What are the best tires for Canadian RX8s?
 

What are the All Season best tires for Canadian RX8?
My name is Timothy, and like many of you, I can't stand this recent balmy freezing weather.
My tires are "high performance" summer tires from Bridgestone.
The stock tires seen here:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....nSpeedRating=H

They are fine in areas where there is a lot of sunshine. British Columbia Canada, um, not so. It rains here once a year, Jan to Nov. It also snows storms once a year, yes of course Dec lol. So my tires are either on wet roads, or icy roads. (The sun does come out once and a while, and it even gets dry once and awhile). (Sorry for the rant) - but lets be honest with ourselves... it rains here. LOTS.

While my car was parked in Dec, I found myself searching out the best All Season tires I could find. Wouldn't you know it, they're also Bridgestone Potenza!
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

These tires are so remarkable on wet ground, you almost would say they have better traction then on dry roads, which ironically is even better traction then my dedicated summer tires on dry road? What was that you say? Has Timothy gone MAD? This all season has better traction in the summer then my own SUMMER TIRES??

It get's worse, these Pole Position tires feel like they have better traction on snow..... you ready for this?... then the stock did on wet roads.

I've seen it first hand folks, I wouldn't expect anyone to believe this, until (like me) they try these tires on for themselves. Please take my advice and search this out, you are going to enjoy what your about to see.

I challange ANYONE, If you can find ANY tire, that drives better in wet and icy conditions - for the stock RX8 18'rims - reply here!

Cheers!!

Interesting thoughts on the All Season tires - but if I didn't buy an RX-8 to then comprimise the summer performance and enjoyment of the car by putting All Seasons on it. I get it if you feel wet weather is an issue or you didn't want to fund the winter tires and then have to switch them as the BC weather is not full blown snow and ice.

After having sport coupes that had all seasons on them, and then going to a full summer set up with winter tires - I am much more comfortable in the winter having the full winters on the car even though this year has been light on snow so far. I am also much happier having a summer performance tire on the car for those days where going for a drive doesn't include the QEW in T.O., but includes a few twists and turns.

We cannot say your wrong...number speech for thereselve!
First tire..made for temperature higher than 15 degree!
Rated A (dry purpose only, or as it best)
Second tire...Made for temperature near zero.
Rated AA (for better wet traction)

First tire will outperform your second on a racetrack anytime at
over 15 degree after a good heat... :)
But for your use..you better with the second choice...

Just read the UTQG it will give you a good answer before you buy and check out your need also...
hope this will help some other user :)
My icebear Hankook rated V will outperform any 4 season on ice and snow..:O)
I like the summer with summer and winter with good winter tire

www.racingpurposeonly.com

All seasons - favoring colder temperatures - good point
 

For regular road tred, you would recommend the Summer Tires? Even though the ratings suggest it has less traction then the All-Season? You would suggest that the Ultra Summer Tires would fair in regular rainy conditions better?

I just want to be sure, I’m not making a mistake buying these tires, they seem to be sensational on the charts, and in the wet road conditions we teted them in. I don’t do race tracks, but I do road races on Coal Brook Road often.

Also the All Seasons have much less road noise (Basically silent).

I never thought of the fact that All season would be tuned to favor a certain temperature... but of course that makes sense.

Mazda Canada phoned me about this, sounds like they are interested in testing these as well.

I thought this thread was a riddle? :boring:

But he lives in Canada, where summer occurred on I believe a Wednesday last year? I think the Potenza RE960AS Pole Position are a good choice for him. Maybe not in deep snow, but the rest of the year it would be good.

I think that your 4 season is good tire for you...it's depending of the use of ours car...Me in the summer I go on lapping event(race) so I really need Summer tire (R Compound) for me.. :rock:

Innaresting debate. The main issue I have with the OEM Bridgestones is how freakin' loud they are. I might trade 0.02g of skidpad grip in order to hear the engine better. Are ALL summer tires that bad on these cars????

My 2004 came stock with the Dunlops and they have been great.
They're not loud at all on fast corners either.

^It's not the corners that is the problem...it is going straight.

HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMM

And not in a good way, either... :naughty:

I just want to add what i know about tires here.

No offense, but all season tires are also known as no season tires.
On dry roads, a winter tires' grip will equal that of all season tire at around +7C. When temperatures dip below that, winter tires will start to out perform all seasons more and more. On snow/ice, it is obvious that winter tires will outperform all seasons greatly.

