The 8 Best Tires for the Mazda 3
The best tires for Mazda 3 are for those who like their ice cream with hot fudge on top. Besides improving this car’s already impressive driving dynamics, they will make it even more fun to drive. The overall improvement in the ride would be hard to ignore.
The good news continues in the treadwear department. The Mazda 3’s OE (original equipment) tires are notorious for requiring replacement within months of use. In contrast, the tires recommended below are all backed with warranties as high as 80,000 miles.
What’s more, some of the below tires – particularly those belonging to the all-season category – may improve this car’s mileage. That is huge considering that the Mazda 3 does 26/36 mpg on city/highway on OE tires, which are impressive numbers for a car.
Which all adds up to one impressive package. An engaging drive, superb road manners, and a comfy ride are the defining features of this compact car. With the below tires carrying this vehicle, you’d notice an improvement in areas where this car lags its rivals.
Read on to find the best tires for the Mazda 3.
Best All-Season Tires
While most people buy the 3 for its sportiness, a sizeable number of drivers use this vehicle for everyday driving. For them, the installation of all-season tires – with qualities such as low rolling resistance, good road manners, and high treadwear warranties – promises to be a wise decision.
#1. Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring
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The Assurance ComforTred Touring should be one of your top picks for the Mazda 3.
The 3 comes in sedan and hatchback body styles, making it difficult to choose one tire that could be installed on all trims. But guess what? The ComforTred Touring fits every Mazda 3 on the road, meaning you won’t have to worry about finding the right size.
Another reason why this tire merits your attention is because it offers superb all-season traction, thanks to an asymmetric tread pattern and notched intermediate and center ribs.
Yet another quality which distinguishes this tire from rivals is that it offers a noise-free ride (which is why we rate it as one of the quietest tires on the market). The ComforTred Touring is one of the best tires when it comes to smoothening out smaller imperfections.
It’s also pretty reliable when it comes to driving over snow and ice, especially when there isn’t much of the white stuff on the roads. In mild wintry conditions, this tire won’t need much help to offer the kind of traction that safely carries you from point A to B.
Pros
- One of the most comfortable tires in its class
- Excellent dry and wet traction
- Backed by a 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Handling could be more dynamic
#2. Michelin CrossClimate 2
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The Michelin CrossClimate 2 ticks several boxes for the average Mazda 3 driver.
Start with the fact that it has low rolling resistance. Michelin’s EverTread Technology – by evenly distributing the pressure forces it’s subjected to – helps it consume less fuel per mile than rivals. You can thus count on it to boost your 3’s range.
Another reason why many 3 drivers trust this tire is that it wears slowly. Need proof? The fact that it comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty should be enough. As it indicates that the average American driver can get up to 4 years out of this tire.
During those 4 years, you won’t have to avoid snow and ice. How can we be so sure? The 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain and Snowflake) and M+S (Mud and Snow) symbols on its tread indicate that it has what it takes to tackle harsh wintry conditions.
Lastly, while all of Michelin’s tires are responsible for offering a refined ride, the CrossClimate 2 takes comfort levels up a few notches. A noise-free ride is thus guaranteed.
Pros
- Offers a quiet and comfortable ride
- Extremely short braking distances in the rain
- Comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Handling could be more dynamic
#3. Vredestein Quatrac Pro
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If winter driving is a high priority and you cannot afford to buy dedicated winter tires, the Vredestein Quatrac Pros are a good bet.
This tire comes with the 3PMSF symbol considered as the ultimate guarantee that a tire would be reliable in harsh weather. Awarded by EU authorities, the 3PMSF rating is only awarded to tires that can safely carry you from point A to point B on snow and ice.
An aggressive tread pattern further underlines this tire’s snow driving credentials. Punctuated by forceful sipes, the tread pattern ensures excellent traction on slippery surfaces.
Given how well it performs in inclement weather, you may be inclined to feel that its dry performance will be a tad lackluster. Luckily, that is not the case.
The Quatrac Pro is one of the few all-weather tires whose dry braking distances almost rival those on wet and slippery surfaces. What’s more, its steering response is pretty high, letting you execute quick lane changes with nothing but a flick of the steering.
Pros
- Comes with the 3PMSF emblem
- Quiet and comfortable drive
- Can be used in harsh wintry conditions
Cons
- Ice grip could be better
Best High-Performance Tires
As you’d already know from experience, the Mazda 3 is designed for the enthusiastic driver. Its superior driving dynamics, powerful engine, and perky acceleration are all there to appeal to the speed-loving driver. Installing high-performance tires thus makes sense.
#4. Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus
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The Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus are our top tire pick for the Mazda 3.
Mainly because this all-season high-performance tire offers the best of both worlds. Unlike many of its peers, the DWS 06 Plus don’t settle for a stable driving experience on dry and wet surfaces – it also offers superior road stability in mild wintry conditions.
