Best tires for Mazda 3: Buyer’s Guide

Best Tires for Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 is one of our favorite compact cars. It manages to be both sporty and refined, which is a blessing for people who love to drive. The fourth-generation SkyActiv Mazda 3 is still one of the best compact cars that you can buy for the money.

Best tires for Mazda 3

1. Michelin Premier A/S All-Season Radial Tire 205/55R16 91H
2. TOYO TYA20 Radial Tire-205/55-16 89H
3. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady All-Season Radial Tire 205/55R16 91H
4. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season Radial – 205/55ZR16 91W
5. Michelin Defender T + H All-Season Radial Tire
6. Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 All-Season Radial Tire
7. Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus Touring Radial Tire
8. Bridgestone TURANZA SERENITY PLUS All-Season Radial Tire
9. Milestar MS932 all Season Radial Tire
10. Nokian WR G4 All-Season Radial Tire
11. Pirelli CintuRato P7 Run Flat Radial Tire
12. Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT Radial Tire
13. BFGoodrich Advantage T/A
14. Hankook KINERGY PT H737 91H All-Season Radial Tire
15. Continental ContiProContact Radial Tire
16. Nokian Nordman 7 Studded Winter Tire
17. Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Winter Radial Tire

Tires For Mazda 3

However, the Mazda 3 is not perfect. The handling, refinement, and stability of the car depending on the tires. In fact, all Mazda 3 models are sensitive to tire changes. If you choose the wrong tires on the Mazda 3, you will end up with an annoying tire roar that gets louder the faster you drive.

Choosing the right tires for your needs

Car owners tend to focus more on what is under the hood of their car than on the tires, but this element is just that important.

Driving on old tires can be incredibly dangerous. The United States Department of Transportation reports that worn tires are responsible for 11,000 accidents every year. Choose the right tires to avoid being included in this statistic.

Without the right tires, you expose yourself to a higher risk of accidents. You also reduce the overall performance of your vehicle.

Think about how many kilometers you drive in your car, what climate you live in and what other variables can affect your driving style. Of these options, you are sure to find one that will be the best tires for the Mazda 3.

Best tires for Mazda 3 I Trim Levels (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)

1. Michelin Premier A/S All-Season Radial Tire 205/55R16 91H

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Do you have problems choosing the best tires for the Mazda 3? Let’s start with one of the best touring tires for small cars and small crossovers: the Michelin Premier A/S Grand Touring all-season tire.

This tire is known for its constant grip even when the tire is worn. Michelin claims that Premier A/S is designed to improve braking distance in wet conditions, whether the tire is new or worn.

In addition, since Michelin Premier A/S is a big touring tire, you can expect a quiet and comfortable ride and longer tread life from this Mazda 3. In fact, Michelin offers Premier A/S with a brilliant 6 year/60,000 mile tread life warranty.

Pros:

• Superior traction and grip
• Sharp and reactive handling
• Quiet and comfortable journey

2. TOYO TYA20 Radial Tire-205/55-16 89H

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Founded in 1966, Toyo Tire U. S. A. Corp. stands for innovation, quality, performance and excellent service that Toyo Tires has been providing worldwide for more than 70 years.

All-season passenger tires are designed for drivers who want a combination of a smooth ride, good wear and tear and durability at S or T speed along with year-round traction even in light snow. All-season tires with the M+S symbol are often used as Original Equipment (O.E.) for standard coupes, sedans, and family vans as well as for some entry-level pickup, crossover and sport utility vehicles.

Pros:

• Offers outstanding driving and precise performance on both dry and wet roads
• Reduce noise and provide constant rubber-to-road contact
• Experienced during braking

3. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady All-Season Radial Tire 205/55R16 91H

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Goodyear Assurance Comfortred Touring is a great all-season touring tire designed to fit medium and luxury sedans, hatchbacks and minivans.

Goodyear Assurance Comfortred Touring tire has discreet asymmetric tread design. It features independent shoulder blocks with notched intermediate and center ribs, which provide excellent all-season traction.

However, the best feature of the Goodyear Assurance Comfortred Touring is the smooth, comfortable and quiet ride. Most of this has something to do with the comfort layer of rubber that is placed between the steel belts and the tread. This feature seriously provides 20 percent more cushioning than comparable touring tires.