When the temperature gets hot, same things can be said about summer tires. So all season tires are basically a compromise for everything. It's "okay" in all conditions, but not outstanding in any condition.

Very good all season tires may out perform high performance summer tires in the wet, simply because when its wet, the temperature is lower. If you're talking about hydroplaning resistence, then it all depends on the tread design. Meaning a high performance summer tire can resist hydroplaning just as good as all season tires.

Lastly, the traction rating on a tire (AA vs A) is a measure of wet traction (not cornering grip). That's why high performance all seasons usually have AA rating, whereas even the best summer or R tires would only have A.

I change car almost every years! and tire..well maybe 3 set a years with the winter! Sound of tire was never a problem for me...even with the Potenza and/or the Dunlop!
Don't know what you are talking about...noize of tire! maybe I dont listen to it at 9000rpm!..lol
Sometime it's not the tire the problem it is behind the whell...we see that often a the racing trac...
Slow in fast out...you should not have problem with the noise! yes if you drive agressive and not properly with fast in, slow out...like bad drivers...
But that another story...

A wise man told me:

In slow, out fast.
In fast, out backwards.

lol
:bowdown:

Getting back on Track, or tred
 

The objective of this thread should still be focussed on determining what is the best All Seasons for the RX8 in regular poor "Canadian" weather conditions.

Now, since I am from Vancouver, my personal hope is to find the best WATER TRED tires available.

So, again if anyone has experience with these types of tires, and they know of a tire that has excellent traction on wet roads (Probably an All-Season) - Please look your tire up on Tire Rack, compare it with the Pole Position. If your tire recommendation is better then the Pole Positions, please post your recommendation!!

I would love, LOVE TO FIND the best water tred tires (or all seasons) available to the RX8 standard wheels.

As always your help is greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

If this can Help:
They is not a big difference with all Four season tire if they are all on the same UQTG....same thing for winter or summer...just look up for your real need...a tire of 400 treadwear will last longer than a 300 but will be less grippy also! make sence.
After look up for the price..big names tire like michelin are always over priced compare to other good tire brand. Rice is really not reflecthing the quality of a tire...:O)

Not sure if this article will help but it was a good in-depth comparison of tires in wet and dry conditions:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...ay.jsp?ttid=69

Car & Driver magazine did the testing.

Here in Ontario we have to use winter tires if we want to make it home in one piece during the winter months :)

I'd just get snow tired for the winter.. problem solved!!

The Chad,

That was very informative. Just the sort of review I was hoping to find!
Only thing though, the tire size was specific to 17inches. Most tires listed on the top tier are not made for RX8s 225/45 18R. The Good Year Eagle D3 and the Continental SportContact do not fit the RX8. Closest size is: 225/40ZR18 XL.

Very good review though. Perhaps, there is a grade size that will fit larger wheels.
Also they did not review the Pole Position (Probably because they don't fit the 17R tires)

Go with 245/40ZR18 XL - it's the closest to stock diameter.

Hey, you're welcome. I remember reading about the tire comparison but couldn't find the article on caranddriver.com. At least Tire Rack still had the review.

You seem to like the Bridgestones! Personally I've always had a great experience with Yokohama's.

But just remember, if you enjoy nice weather 90% of the time then don't sacrifice dry performance for a little more wet performance.
That's my two cents :D:

Cheers

sport contact 2
 

Just put a set of conti sport contact 2's on my 8. 225/45/18. They ride much better than the Avon 550 AS . They were 245/40 /18. The car drives better with these tires. I bought these tires because they have assymetrical tread instead of directional.

More info on the Pole Positions
 

Driving the 96AS Potenza Pole Positions a bit further.

I've got some more comparisons between the Pole Positions and the 040 Ultra Summer tires that are stock on some RX8s.

I've noticed that the 96AS loose their hold a bit easier then the 040s, but here's the part that is remarkable, they have much greater gripping power when you would normally loose traction.

I push my Rx8 to the limits when no one is around. There is this corner I constantly go around at 120k with the previous tire 040, but with the 96AS I have done 132k and the tires seem tuned to catching when you begin to slip.

On Monday's deluge, the tires handled expertly, almost better then on dry it seemed.
If you are in dry climates, I'd probably stick with the original stock tires, but if you live where it rains ALL THE TIME, you should look at these tires seriously, they'll save your butt in wet conditions.

When the sun comes out this summer (Hopefully)
- Then I'll switch back to the summer tires.