mark833

Hi guys,

Well I am going to splurge and buy a 2004 RX-8 GT soon. However, winter is fast approaching and I need winter tires/rims. I searched a lot on here for information on winter tires (this is my first actual post ) and I just have a few questions.

First, the stock tires/rims are 225/45/18, right? So technically, I could just buy 225/45/18 winter tires and mount them on the existing rims??

Second, if I went for a rim+tire winter package, I could buy either 225/50/17, 215/55/17, or 205/55/17? Correct me if I am wrong, but that's what I got from reading the threads here.

I assume I can't buy 17" tires and mount them on the existing rims, correct?

Finally, how much would a Toronto area dealer charge to take off and mount winter tires on exisiting rims??

Thanks alot guys and sorry for the multiple questions (I'm definitely a newbie trying to get some knowledge)

boffam

iTrader: (1)

Wow I think I know all the answers! I'm learning something around here.

"First, the stock tires/rims are 225/45/18, right? So technically, I could just buy 225/45/18 winter tires and mount them on the existing rims??"

That is the correct size and yes you can mount winter tires of this size on your existing rims. It makes more sense, however, to mount the winter tires on their own rims. The money you save being able to swap the setups yourself will pay for the rims in a few years. Plus taking tires on and off too many times increases the risk your rims will get damaged.

You can get cheap steel rims for your winter tires, which is sensible considering how hard the winter is on alloys. Or there often OEM rims for sale on the For Sale section of the board.

"Second, if I went for a rim+tire winter package, I could buy either 225/50/17, 215/55/17, or 205/55/17? Correct me if I am wrong, but that's what I got from reading the threads here."

The 225/50/17 is the exact -1 match for the OEM size. The others might be slightly different in diameter, but being narrower they'll look lame (though they will work better in ice and on deep snow...I assume that like all of us you've watched the Swedish WRC round). And BTW 16" won't clear the front brakes.

"I assume I can't buy 17" tires and mount them on the existing rims, correct?"

Nope.

"Finally, how much would a Toronto area dealer charge to take off and mount winter tires on exisiting rims??"

**** I don't know this one...never had it done! $100?

mark833

Thanks alot boffam!!

Alright, well, since I am only keeping this car for one winter season (2 summer seasons) at the moment since I will be moving, it would then make more sense to buy just the 18" tires and swap them twice (once for winter, once back for summer)??

Steel rims (even cheapies) will definitely cost more than the $200 to mount/remount I would assume

Neo

Boffam is correct on the tire sizes. The 225/50/17 is a perfect -1 downgrade and there are plenty of winter tires out there in that size.
You can also do 205/55/17, but then your tire sizes become limited.

Even if you're going to keep the car for 2-3yrs, you never know what will happen on the road so it's best to get the tires on its own set of rims. Some guys priced out some cheap alloys against steelies and they managed to save some cash by getting some alloys.

Rems31

https://www.rx8club.com/canada-forum-35/couple-question-winter-tires-rims-128563/

Have a read and see some places to buy tires/rims for cheap.

mark833

Hey guys, thanks for all the info. Just one more question...

What about 215/55/17??

My friend just traded in his 2005 G35x for a 2007 G37 Coupe and he has nice winter tires and alloys leftover. They are in great condition and are 215/55/17. Will those work??

Thanks!!

Chris_Bangle

iTrader: (2)

^ My winter boots are in that size they work.

mark833

Will they look "weird"? (the 215/55/17's I am considering) What will look different about them besides being 1 inch smaller??

Neo

That size will work. The car will be going a bit quicker than indicated, approximately .8mph or 1.3km/h faster than what the speedo tells you.
It'll fill out the wheel well by approximately 5mm.

I doubt they'll look weird. Just slightly beefier due to the added sidewall size.

Chris_Bangle

iTrader: (2)

Winter tires on steel rims genrally do not look weird or lame. I went with the narrower size because I thought that it will be a bit better for winter driving, but with the kind of winters we have being having I think you can safely go with the 225s.

rotten42

I use the stock 18" size with Blizzack LM22's. They work great.

Rems31

17's will be cheaper though

zerobio

Me too.

mark833

Alright guys, thanks for all the info.

One final question ()...

Will the bolt pattern on all the rims/tires I am planning on using from my friends G35 be the same as on the RX8?? He hasn't gotten them out of storage yet so I can't take a look.

Thanks for any insight!

zerobio

Bolt pattern for stock wheel is 5 x 114.3

Rems31

anyone put their winter tires on yet? It's starting to dip below 0...

boffam

iTrader: (1)

I was thinking about it...the summer Bridgestones don't have a whole lotta grip at these low temps.

On the other hand, the summer Bridgestones don't have a whole lotta grip at these low temps!!

Rems31

lol ...Im puttting mine on tonight cuz while during the day is fine (the weather network said double digit temps) but at night frost starts to form. Back to the ugly steelies for 6 months

zerobio

I'm waiting until about mid-November but no later.

eug

iTrader: (2)

Over the years I've been able to hold out until mid-december before needing to swap winters on. This year I don't have the luxury of slapping them on the last moment since I now work in Ottawa and left the tires in my garage in London. So they're going on next week when I'm back for some time off. With my luck of course, I'll have nice warm Blizzak-eating weather for the drive back up North