Pros:

• Excellent traction in both dry and wet conditions
• Fast handling
• Comfortable and quiet ride

Best tires 205/55R16 for most Mazda 3 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013)

1. Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season Radial – 205/55ZR16 91W

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A tire aimed at owners of a sports coupe and powerful sedans who want to enjoy driving their cars at any time of year. This ultra-performance tire is characterized by excellent handling and excellent traction on dry and wet roads, including low snow conditions. The asymmetry of the tread pattern ensures low tire noise, and the features of the shoulder zone structure guarantee high comfort and safety of high-speed traffic.

Pros:

• Even better performance on any road surface
• Ultimate wet traction guarantee
• Day by day and in any weather, this model will give you peace and comfort.

2. Michelin Defender T + H All-Season Radial Tire

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Independent tread blocks and Michelin’s Intellisipe technology which offers interlocking zigzag sipes around the tire contribute to excellent wet traction. These additional sipes and their gripping edges further improve performance on snowy roads which is very good for all-season tires.

Comfort Control Technology gives this model a smoother and quieter ride on almost any road surface. The noise is minimal and you will find the ride very comfortable for the most part.

Pros:

• Reliable traction on dry and wet roads
• Comfortable and quiet driving quality
• Treadlife is much better than the original
• Excellent price-performance ratio

Best tires 205/50R17 Optional on Mazda 3S Trim Levels (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

1. Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 All-Season Radial Tire

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ExtremeContact DWS 06 tires feature Continental’s SportPlus technology which combines improved handling, wet traction, and wear. Central, independent blocks with X-segments separated by angled, crosswise grooves provide the necessary gripping edges to promote traction in all directions on wet roads and light snow. Independent inner shoulder blocks help in distributing water to increase aquaplaning resistance and traction in bad weather.

Pros:

• New SportPlus technology offers precise handling, safety on wet, slippery roads and outstanding tread life
• QuickView indicators visually inform the driver about the performance of the tires in dry, wet and snow conditions and the need to check the alignment of the vehicle.
• Traction grooves improve performance on snow through raised tread edges, while X-Sipe technology improves braking, cornering, and acceleration in wet, snow and ice.
• 50,000-mile limited mileage warranty

Best tires 205/60R16 on 2014 Mazda 3i Models

1. Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus Touring Radial Tire

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Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus has asymmetric tread design which ensures a good road grip. The silica compound mixed with the rubber enhances the traction of the tire on wet and dry surfaces. The NANO PRO-TECH developed with the tire is designed to improve rolling resistance. This is a feature that distinguishes Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 plus as it is proven to reduce fuel consumption.

It has three circumferential grooves designed to evacuate rainwater to reduce the tire’s aquaplaning resistance. This not only saves fuel by reducing rolling resistance on wet roads but also ensures a smooth and comfortable ride.
Its environmentally friendly features make it ideal for those who are aware of energy-saving.

Pros:

• Improved rolling resistance and thus fuel savings
• Excellent traction on all surfaces.
• Built with aquaplaning ability to drain water for better grip on wet and snowy surfaces
• Silica compound improves tire life

All-Season Tires Mazda 3

1. Bridgestone TURANZA SERENITY PLUS All-Season Radial Tire

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Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus is designed to be a perfect tire; built by perfectionists for perfectionists.
For one thing, it has some pretty unique features. It has Renoa silencer grooves that help reduce tread noise by capturing the sound in the tread elements.

These tires also pride themselves on offering excellent handling and comfort due to their asymmetric cavity shape. This provides excellent traction in a variety of weather conditions. The tire has a speed rating of V and can handle speeds up to 240 km/h (149mph).

In addition, these tires glide quite quietly at low and supposedly practical high speeds.

Pros:

• Very low tire noise at both low and high speeds.
• It offers excellent handling even when driving through sharp curves and turns.
• Super resistant tires.

2. Milestar MS932 all Season Radial Tire

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Milestar MS932 offers about 80 percent effective traction on dry and wet roads. It has exceeded our expectations in terms of comfort and noise reduction as it is 90 percent efficient. This overall performance is mainly due to the tread pattern and tread compound of the tire.

