Topic: Winter tires

[carcrazed]

Any specific anti-seize I should be getting?

This one OK?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/permatex-silver-grade-anti-seize-0381404p.html#srp

Or should I do:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/permatex-copper-anti-seize-0383776p.html#srp

How long would a 113g bottle last?

I got the last bottle of the silver one at my local CT yesterday.  I used it for changeover for the MDX.
It looks like it'll last for about ten to fifteen years unless it dries up before that.

[Gurgie]

^I've never bothered with that & haven't had an issue in 20yrs...

My very first time trying to get a wheel off (Forester's front-right), it was seized as .  None of the Mazda's wheels were, but still...for $13-17, I can avoid the headache.

One swift kick solves that usually 

[Noto]

Yeah, not loving the idea of kicking my vehicle while it's suspended in the air somewhat.  Rubber mallet is better, but not loving that idea either.

[Gurgie]

Small 3lb hammer, or a dead blow one work well too... just tap the rim edge from the inside & the wheel pops off 

[OliverD]

Yeah, not loving the idea of kicking my vehicle while it's suspended in the air somewhat.  Rubber mallet is better, but not loving that idea either.

Done it countless times, it's no big deal.

The first time I did the changeover on the old Mini the wheels just wouldn't come off. So I loosened the lugs a bit, took it for a drive and slammed on the brakes a few times so the wheels would break free. 

[bridgecity]

Any type of grease will work. I just put on a thin layer of whatever tube I have open. Usually wheel bearing grease.

[tpl]

I  like the copper anti-seize  and I don't like conventional grease on the hubs anywhere near the brake disks.

[G.Bombay]

Just bump the stuck wheel with the un-mounted wheel...no tools or hammering needed.

[Weels]

Ta da:

[Robin2]

18wrx.  put on some DAI wheels with Bridgestone ws80s

[dkaz]

Even with anti seize, it occasionally seizes.

A good two handed shove at the top of the tires usually works. On occasion it’s seized pretty good. Putting a little bit of weight and/or deep creep is my next step. If that doesn’t work, Kal Tire is usually generous and will do it at no charge.

[Noto]

Done it countless times, it's no big deal.

The first time I did the changeover on the old Mini the wheels just wouldn't come off. So I loosened the lugs a bit, took it for a drive and slammed on the brakes a few times so the wheels would break free. 

Yup...and I'm sure that wasn't bad for certain components at all!

Typical stuff like brakes, struts, etc. also had to be fixed at various points.

Even with anti seize, it occasionally seizes.

That's potentially because you never drive new cars   I'd think the grease is a fairly reasonable effort to avoid (not completely prohibit) seizing from happening.  If it's still seized, I'll head over to KalTire.

Ta da:

[Great_Big_Abyss]

A sledge to the inside wall of the tire works for me.  Doesn't require much force.  Just a light tap, and the wheel comes right off.

[KD]

^I've never bothered with that & haven't had an issue in 20yrs...

I've been doing my own changeovers for over 10 years.  I use a bead of lithium grease around the contact area before putting the wheel on and never had a problem getting one off other than the occaisional hammer fist. 

[Robin2]

it's pretty simple job to do....  and most should learn how to do it in case if you have a flat.

air tools are great but I barely ever use them when changing tires as it's overkill. 

all you need is:

- good breaker bar 18 to 24"
- proper sockets (usually on imports it's 19 or 21mm - friends amg merc is 17mm)
- a jack and jack stand - love my full size jack but smaller ones can be used
- cordless drill impact driver drill
- adapter for drill to use 3/8" or 1/2" sockets
- torque wrench

using the scissor jack that comes with the car, well, that's a workout for sure.... it's not quick to do tire changes.  this is why I recommend a proper jack.  even the smaller are decent.  I prefer and use low profile full size jack.  With the full size jack, I can lift one side off the ground and change 2 tires per lift.

I recommend placing a jack stand in case the jack fails - check online or manual where you can place the jack stand.

On socket, I put ducktape on the edge / side of the socket so it minimizes the knicks or scrapes on your wheels.

Before jacking the jacking car, I loosen up the lugnuts with the breaker bar / socket o the wheel or wheels.

if you're changing tires on hot day and on pavement, use a plywood underneath the jack / jack stand and it will sink in the pavement.

[Noto]

First snowfall!!

Roads aren't bad at all, but not completely bare, either.  I figured it's a decent test of the WS80s.

Truth be told, I was UNimpressed, but am feeling far better about them after speaking with co-workers.   I gather the roads are quite a bit more slick than they looked (where snow-covered - some lanes are bare and wet).

My initial impressions (before speaking to co-workers, who had helluva bad times getting into work today even with their winter tires):

"Handling while going is actually quite good, but starting from a stop?  Perhaps it's the Mazda 3 (GX, which doesn't have t/c), or the intersections were VERY slippery today, but the tires just wouldn't grip - and we're not talking major hills here."

My colleague lives around the block from me.  He has a 2003 Corolla with Xi2s.  Apparently, he had a lot of trouble entering intersections, too, and witnessed a car slide down Kortright into a City bus stopped to pick up passengers. 

I'm still debating which tires to throw on the Fozzie - Xi3s or WS80s.  I was very impressed, to be honest, of traction and stability while driving this morning with the WS80s.  Hmm... 

[dkaz]

First snowfall!!

Ha I saw your entire post before you edited it! I think the car is somewhat to blame, my Corolla was always a rockstar in snow while my Mazda 3s and 5s have always just been adequate.

Ta da:

Looks good! Team winter alloys! 

[Noto]

First snowfall!!

Ha I saw your entire post before you edited it! I think the car is somewhat to blame, my Corolla was always a rockstar in snow while my Mazda 3s and 5s have always just been adequate.

Ha, yeah, I think I was being a little harsh and assumed that the conditions really weren't "that" bad, but it appears that it was more of a "flash freeze" event here (went from +7 degrees to -10 in about 2 hours last night) than the light dusting on the road lead me to believe.

Thing is, I've driven my MIL's Mazda 3 with Xi2s and never found it to be bad in the winter at all.

...I think the bigger blame here is the absence of T/C - once the wheels start spinning, they're slower to calm the down even after I take my foot off the accelerator.

[carcrazed]

First snowfall indeed. We got about 8-10cm on the car when I got up this morning.   I had to take my son to the ER so the Civic with used Xi2s were put to a proper test this morning.
I realize now that the tires are probably older than I suspected.  I should have bought the set of used Altimax's on 16' rims for the same price.  Those were definitely newer than these Xi2's.
Even with the wear, it did okay considering the road conditions.  ABS and TCS kicked in a few times at stop signs, but it was pretty uneventful and controllable overall.
The lower ground clearance is something to be aware of after driving the MDX with WS80s for last winter, though.  I felt some chunks of slush brushing against the undercarriage a few times.

[dkaz]

I've definitely found some tires to be better on the Mazda 3 than others. Pirelli Winter Carving and Michelin X-Ice Xi2 are two of them, but now I'm finding reasonable success with the Goodride SW608. My wife says they feel confident on snow although ice is just adequate, nowhere near on par as X-Ice.

How do the Blizzaks stop?