Which winter tyres are currently best and do I need to change my Mazda 3's wheel size?

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Which winter tyres are currently best and do I need to change my Mazda 3's wheel size?

I drive a 2009 Mazda 3 Sport. I live on top of a hill where the road is not gritted by the council due to local cuts. When it snows like it did recently we could not use our car for a few days until the snow melted, and this is why I am thinking of winter tyres. At present the tyres on the car are Bridgestone RE 040XZ89V (17-inch rims). Would a smaller tyre fit the wheels or would I have to buy new wheels to replace my present ones? What make of tyres would you advise and from what month is it advisable to use winter tyres?

Asked on 16 March 2013 by PH, Harrogate

Answered by Honest John

Obviously you cannot fit 16-inch tyres to 17-inch rims, so to fit 16-inch you need to go to 16-inch rims. Continental WinterContact TS850s seem to win this year's tests and one school of thought says they can be left on the car all year round. Normally specific ‘cold weather’ tyres would be fitted from November until March.

Tags: wheels and tyres wheel sizes winter tyres

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