The newer tread compound of this tire can effectively withstand 80% wear. This tire is designed for light snow conditions only.

Pros:

• Efficient dry and wet traction
• Effective noise reduction
• Comfortable ride

3. Nokian WR G4 All-Season Radial Tire

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Offering perfect traction and handling on wet, dry and snowy roads, it is simply great. But even better, this kit reduces your vehicle’s fuel consumption. So you can save more with them.

This latest Nokian tire also performs well on solar scorched asphalt. Off-road, similar superior performance. The tread blocks are thick and stiff. This is one reason why you get all-weather traction.

Officially approved for winter use, you will see a mountain and snowflake symbol to make this clear. Even in winter, the G4 tire gives you excellent traction, performance, and handling.

Pros:

• With special features for any weather.
• Unique features for excellent braking and performance.
• Fuel-efficient tires.
• Excellent wear resistance.

Performance Tires Mazda 3

1. Pirelli CintuRato P7 Run Flat Radial Tire

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If you live in a place where the weather changes frequently, you want a tire that can handle icy roads and won’t slow you down in the summer months. If that’s you, Cinturato P7 All-Season Plus is an excellent choice for Mazda 3, this touring tire is quiet and offers great performance. The tread compound of this Cinturato P7 All-Season Plus is composed of low oil and high silica content which reduces rolling resistance and braking distance.

The tires are specially manufactured in an environmentally friendly way and aim to get the best fuel efficiency from your vehicle.

Pros:

• Excellent price
• Environmentally friendly
• Quite durable

2. Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT Radial Tire

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If you own the Mazda 3 or want a much more concentrated and enjoyable driving experience, Bridgestone Potenza is the best choice. Not only does it offer one of the most interesting driving experiences, it works perfectly in both wet and dry conditions.

With a set of these tires, the Mazda 3 will have much less front wheel spin thanks to the excellent traction it offers. The grip is also simply amazing, while the braking distances are extremely short. Everything we’ve said here applies to both wet conditions and heavy rain.

Pros:

• Designed for control, reaction, and cornering
• Precise handling and steering performance
• Delivers an exciting ride

3. BFGoodrich Advantage T/A

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This is BFGoodrich’s crossover/SUV touring all-season tire designed for light trucks, SUVs and crossover vehicles with an emphasis on handling and responsiveness. It is also a great all-season tire as it meets the stringent snow service requirements of the industry and has the symbol of the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF).

Featuring an advanced all-season tread compound molded into an asymmetric design, BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport features a continuous center rib and optimized contact patch provided by the company’s next-generation ETEC (Equal Tension Containment) system. Circumferential grooves help to channel water through the contact patch to increase aquaplaning resistance while the sipes with 3D Active Sipe Technology improve traction in wet and light snow.

Pros:

• Great performance throughout the season
• Meets the requirements for snow
• Quiet and smooth performance

Touring All-Season Mazda 3

1. Hankook KINERGY PT H737 91H All-Season Radial Tire

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Hankook Kinergy PT H737 is an all-season touring tire. The car tire is suitable for all seasons and terrain. Its sidewall and tread block patterns give the tire excellent grip and off-road handling. The anti-abrasion compound helps in maintaining the tread life even after hours of off-road driving.

The tire has wide circumferential grooves which help in draining the water to reduce the possibility of aquaplaning.

Pros:

• Good performance on dry surfaces
• Longer durability due to the anti-abrasion compound
• At low speed, it offers a quiet and comfortable ride

2. Continental ContiProContact Radial Tire

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ContiProContact SSR is Continental’s Grand Touring All-Season Runflat tire which temporarily provides enhanced mobility in the event of complete loss of air due to a puncture. The ContiProContact SSR enables the driver to remain mobile in the event of a puncture by allowing him to reach his destination or the tire service without having to replace a puncture with the replacement tire. Thanks to the reinforced sidewall of the ContiProContact SSR, the vehicle can continue to drive at a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) depending on road conditions and vehicle weight.

ContiProContact SSR features all-season tread compound molded into symmetric notched rib design which provides continuous tread contact with the road to improve steering response and handling while the wide circumferential grooves promote aquaplaning resistance and wet traction.

