaved Nordfrost 5 tires installed on steel rims $840 tax incl.

2) using 195/55R15 Hankook W409 tires installed on steel rims $670 tax incl.

Thats a sizeable difference. I don't mind paying for quality but is there enough of a difference between the two tires to justify the extra $170 ?

Did the 1st guy make an error in the tire size or is it an acceptable option?

[mmret]

Thanks for all the replies. Two quotes this far:

1) using 185/60r15 Gislaved Nordfrost 5 tires installed on steel rims $840 tax incl.

2) using 195/55R15 Hankook W409 tires installed on steel rims $670 tax incl.

Thats a sizeable difference. I don't mind paying for quality but is there enough of a difference between the two tires to justify the extra $170 ?

Did the 1st guy make an error in the tire size or is it an acceptable option?

Gislaved is apparently a very good tire, but the Hankook is certainly not bad from what I hear. Airbalancer is very happy with his Icebear W300 on his 323, and I am looking to get the same tires for my car...

[HeliDriver]

...

Did the 1st guy make an error in the tire size or is it an acceptable option?

Those two sizes are basically identical in diameter - I've had both on my Civic.

[morty]

Make sure you are getting mazda specific steels. You want them to be hub-centric to avoid vibration issues. $40 per seems right. 185/60/15 should be the correct OD.

[tortoise]

Did the 1st guy make an error in the tire size or is it an acceptable option?

If you don't believe me, do some research on toprotege.com

[orangeville]

Did the 1st guy make an error in the tire size or is it an acceptable option?

If you don't believe me, do some research on toprotege.com

"1st guy" referring to the first quote I got for the size 185/60/15 - not referring to your 1st response. I'll check out toprotege.com as well.

Morty - thx for the tip about the mazda specific rims as the first quote I had was for a "multi fit" rim.

[curls]

On my wifes' P5, we went with Mazda OEM steel wheels (highly recommended and not much more $ than multi-fit).  We also went with Nokian Hakkepellita tires, which have transformed the car into a tank on snowy roads.  Highly recommended as well.  Although I'm sure any of the Nokian lineup will suffice since they don't make the Hak 1's anymore.

Definitely go with 15" wheels and tires for winter, as it keeps costs down and fits just fine.  You cannot go to 14" as Morty mentioned - doesn't clear the calipers.

[tortoise]

Curls, you can definitely go with 14" rims.  Perhaps not ALL 14" rims but there's a bunch of people who have made it work.

For example:

http://www.toprotege.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21455&highlight=Winter

[morty]

We don't do 14" because it would mean going to a universal non-hubcentric wheel.

[curls]

Curls, you can definitely go with 14" rims.  Perhaps not ALL 14" rims but there's a bunch of people who have made it work.

For example:

http://www.toprotege.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21455&highlight=Winter

That's what I get for listening to the Mazda dealer! LOL! 15" = more $ = recommened by them...

OK, then don't go with 14" wheels because the handling would be mush!

[tortoise]

OK, then don't go with 14" wheels because the handling would be mush!

I agree 100%!

[MX5 Miata Guy]

Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi (non-studded), Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 (studded), or Gislaved Nordfrost 5 (non-studded).

Truly, only the Finns or Swedes know anything about winter...in comparison with the Italians, French, Japanese, or Americans...

[orangeville]

I ended up going with Gislaved Nordfrost 5 195/55/15 with hubcentric steel rims. Just in time as the snow is flying today! Thanks for the advice.

[Jay31]

Nice...I have the same car.  I just bought a set of Michelin X-Ice tires on Mazda 15 inch steel rims.  I went with 185/60/15, which is the closest match in diamater to the OEM 195/50/16 tires.  I'm not sure why the recommended winter tires for this car is 195/55/15, as it's not as close of fit.  Any ideas why this is?  I think either should be ok.

And, I have heard of people running 14 inch rims on a Protege5 without problems...and I have heard people say they cause problems.  So, I went with the 15 inch oem wheels instead...playing it safe.