bowman

This is my first post, so I would like to thank everyone for all of the good information on this forum. I have spent virtually every waking hour here since I discovered this site last weekend. Before finding this site, I knew very little about the '8 (except that I had to have one).

I freely admit that I know next to nothing about sports cars. I have never owned one, and until I saw my first '8 I never wanted to own one.

I have read on this web site a lot about the need for winter tires. Most of the talk is from people who live in colder climates. My question is, are they required where I live in Springfield, MO?

I am trying to budget to buy my '8. I can go on-line and get prices for the car itself, but I do not know if I need to budget an extra $1000-2000 for the second set of tires.

One more thing, for those of you who use the OEM wheels for 2 sets of tires. How do you get the extra set of tires to the shop for the mounting and balancing?

I have searched the forum and have not found an answer to these questions. If I missed something, please direct me to that thread.

Thanks

jonalan

Welcome, bowman!

No, winter tires are not required. However, if you plan on driving at all through the winter months (Nov-Feb), yes, you will need them. Winter tires are not just for snow, but for driving in cold weather; which we do get here in Missouri. I will tell you (and you can read MANY threads about this), DO NOT drive in the snow with the OEM tires.

I know there are threads here that discuss this, just keep trying the "search" thing. I believe you can get a tire in the trunk and the rest inside the car. I don't need to worry about this; I have separate winter tire/wheels. It is more cost effective in the long run than to mount and re-mount the tires on your stock wheels twice every year.

Hope this helps!

Spin9k

Likely depends on if you have another car to drive sometimes during inclement weather. Here in NH we get some serious winter weather now and again. Between those times the snow is not on the roads, in fact the roads are pretty much like summer, except for sand put on for ice and the temp (cold!).

Still, I've been regualarly and successfully zooming around in my 8 all winter. The stock tires Bridgestones have been just fine. Maybe a little slick feeling on a cold day with hard driving, but what to hey, that can be fun too.

Just telling you snows are only necessary in the SNOW!

PS with money I would have bought snows, I'm now contemplating some REAL summer only tires (245Z4018), maybe new wheels too 18x8.5"! :D

bowman

I plan on driving the '8 year-round. My financial situation does not allow for me to have an extra car to drive on days of inclement weather.

I cannot believe that people would actually place tires inside their '8. I drive a Cavalier and I wouldn't put tires in the cab of it.


Sounds like an set of winter tires and wheels it is.

jonalan

Good for you! Since you don't have the car yet, you've got some time to save up for the winter tire/wheels for next winter. I believe I paid around $1100 total for my wheels/tires - mounted, balanced and shipped. BTW, I have 17" wheels for the winter tires. This will save some cash vs. 18s.

Good luck!

jonalan

Necessary - maybe. But, highly, highly recommended for ALL winter driving conditions; be it wet, dry, snow, etc. IMO

D MENAC 7

Might I recommend a set of Ultra High Performance All Season tires? That way you can keep them on all year long keeping from having to change them twice a yhear and use yoiur stock rims.

There are some very highly recommended Pireli Pzero Nero M+S tires on this thread: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ight=Zero+Nero There you can see what they look like mounted and on the RX-8.

For the perfect all around winter experience, the snow tire/wheel set up is suggested. This would mean buying four new wheels of your choice in sizes such as 17" wheels and coresponding tires and changing them out when winter weather is expected for the few months of weather we get in this climate. You can buy these at tirerack.com and have them delivered all mounted and balanced so there would be no need to haul them back and forth. Also, the tirerack has some nice wheel/tire combo set ups. I would reccommend you wait until late summer, early fall to purchase as they are out of stock in most brands at this time of year. Also, they are less expensive, so it seams, before the season they are needed than when they are a neccessity.

Besides, the cost involved in mounting and remounting twice a year has been talked about in another thread whereas if you have to do this for three seasons or longer, (twice a year, on and off again) you willl exceed the cost of a winter tire/wheel set. Also, when you have tires mounted, unmounted and remounted, you run the risk of damage to your stock rims.

The stock tires are crap in the winter, I know this from experience. A dusting of snow and you have no control. I didn't have trouble in dry weather with the cold but, the composition of the rubber is that it is soft in the summer and hard in the winter so it did effect performance. That is the reason for no traction, they do not give and flex. Because of this softness in the summer, these tires will only last about 15 - 20K miles due to wear because of the softness of this material.

One option that improves the stock OEM traction about 25% is to have them siped. Do a search on here on siping, it's a bit controversial but, I had it and they did improve to get me through short jaunts in light snow. Other days, I parked it.

I, personally, will have the UHP All Seasons on before next winter, though.