Mazda has long been the brand of choice for those who love to drive.
Built to thrill drivers, the Mazda 3 represents the pinnacle of the brand’s commitment to offering a premium vehicle that makes running through twists and turns a joy. When choosing a tire for the Mazda 3, buyers are typically interested in a tire that offers optimal grip in a variety of conditions, along with a comfortable, quiet highway ride.
There are tons of great tires out there for the Mazda 3 but choosing the best tire for the Mazda 3 can be a bit overwhelming without some help from the experts.
Lucky for you, we’ve compiled the data and analyzed the reviews from real Mazda 3 drivers to determine the best tires for your Mazda 3.
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Mazda 3 Tire Size Overview
Over four generations, the Mazda 3 has morphed from an affordable, sporty compact car, to a premium, stand-out offering that competes with true luxury brands.
- OEM Tire Size(s): i Sedan
- Front/Rear: 195/65R15
- OEM Tire Size(s): s Sedan optional
- Front/Rear: 205/55R16
- OEM Tire Size(s): s Sedan & s Hatchback
- Front/Rear: 205/50R17
- OEM Tire Size(s): i Sport sedan
- Front/Rear: 195/65R15
- OEM Tire Size(s): i Touring sedan, s Sport sedan
- Front/Rear: 205/55R16
- OEM Tire Size(s): s Touring sedan, s Grand Touring Sedan, & ALL hatchbacks
- Front/Rear: 205/50R17
- OEM Tire Size(s): i Grand Touring sedan, i Touring sedan, i Sport sedan, i SV sedan
- Front/Rear: 205/55R16
- OEM Tire Size(s): s Grand Touring sedan & ALL hatchbacks
- Front/Rear: 205/50R17
- OEM Tire Size(s): Sedan
- Front/Rear: 205/55R16
- OEM Tire Size(s): ALL Hatchbacks & Preferred, Premium and Select sedans
- Front/Rear: 215/45R18
Choosing New Mazda 3 Tires
Owners of the Mazda 3 will undoubtedly put their vehicle through a variety of urban challenges that can include everything from heavy commuting on highways, to blasting down their favorite back road in style. Great tires should be able to enhance the Mazda 3’s performance chassis while providing grip in a wide variety of weather conditions.
What’s Your Weather Like?
If you live in areas with fair weather or mild seasonal weather, you’ll need a tire that can handle a variety of seasons with ease. If you live in an area with hardcore winters, all but the newest generation (fourth) utilize a front-wheel-drive layout that can work well in winter weather when properly equipped with snow tires. 2021 Mazda 3 models also offer AWD for extra grip.
What Do You Use Your Mazda 3 For?
Your Mazda 3 is designed to provide a high level of driver involvement and chassis feedback, while also providing a compliant, comfortable ride. Are you interested in eeking out maximum performance from your Mazda 3 or are you content with solid performance that may take a smaller chunk out of your wallet? Consider these questions as you read through this list.
Comfort, Performance, Budget. Pick Two.
High-performance tires provide high – levels of grip in a variety of conditions, along with a compliant ride that enhances the dynamic chassis of the Mazda 3. However, many drivers may not have the budget for all-out high-performance tires, and many great choices offer solid performance for the money.
Comparison of the Best Tires for Mazda 3
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The Best Tires for Mazda 3
Our picks for the best performance tire for the Mazda 3 include everything from all-season performance tires to budget-conscious selections that still offer solid performance for the money.
Let’s get into it!
Best Overall
Michelin CrossClimate2
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.7
Wet Performance: 4.8
Overall Comfort: 4.6
Treadwear: 4.7
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.6
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Michelin’s CrossClimate SUV offers stunning performance in dry, wet, and snowy conditions that offers a level of grip and control for Mazda 3 drivers that’s without equal.
The Michelin CrossClimate2 is the ultimate tire for all four seasons. Stunning dry performance allows for a connected, sporting feels while the specially designed, hyper-aggressive directional design channels water for ultimate wet performance. For the occasional snowfall, the CrossClimate2 makes short work on seasonal flurries and offers exemplary ride comfort that allows the dynamic chassis on the Mazda 3 to shine.
