[lowrider]

My experience with winter tires on my Mazdaspeed 3 is that they don't grip as well as summer tires. The ISF I'll be getting may come from a warm climate and not even have all-seasons. I don't want to risk damaging the wheels with twice yearly tire changes, so I'm looking at a Tirerack.com package with wheels, totaling about $1300. I can swap them myself in the garage. What do you think?

No new stock ISFs are delivered with All Season tires, all come with Max Performance Summer tires. Either Bridgestone RE050a or Michelin PS2. If you're buying used, then yes the former owner may have changed them to All Season.

As for dedicated Winter tires, yes, another set of wheels is the way to go. Many owners with dedicated winter wheels have used an 18" wheel with good success.

Lou

 

[Thorevinl]

My honda tyres are there for winter rides...

 

[IS F Steve]

Unless you live in the hot Southwest ... like me ... The Conti ExtremeContact DWS are amazing tires. Plus a long tread life, too.

Even though cars like the IS-F are unlikely to be used in heavy snow conditions, while the "S" is visible on the tread light-to-moderate snow can be conquered!

My son replaced the Bridgestones on his Mazdaspeed3 at 22,000 miles with the DWSs. Without changing his driving style the "S" is still visible after another 20,000 miles of Southeast and Midwest driving.

I can vouche for the DWS's on the IS F as I had them on my stock rims and I cannot compliment these tires enough. Unfortunately, my purchase was short lived as about 800 miles later, I went with Vossens which called for 20 inch tires. If anyone is interested, let me know.

 

[Flannsmith]

Well thanks for providing these links on winter on stock wheels. I have used these and got amazing results.