Pros:

• Combines performance, comfort and fuel efficiency
• Sure-footed grip and safe handling
• Lower rolling resistance for improved fuel efficiency

Mazda 3 Winter Tires

1. Nokian Nordman 7 Studded Winter Tire

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Simply reliable the new, durable and resistant Nokian Nordman 7 tires use a unique spike technology that enables safe and comfortable winter driving. The new Nokian Nordman tires are a reliable choice for the different northern conditions, both in terms of safety and the overall economy.

Pros:

• Simple reliability in changing winter weather
• Safe and comfortable driving under the different conditions in the north
• Extreme adhesion on ice, snow and wet surfaces

2. Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Winter Radial Tire

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The secret of the Blizzak WS80’s success lies in the hydrophilic coating that pulls water out of the snow. According to Bridgestone, this technology helps traction on both light and deep snow and on ice. In reality, the WS80 feels ready for any type of surface you may encounter in winter. Thanks to the Advanced Multicellular Compound with Nano Pro-Tech technology, it is responsive and grippy in dry and wet weather. It brakes hard on dry and wet surfaces as well as on snow and bites into snow and ice thanks to the 3D zigzag sipes.

Pros:

• The new cavity shape distributes contact pressure evenly across the entire contact surface for even wear and tear and performance in dry, ice and snow conditions
• Bite particles act like microscopic lugs that provide safe road holding

Mazda 3 models

• 1 Generation (BK), 2003-2008

The new Mazda 3 was designed on the “global” Ford C1 platform – the same as the Ford Focus and Volvo S40. There were two types of the car body – sedan or five-door hatchback. On the local Japanese market, the car was called Axela.

Totally about 2 million Mazda 3 vehicles were produced until 2009.

• 2 Generation (BL), 2009-2013

The second generation of the car, which debuted in 2009, retained the platform and overall body architecture from the previous model but received new design and interior. Sedans and hatchback have become slightly larger, but their weight has decreased.

Production of Mazda 3 of the second generation in Japan was completed in 2013.

• 3rd generation, 2013

Sedans and hatchbacks Mazda 3 are equipped with gasoline engines with a capacity of 1.5 or 1.6 liters in combination with automatic transmissions.

Mazda 3 third-generation car is produced since 2013 in Japan; in 2016 the car was upgraded. Supplies of versions with 2.0 engines, as well as vehicles with manual transmissions are closed.

• 4th generation, 2019

The new Mazda 3 is available with one of two petrol engines with a hatchback or sedan body.

The fourth generation of the Mazda 3 model is produced in Japan since 2019.

What sizes are the Mazda3 tires?

The 2018 model has two different tire sizes between all 6 configurations. Find the right tires for your model year. Over the years, the size of the Mazda3 tires has hardly changed. Therefore, if you have a 2016 model, the tire sizes are likely to stay the same. The sizes of the 2018 Mazda3 tires are:

• 4-door sports: 205/60R16
• 4-door tour: 215/45R18
• 4-door Grand Touring: 215/45R18
• 5-door sports: 205/60R16
• 5-door tour: 215/45R18
• 5-door Grand Touring: 215/45R18

Tire types: winter, summer, speed index

• Winter tires (SNOW or MUD + SNOW – M+S)

“Mud and Snow” (marked as either M+S, M.S or M&S) has been used for many years to identify winter tires. Although M+S has a legal definition, it does not refer to minimum performance requirements but is often used by tire manufacturers to label winter products. M+S remains an acceptable label, but although M+S tires have better snow traction than normal tires, they do not necessarily exceed the legal snow grip limit.

True winter tires, which carry both the M+S and 3PSMF markings, make an important contribution to safety in winter conditions, especially for cars and vans.

• All-Season Tires

All-season tires offer versatile performance and are designed for a variety of conditions including wet roads and light winter driving. All-season tires are designed to offer a combination of the benefits of summer and winter tires.

To perform well under a wide range of driving conditions, all-season tires inevitably have to compromise some maximum summer and winter performance characteristics, i.e. all-season tires do not offer the same amount of extreme grip and sharp handling as a summer tire. Similarly, an all-season tire is not designed for extreme winter conditions such as trekking through snow or driving on ice.

