Tires MICHELIN or OEM Mazda

Used a higher quality tyre last time : Michelin Alpine 5...

I had used cheap winters before but you really do notice the difference in quality, grip etc

Tires make more difference than anything. I too bought at used Mazda 3, and thought: "Oooh, this is dodgy in the rain . . ."

Then I got better tires (summers and winters) and realized: "Ohhh, I just had terrible tires."

It's not as great in ice, but I think Michelin x-ice and Blizzak tires are better for that.

Further to the Xice3 awesomeness. I drove through 50 km of super-twisty tight mountain road this weekend and came across a BMW 5-series on wide tires that would sprint off on the straights then I'd catch him in the twisties then he'd take off on the straights (rinse and repeat)... Anyway, mixed dry/damp pavement at about 10 \u00b0C and the Xice3s had grip to spare in corners.

I have the Michelin PA4's for my R, they are great all around in the winter especially in the dry, X Ice3 were better on ice and packed snow though.

I ran the Xice3 in some pretty severe snow this past winter. One day in particular was a big snowstorm... I took every gnarly/hilly minor road I could find... and got home with no drama and some quality hooning. Those tires are magic.

I had XIce's on my S4 and loved them, for sure getting them on my R Smooth on plowed roads, but turned the S4 into a tank when it snowed.

I got my Michelin X-Ice Xi3 winter tires today as well as the rebate card.

I had the Pilot Alpines on my Z4M Coupe last winter. Loved them for below freezing dry conditions, and I was driving past stuck subarus in snowy conditions as well.

I have the same Michelin tires, and they are fine tires if you drive the speed limit and not have to make any sudden stops... It is reasonably quiet, and handles pretty well in the dry and wet. These tires even got me home during a few snow storms, but almost got stuck on an ice covered hill, but managed to get out of that mess with some careful driving.