For drivers looking for the ultimate 4 seasons tire, Michelin’s CrossClimate2 makes the shortlist for a true, do it all tire with little compromise.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 640 B A
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 yr | 60K
Price Range: $159 – $206
Best High-Performance Tires for Mazda 3
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.7
Wet Performance: 4.4
Overall Comfort: 4.3
Treadwear: 4.2
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For Mazda 3 owners looking for the ultimate, summer performance tire; look no further than the incredible Firestone Firehawk Indy 500.
Let’s get this out of the way straight away: this is not an all-season tire. Sure, the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 can handle rain, but if snow or ice is in the mix, forget it. That being said, like the namesake racing series, these tires are designed with maximum grip, and the road feels in mind. Tire comfort takes a back seat to performance as well, but for drivers who love to wring out their Mazda 3, they probably don’t care anyway.
If you’re the kind of driver who sees every freeway on-ramp as an opportunity to push the limits, and you don’t deal with poor winter weather; this is an incredible tire to throw on your Mazda 3.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 340 A A
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: N/A
Price Range: $123 – $159
Best Value Tires for Mazda 3
Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.8
Wet Performance: 4.6
Overall Comfort: 4.7
Treadwear: 4.6
Snow/Ice Performance: 3.9
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Review
Pirelli’s Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II offers a unique combination of solid handling in a variety of conditions, a serene ride, and a long tread life warranty.
For a more value-focused tire, the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II delivers. Not only does it provide a solid suite of features for the money, but it also ranks extremely well for tread life retention, and offers an outstanding warranty. Mazda 3 drivers will love the Grand Touring focused design that makes long commutes a breeze, but never forgets to have fun when the road goes twisty. The only real downside of these tires is the poor snow and ice performance.
For Mazda 3 owners looking for an optimal all-around tire at a great price, the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II is hard to beat.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 700 A A
Directional: No
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: Unlimited Time | 70K
Price Range: $132 – $181
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Best All-Season Tires for Mazda 3
Michelin CrossClimate+
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.7
Wet Performance: 4.8
Overall Comfort: 4.4
Treadwear: 4.5
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.4
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Michelin has done the impossible and created a true, all – seasons tire that can handle everything from snow and ice to dry roads with absolute ease.
Utilizing an advanced, aggressive directional pattern and state-of-the-art compounds; the Michelin CrossClimate+ is the ultimate all-season tire for the Mazda 3. Performance on dry roads is exemplary, while performance on soaking wet roads is equally impressive. Light snow or ice? No problem for the Michelin CrossClimate+ and its unique 3D self-locking sipes. If there is a problem with the Michelin CrossClimate+, it’s that all this performance and capability does come with a premium price, but for many drivers, it is worth it.
For Mazda 3 drivers in parts of the country with seasonal weather, the Michelin CrossClimate+ could be the answer to swapping out tires for snow tires every winter.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: 600 A A
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: Yes
Treadlife Warranty: 6 yr | 50K
Price Range: $137 – $211
Best Winter Tires for Mazda 3
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Ratings (out of 5)
Dry Performance: 4.4
Wet Performance: 4.6
Overall Comfort: 4.4
Treadwear: 4.3
Snow/Ice Performance: 4.7
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For drivers who regularly encounter tough winter weather on yearly basis, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is an incredibly effective option for Mazda 3 drivers.
Designed to provide grip in a wide variety of winter conditions, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is the ultimate winter tire. The highly directional pattern utilizes blocks that are 15% larger than the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90’s predecessor. A unique silica compound embedded in the tire removes the water that forms between the tire’s surface and ice on the road for maximum traction. Although the Mazda 3 didn’t receive AWD till recently, Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 tires allow front-wheel-drive models to confidently trek through winter madness.
These special-use tires are designed to help your Mazda 3 get through truly tough winters, and based on reviews and user ratings, they do their job incredibly well.
Other Specifications
UTQG Rating: N/A
Directional: Yes
TireRack Road Hazard Protection: No
Treadlife Warranty: N/A
Price Range: $138 – $190
Conclusion
Purchasing tires for your Mazda 3 can seem a bit daunting, especially when presented with so many choices. Once you narrow down your needs and focus on the best tires for those specific needs, the choice will become clear.
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People Also Ask
Still, have questions? Check out some of the most common questions about Mazda 3 tires here.
Although there are small variances per year, in general, the recommended tire pressure for a Mazda 3 is 36 PSI. For your exact tire pressure, refer to your owner’s manual or the tire information plaque on the driver’s door sill.