• Performance Tires

Performance tires (also called summer tires) are made of uncompromising rubber that is perfect for warm weather. This contrasts with all-season tires, which are designed to cover many conditions and are ultimately not perfect for any of them.

According to some studies, high-performance tires have better grip in dry and wet conditions than all-season tires. This is due to a number of reasons, including the compound and tread pattern. They are certainly impressive, but the disadvantage of high-performance tires is that they are completely useless in snow and winter.

•  Touring All-Season

An all-season touring tire is built not only for a more comfortable ride but also for better handling and performance. You will find that they generally have a lower tread pattern than their all-season counterparts. The tread is usually wider and they have a larger contact area with the road. The result is a tire that usually has a “stickier” grip in corners and is smoother and more comfortable on the highway.

So, are touring tires right for you? Again, it depends on your needs, your climate and your driving habits. Do you drive a lot on the motorway and want a quieter and more comfortable ride? Then a touring tire might be the best choice.

What does tire wear depend on?

It depends on the properties of the rubber compound that makes up the tread and the properties of the road on which it is traveling. In the case of the tire carcass of passenger cars and trucks driving on normal roads, the wear of the tread is characterized by its abrasiveness.

• What can cause excessive internal or external wear?

Excessive wear on the inner or outer edge of the tire, known as “toe wear” or in more extreme cases “camber wear”, indicates that something is wrong with the wheel alignment. To fix the problem, you will probably need to make an appointment with a mechanic.

• What can the center support?

If the center of the tire wears out faster than the edges, then the tire is probably over-inflated. Find the correct tire pressure for your vehicle in the owner’s manual. Adjust the tire pressure accordingly to ensure a smooth, safe ride.

• What can cause edge wear?

If the outer edges of the tire wear faster than the center, the tire is probably underinflated. Follow the recommended inflation pressure on the side of the tire and inflate the tire as needed.

• What can cause cupping wear?

A diagonal bend on the tire, known as “cupping wear”, indicates that the suspension could be worn, bent or somehow compromised. This is a serious problem and you will probably need to make an appointment with a mechanic immediately.

• What can cause uneven wear?

Uneven wear means that the tire is out of balance. Let a mechanic rotate the tires, as this can help to compensate for the wear. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests spinning and rotating the tires every 5,000 miles, but it is a good idea to consult the owner’s manual first.

Tire marking

• Tire width

The first number that appears in the sequence is “215”. This number is the nominal width of the tire (in millimeters) from one sidewall to the other.

• Aspect ratio

After the slash, the next number in the sequence is “65”. This number is the aspect ratio of the tire – essentially the height of the tire tread outward from the rim expressed as a percentage of the width of the tire.

• Construction

Next in our range of tire markings is a letter instead of a number. This letter indicates the type of construction used in the tire carcass, in our example “R” for radial construction. Other examples are “B” for bias-ply or “D” for diagonal construction.

• Diameter of the rim

The number “15” in our example stands for the diameter of the wheel rim in inches.

• Load capacity index

The number after the rim diameter represents the load index. In our example, “96” is a code for the maximum load a tire can carry at full inflation.

• Speed Index

As the last in our sequence, we come to the speed evaluation. Letters from A to Z stand for the speed rating. Each letter indicates the maximum speed a tire can withstand below its recommended load capacity.

What are the main tire characteristics?

Traction or tread life?

High traction tires are made with special compounds that help them really grip the road, with sharp turns and quick stops. Unfortunately, all that grip on the road means faster tread wear.

• Precise handling or smooth ride?

Handling becomes more precise when the sidewalls of the tires are slightly stiff. For some drivers, precise handling is very important. However, when the sidewalls are less flexible, the ride becomes a bit more unsteady and the road noise gets louder.

The ride is smoother and quieter when the sidewalls of the tires are more flexible. What you gain in comfort, you lose in precise handling.

• High performance vs. fuel efficiency

Tires with low rolling resistance saves fuel. One reason for this is that they are actually rounder than normal tires. The point where the tires meet the road is called the “contact patch”, which is always flatter than the rest of the tire because all the pressure from the car is pressing down. For tires with low rolling resistance, the contact patch is smaller, which makes it rounder. Therefore, they roll more easily, which saves fuel because you don’t need so much fuel to push them.