I live in Toledo, OH about an hour south of Detroit, MI? I just put a $50 deposit on 4 225/50-R18 Dunlop Winter Sport M3s? Now I'm begging to have second thoughts about getting a winter tire? Do I need to get it if I want to drive in this area or should I just look for some all-seasons to replace the potenzas?

Also, I'm paying $188/tire. Is that a good price or should I shop around?

 

I live in St. Louis, but I think it applies - from my experience, you can't drive these cars at all with the stock tires in any kind or any even small amount of slush, snow, ice, frost, etc. Its damn scary.

I downsized to 17" Bridgestone Blizzaks with a set of new wheels and it was $900 total including shipping. That's a way to make the job easy and a little less expensive. The car rode better, quieter, and the only downside is that the handling was not as sharp.

Good luck.

 

Here in Chicago, I get around on all-season tires in the winter. How much tire you need depends on how much snow you get. Is Toledo in a lake effect area? If so, I would say yes. Other wise, I think we need to worry about ice more than snow.
He we get maybe one 12" snow a year. The rest are 2" or less.

 

Is this your everyday car or can you drive something else when the snow first hits?

 

We usually have a couple of really nasty snows in the winter here in central Indiana. And, you can't always depend on the road crews to have all the streets you use safely cleared off when you need them the most... Whether you get all-seasons, or snows, you need SOMETHING to get through the winter safely. The 8 has high-performance summer tires which function as little more than skis on even the lightest powder.

 

Myfuncar...$900 is a great deal for a set of wheels and snow tires? Can I ask what tires you got and where you got them? Were they used?

Also, my dealer recommended that I should stick to 18" wheels as I have the GT package with bigger brake calipers and mounting a smaller wheel could damage that. He also mentioned something about the car riding lower. Is that true?

I got a quote for $850 for 4 Dunlop Winter Sport M3s sized 225/50R18. That includes tax and a $40 lifetime wheel mounting and balancing fee from discount tires.

I would like new wheels but I don't know if I want to spend another $500 on those. The folks at discount tires said that they will mount the winter tires on my stock wheels and switch them back to summer tires after winter. They also told me that switching tires twice a year doesn't damage the wheels or the tires in any way.

 

Oops..I meant what WHEELS you got Myfuncar

 

A couple things based on my conversations, reading this forum and being from OH originally, but not having personally gone through a winter in my 8.

1) If it's your fun car, it seems to me that you don't need snow tires. Wait until streets are clean to drive. You aren't in the snow belt, so large portions of your winter are clear, dry roads.

2) If you must have snow tires, most people are buying wheels and tires: Less damage opportunity to your rims (changing tires and road salt). Additionally, it's common to see 17" wheels as the replacement. No damage due to smaller size and they're typically cheaper.

Search the forums and you'll find alot of this. The guys in Canada are also good sources. Good luck!

 

yes, you need snow tires...

 

Will 225/50-R18 fit on OEM rims w/o any rubbing? Does anyone have this setup? Pics?

 

I'm Selling snow tires and rims to anyone interested.

 

I'm from Lima, and I plan to budget in a set of snows and winter tires for next year already. If i'd have realized how bad the summers were in snow, i'd have already got a set.

I wouldn't think twice up by you. As long as you can afford em, jump on it.

Personal preference though...a set of winter rims is usually a good call too. Between the salt and mounting/unmounting that your rims would go through, you'd be surprised how quickly they can get torn up.

 

Hi Mark...can you elaborate? What tire/wheel combo, condition, price, etc.?

 

(4) 17x7 Kosei K1 TS Silver Wheels complete with (4) 225/50HR-17 Pirelli Winter 210 Snow Tires. Used 2 winters.
In excellent condition. $800.00 Does not include shipping

 

PM'd ya there Mark. Thanks

 

I solved my snow tire problem by buying a used Jeep Cherokee for 2K. The snow is building up on my 8 until my garage gets finished.

 

I've also got some winter tires I'm selling. They're 17" Kazarea KZ-V rims with Pirelli Winter Sport M3 tires. They also have the TPMS in each tire so it's completely compatible with the RX8 system. Works great with not many miles on them. Though I was just at a dealership getting my car appraised and the appraiser ran over a nail which went through the sidewall. So that tire is shot and they're going to replace it. Unfortunately they don't make the M3 any more so I'll likely be getting Pirelli Winter Sport 3D tires put on all four (or at least two). $900 w/o shipping.

 

you need snow tires, theres no debate. buy zeligs, hes good people

 

Zelig, when will you know about the replacement tire from the dealer? My 8 is currently stuck in my driveway out here in Pataskala. I've shoveled, salted, and kitty-littered to no avail, and with no thaw in the near future, I'll probably have to swap wheels in my driveway where it sits in order to move the thing.

 

I finally heard back from the dealer and they are ordering and installing the new tire. How soon do you need the new tires? Hopefully it wont take long for the new 3D tire to come in and replace the bad one.

btw, the tires before are actually Dunlop not Pirelli. Just forgot when I wrote that post.

 

Yeah, I just bought some used snow tires and rims from a nice guy in Michigan. Unbelievable the difference they make!

 

I think after the past week that we've had here, the answer to your thread's question is 100% answered.

 

I've posted my winter tires for sale in the FS Parts section here. With the current batch of ice and more snow I would highly recommend anyone without winter tires pick up a set if you're planning on going out at all.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=110262

 

I Bought The Dunlop Tires That Your Talking About For My 8 This Year And I Love Them!!! Driving Couldnt Be Easier! I Drive My Car All Year Round And Last Year With My All Seasons I Got Stuck Alot, But This Year I Havent Had One Problem. I Know I Paid More That 188 For Them Too Through Discount Tire

In Mn (were I Am) When We Had That Big Snow Storm... Any Where From 12 To 17 Inches Of Snow... Yeah I Plowed Right Through It :-)