Its noise and comfort levels are also pretty high, even when compared with peers. That is something not to be taken lightly. This tire’s competitors – which are noted below – all boast decent road manners.
Another thing I like about this tire is that it offers decent cornering grip. You can throw it into a bend at full speed and there would be minimal oversteering and understeering.
I’d also anticipate the DWS 06 Plus to have significantly better fuel economy than the stock tires, though the bar has been set pretty low by the OE radials.
A 50,000-mile treadwear warranty further sweetens the deal, especially when you consider than many tires in this category aren’t backed to last as long.
Pros
- Decent dry, wet, and light snow performance
- Excellent treadwear warranty for an AS UHP tire
- Offers better fuel economy than the Mazda 3’s stock tires
Cons
- Higher price point
#5. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
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Several qualities make the Pilot Sport 4S an exciting pick for the Mazda 3.
The first of which is that it can be used year-round, even if you live in an area that experiences mild winters. Want to know why? An all-season tread compound makes sure that this tire is as reliable on dry and wet surfaces as on snow and ice.
Another reason why Mazda 3 drivers would like this tire is that its dry handling breaks from the class. Unlike many all-season touring tires, which start struggling as soon as you press the accelerator.
Want to know why? The credit goes to its asymmetric tread pattern. Besides ensuring it doesn’t wobble at breakneck speeds, the tread pattern enhances this tire with superior cornering grip.
The result? A tire that stays glued to the road regardless of whether you’re cruising straight down the highway or attacking continuous bends.
All of the above may lead you to believe that this tire would wear painfully quickly. However, as its 30,000-mile treadwear warranty suggests, that is not the case.
Pros
- Superb dry grip and wet traction
- Exceptional straight-line tracking
- Backed with a 30,000-mile warranty
Cons
- Steering feedback could be higher
#5. Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
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The Firehawk Indy 500 is for drivers who want a nimble but compliant ride.
This tire is tempting because of its advanced silica tread compound, something that shouldn’t surprise tire aficionados. After all, silica is known for its firmness, the quality that is crucial for any tire that wants to offer impeccable grip at high speed.
The traction on offer is also impeccable. The Indy 500 is one of those tires that feel as if they are almost glued to the road. The responsiveness is pretty excellent too, and this tire will have zero problem eliminating slip when things get aggressive.
Also, while most UHP tires struggle in the rain, the Firehawk Indy 500 excels. The credit for this goes to its Pulse Groove Technology, which enhances water evacuation for superior wet grip.
Pros
- Very high grip and traction levels
- Stable when driving on wet roads
- Affordable for a UHP tire
Cons
- No treadwear warranty
Best Winter Tires
If your area receives heavy snowfall during the winter season, opting for dedicated winter tires would be the best bet for your safety. With flexible tread compounds, aggressive biting edges, and state-of-the-art water evacuating channels, these tires will keep your 3 stable out there.
#7. Continental VikingContact 7
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The VikingContact 7 proves why dedicated winter tires are your best bet for driving on snow.
A super-flexible tread compound helps this tire conform to the contours of the road, especially on snow and ice. This maximizes the meeting point between the tire and the road, making sure you get consistently high traction throughout.
Two more areas of this tire help with snow.
The first of which are what Continental calls Grip Edges, raised blocks at the shoulder blocks of the tire that boost its snow and ice traction. Then comes the tread pattern, which is specifically designed to improve traction on wet roads.
Plus, with numerous grooves and sipes dotting its tread, you don’t have to worry about aquaplaning. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the risk of water accumulating within the tread and causing slippage is pretty much negligible.
Pros
- Superb grip and traction on snow and ice
- Excellent aquaplaning resistance
- Responsive with plenty of steering feedback
Cons
- Comfort and noise take a hit in specific scenarios
#8. Michelin X-Ice Snow
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The Michelin X-Ice Snow has everything you’d want from premium winter tires.
The first of which is that it offers class-leading braking distances on snow and ice, minimizing the risk of accidents such as fender benders. Another quality of this tire is that it consumes less fuel per mile than its peers, resulting in better mileage.
Yet another thing we like about this tire is that it’s pretty perky. On dicey surfaces, your normal snow and ice tire requires you to drive slowly to maintain traction. Luckily, that isn’t the case with the X-Ice Snow, which can handle rapid acceleration quite well.
You’d also find it good to know that the X-Ice Snow absorbs bumps with minimal fuss. This is great news, as it allows you to enjoy a quiet ride inside the cabin.
Want to hear more good things about this tire? It comes with a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty, putting its rivals to shame. That is because most winter tires aren’t backed with any guarantee whatsoever, let alone one as high as it rivals that of all-season tires.
Pros
- Superb handling and traction in harsh weather
- Delivers a much quieter ride than competitors
- Backed by a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Pricey
Conclusion
Selecting the right tires for your Mazda 3 can significantly enhance your driving experience, addressing common issues with the OE tires while catering to different driving preferences and weather conditions. It’s thus essential that you bite the bullet and pay the price asked of you.