Tires: Low profile tires on Mazda 3i, 2005 mazda 3i, low profile tires

Question
QUESTION: I purchased a used 2005 Mazda 3i about 2 months ago. I bought it from a dealership (that wasn't mazda) and the salesman recommended that I get new tires, he told me that the low profile tires were not the original tires for that car, and not the right kind. Shortly after I bought it, I had a garage balance the tires to get rid of a a shaking I was feeling in the steering wheel, and they ALSO told me that the tires I had were not the "right kind for that car", but that they would serve me well in snow/rain. These tires are some sort of high proformance rain/snow tires. They are also "directional" tires and therefore cannot be rotated properly, which means that they're wearing out fast. I want to get new tires, but really don't know what I should be getting. Also not sure if I have to have low profile tires? Any suggestions as to what sort of tires I should put on this car? I don't want to get rooked into buying something I don't need, or the wrong kind of tires, etc.
thanks!

ANSWER: Rachel,

Part of the problem here, I think, is that the folks you talked to are trying to diagnose the source of the vibration - and they don't know what they are talking about.  Everything you described about your current set of tires sounds OK to me

Your Mazda originally came with either P195/65R15's or P205/55R16's.  If these are not the size on your car, then you need to let me know what tire size is on there.

The second thing is that I don't know what it is you expect out of your tires - good wear, good grip, soft ride, etc.  So I need a list of preferences - in order.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your help, I checked my tires and they do say P205/55R16 on them. However, I have been told by 2 different garages that these are directional tires, and not the right kind of tires for my car?

As for what I expect out of my tires, I simply want to have the right kind that will give me good wear, and be good in snow as I live in the north.
thanks again so much for your help.

Answer
Rachel,

As I expected, the folks you talked to are a little "Out of Dodge!"  There are plenty of tires that will work for you.

You are looking for tires with a good UTQG tread wear rating and have good snow traction - which may be a bit difficult to quantify.  I suggest you spend some time at Tire Rack's web site looking over the ratings.

The other way to do this is to talk to a local retailer and find out what they would recommend.  Different parts of the country require different levels of snow traction and it would be best to have someone who knows the local conditions tell you what has worked in the past.

BTW, this is a very popular tire size and there will be plenty of affordable tires available.

Unfortunately, I work for a major tire manufacturer and shouldn't give you brand specific comments, so this is as far as I can help you.