Guys, I am thinking of getting just the winter tires and swapping into the OEM wheel with the original tires. Does it cause any damage, if you swap back and forth in every season? I am thinking of keeping the OEM for my winter tire, once the original performace tire that came with it became worn out.

Thanks
sanil

hey u might be interested i have a set of winter tires and rims for sale

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=107055

it's much better than spending $100 to get ur tires swaps every season

18" winter tires alone can cost as much as 17" wheels and tires.
Changing tires on the OEM rims is more expensive, time consuming a poses a risk to your wheels and tires. Do the math and you'll buy the 17" wheels.

I have winter tires on my OEM Wheels. However its becasue I have a set of summer rims and tires. I wont waste time swapping them every year. Its just too much of a hassle to take tires on and off the rim. and will cost a fortune over the years.

Kris

Get rims and winter tires and leave the winter tires on the rims. I have 17" rims on mine and it is nice to have that extra rubber between the rims and the road in the snow. It makes changing them easier.

^^
Also imagine having to cart your four dirty tires every season in what little room the back seats and trunk provide. Can you say two trips.

Vancouver has been hit three nasty snow storms (and our infrastructure wasn't designed to handle this volume) - needless to say with summer tires, my RX8 stayed home. I've spent weeks searching out the "Best" snow tires for the RX8. You won't believe it, but I found excellent tires that are remarkable on wet roads too.

Bridge Stone Potenza 960AS Pole Position - (Not to be confused with the Bridge Stone Potenza 040 factory installed rubbers). Because THESE tires are off the wall impressive.

Take a look for yourself! (Here is the stock tires)
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE040&partnum=245WR8RE040MZ&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&place=4&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&minSpeedRating=H

Ok, now compare that to this "All season"
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE960AS+Pole+Position&vehicleSearch=true&partnum=245WR8RE960PP&fromCompare1=yes

These tires felt as stable on ICE as the stock did on wet roads. Don't believe me? I wouldn't its crazy! so go get them installed because I didn't believe it either, until I tried them.

These may be the best Canadian All-Season performance tires available for the RX8. Heck.... it's EVEN BETTER on dry roads then the stock summer tires! How the heck to you explain that!?

Cheers!

Guys, I am thinking of getting just the winter tires and swapping into the OEM wheel with the original tires. Does it cause any damage, if you swap back and forth in every season? I am thinking of keeping the OEM for my winter tire, once the original performace tire that came with it became worn out.

Thanks
sanil


I think I'm one of the few around here that does change out his tires on the OEM rims every winter and spring. I have no damage on my wheeels from this. The key is to go to a place that you trust and does good work.

+1 for the above. Every time you take the rubber off of the rims, you risk damage to the rims. Most places are competent at doing without scratching your rims, but even dealerships aren't goof-proof. Some dealerships even state that they won't take responsibility if the rims are scratched when they replace the tires, but you could probably insist that they own up for their mistakes...