I recently purchased a 2007 redfire metallic mazda 6 and want to do a few upgrades, actually in the next couple weeks i want to get the windows tinted. I was wondering what percentage of tint most people get on their6's? I was worried about going darker than legal but to be honest legal is so light and I doubt going a little darker would get me too many fines. I guess I want something in between haha. (btw i live in CT)

I would also eventually like to get black rims and new tires. I was wondering what brands are the best to go with. I'm no expert on cars but if I'm going to spenda grand on more on new wheels I want them to last me as well as look good. I live in New England so a lot of the time theres snow on the ground so I want something that can stick well and rims that are tough and won't bend easily.

What are peoples opinions on the eyelids for the headlights? I saw some on ebay that come with an adhesive to attach them to the headlights. Are those safe? Will they just fall off eventually?

Any other ideas please let me know. Thank you!

 

I have 15% in mineall the way around. Most states allow 15% in the back side windows and the back winsheild, but not the front side windows. It is slightly too dark at night, but you get used to it rather quickly. I love the look of my car with the tint. Good luck!

 

First the negative:
I HATE eyelids on anything but certain BMW's.

Wheels are very subjective and most will last as long as the OE's, as long as they are not polished or chromed... especially chromed. Don;t go there... PLEEAASSSEEEEE!!!!
I would get AM wheels w/summer tires and use the OE's for a set of snows if I lived in NE... and I used to live (and grew up)in Pennsylvania, so I know something about snow, ice and road salt.
However the best scenario would be to get steel wheels for the snows.

I have 25% on the fronts and 5% (limo tint) on the rears. I do not recommend the 5%, and if you live in NE your laws may be MUCH more restrictive than that. Please see your local DOT.gov site for details. I do like the 25% however, but you may be limited to 50% or less in your state.

Tires: If you go winter tires/summer tires as I believe would be in your best interests, I would suggest (from personal experience) either Kumho's or Falkens for summer tires. Both are relatively cheap and offer good bang-for-the-buck, imo. The Falkens are liable to wear out faster and the Kumho's offer a softer sidewall/ride.
But tires are very much apersonal choice and depending, can offer lower noise,better ride, better price, or better handling, but usually not all of the above.

 

One more very important note: The 6 series uses a +60mm wheel offset. Aftermarket wheels are very, VERY hard to find even close to that specification. Please, when shopping r wheels be awareand stay as close as possible to it. An 8" wheel w/a +42mm offset will no doubt rub, cause handling and braking issues and give you more headaches than you bargained for.

At the very least, look for a wheels that offers a +50mm offset.

 

WOW VIRGIN![sm=bounceybounce.gif]

so much great info! thanks!!! [sm=thanx.gif]

 

Also, try tirerack.com, they have a lot of reviews for tires, and I think rims as well.

 

So quick question for Virgin. Dude you sound like you knowa lot of great info. I'm in PA and I'm looking to get tints on my car as well, but there seems to be a lot of differences between the states DOT and the Goverment Regulations. So do you know what % I can go with to give me an awsome look but no violations? Oh and do you know of any good places I can get it installed? I won't do tint seen to many bad jobs that have air bubbles everywhere rather just pay to get it done.

I'm also looking at cold air intake. I was wondering what's the difference between the cold air (which I know about) and the ram air intake (which I never heard of)? Is there a major HP difference and which would give me more? I'm looking between the Injen, AEM, and K&N brands.

Any info would help me out guys thanks in advance.

 

The State will override Federal in this case... and we all know how much Pa Staties like to be ******, especiallywhen they're bored.
Though I grew up in Pa, I'm not sure what the current laws are regarding AM tint, but it's probably pretty restrictive.
I think it's Maine or Mass that only allows a max of 50%. Pa might be more liberal than that but check the DOT.gov sitehttp://www.dot.state.pa.us/ and follow it if you don't want a "visit." Remember that these days, officer's carrier a small device that can read the level of light passing through your windows in a matter of seconds.

 

Ah!! I found it!!
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms...ets/fs-sun.pdf

OUCH!!! VERY restrictive!!

 

An answer to MazdaChef's question, a short ram intake (SRI) is a high flow filter attached pretty much directly to the intake manifold. Basically, it improves air flow from the stock box, but it sucks in heated air from the engine compartment, unlike a CAI, which always takes cool air from the exterior. So a SRI does about as well as a CAI (I think) when you first start the ca, but slowly loses horses because of the heated air.

Also, everything I've heard points to taking the CP-E intake over the injen, AEM, or K&N. It is more expensive but it's supposed to have ahigher HP boost (like a 50 or 100% boost), as well as never having to worry about a thrown check engine light.