But the winter's in this area aren't always that bad, the roads get cleared fairly quickly. I plan to by an 8 before the end of August and plan to put all season tires on it a few months later, but don't want to switch out tires every season, because I live in a condo and don't have room for storing tires or wheels. Any suggestions?

 

all-seasons may get you by the slushy stuff once in a while, but if you plan to drive the car WHILE it is snowing outside, snow/winter tires is a must.

i got stranded for 5 hours last winter because of a 'surprise' storm (the forecast called for 'just a few sprinkles', yeah right) that i totally did not account for. the summer OEM tires are completely useless even on a thin layer of flake, USELESS i tell ya

 

So what is your suggestion if I live in the Silver SPring area? I don't want to have to change my tires every season, mostly because I don't really ahve a place to store tires or a place to store extra wheels?

 

how far do you usually drive on a typical day? if it's a short drive then all-seasons may very well be fine for your winter use.

I have a 36 mile commute each way every day, getting stranded that far away from home sucks, so in my case i'd either get winter tires or drive any of the beater cars at home on the first sign of even a single drop of the white stuff :D

 

I drive about 20 miles each way to work, but it's mainly all on 270 and 495. Can carpool with my wife, but not everyday. Will all season's work well after the snow has been plowed, (like 24 hours after is snows?)

 

as long as it's just slush and not frozen, you should be ok, i did limp home on the summer tires after the salt trucks FINALLY showed up to treat the road I was stuck at

 

the main roads aren't my main concern though, it's the parking lots at work and residential streets that may give you the most troubles :o

 

The condo I live in is right off of Georgia Ave. and my work is also right off a major road, so I actually should be ok for goign to work, and on the weekends I can just use my wife's car. I think I'll just get all season tires and try them out this winter, unless someone can give me a better suggestion?

 

Try www.tirerack.com

There are lots of post here on true winter tires.

The RX-8 is really not good for all season since all season compromises both winter driving and summer driving.

I would suggest you also get a smaller tire size on separate rims (!7 inch or 16 inch). In winter driving, the smaller the tire, the better the bite. Also, your OEM rims will get pitted by the salt and rocks from winter driving.

Having winter tires on rims also gives you the option of switching them out yourself if you get a week of 70 degree weather in the middle of winter (happens a bit around here) or a final blast of winter weather in April (that happens too).


The difference in winter vs. all season tires is both tread and materials used to make the tire. The winter tread and materials are designed to bite into snow slush and even have some traction on icy conditions. All seasons won't give you the same bite into the snow and won't work at all on icy conditions.

Winter tires however are not designed for speed or handling curves as well (that's if you take a 25 MPH curve at 60+ MPH... which you CAN do in an RX-8 safely on summer treads). All seasons will also degrade speed and curve handling but not as much.

I am planning to purchase either Toyos, Pirellis or Bridgestone Bilizzaks (all have their following on this site)

Later, James

 

So from would it make more sense to leave the stock Tires on the stock rims for the fall/spring/summer (they are ok in rain I'm assuming), and get another set of rims and tires for the winter? then you're suggesting just changing out the tires/wheels as needed?

 

Yep,

I am planning to put on my winter tires at the end of Nov (winter tires really wear down if the temp is above 70 on a consistent basis).

Then I will leave them on till sometime in March/April (hard to gage in MD sometimes when winter is really over). Will switch to summer tires temporarily if the forecast calls for a winter warm up in Jan for 60+ for a week or more.

In Europe, this is how everyone handles winter and they have lots lets of stupid fender bender incidences in winter driving.

Just don't drive your winter tires too hard. I am looking forward to the first good snow with my RX-8 and winter tires. From our Canadian friends, they say it's a blast to drive in the winter (with DSC, anti lock brakes, and even weight distribution)

 

Hello, new to rotaries in general and currently shopping for either an 8 or a used FC (havent decided if I really want a car payment or not). I'm from Glen Burnie, and I know I'll at least be getting back into mazda's soon enough. I cant wait for winter to get here so people discount their sports cars, or for people to start trading in their old rotaries and miatas for the new miata. Not trying to advertise, but I work at Russel Mazda as a salesmen *ducks* so if anyone feels like a test drive come look for me.

 

Thanks to everyone who responded to my posts about M/T vs A/T. I decided to go with a M/T and just learn how to drive it. I figured if I'm getting an 8 I should learn to drive stick. I'm picking my car up this week or early next week. '05 White, touring package, no spoiler & having the factory MD player installed. Thanks again for everyone's help with my decision. I live in Silver Spring and commute to Montgomery Village, so I'll be on 495 and 270 a good bit.

 

ah you're lucky, you're driving in the REVERSE direction of the morning traffic for your commute! your commute is gonna be a piece of cake :D

 

I know, that is the only reason I was willing to drive 20 miles each way. I've been at this job for about 8 months. I'm not excited about all the miles I'll be putting on the car though, but what can you do? At least on the way home when I get off 355 at take Cedar lane and Beach I can enjoy the twisties a bit...well as soon as I learn to drive manual that is

 

Hey skierd. Just wondering if a guy named Scott still works in service dept.(not a mechanic) A couple of years ago I bought a Millenia S from Antwerpen used car lot across Rt. 40. Antwerpen SUCKS!!!!! I had the car a couple of days and started to have all kinds of problems. They sent it to thier small time mechanic, said things were fixed, but the problems kept coming back. Finally I told them they needed to send it to a Mazda dealer, so they sent it to Russel Mazda. Scott was very helpful, unlike those a**holes at Antwerpen. Everything got fixed promptly and the first time. It went in many times over the first two months(had the car only19 days of the first 55 I owned it). unfortunately I couldn't use the Lemon Law because it was always something different, but Antwerpen did pay for everything. When I went into the market for my 8, I wanted to give Russel my business,but I live in Bel Air and it's just too far away. Russel good....Antwerpen bad. Anyway, good luck with whatever you purchase and let us know what you decide to get.

 

What ever happend to Jeff Colarossi - he was my salesman at Russell and was TERRIFIC!

Scott Mills now runs the VW service department I believe.

 

hey people I know some of yall were wondering when the next meet is..

Its on the 28th.. at 2pm at fudruckers on Dobbin rd. in columbia.. go to

htpp://www.rx7club.com
NE forum... fudruckers meet (something like that)

 

Thanks....I plan to show...Will you be there? This will be my first meet. Anything I need to know?

 

i think i'll make the trek from NoVA and make an appearance, now that there are a few more rx8 guys showing up, so i wont feel too threatened by all the 7's :p :D

 

dude...the 8's have been kickin' *** in attendance.

 

I will be there again with the yellow turbo 8 and i have some new things done to it ..... Hmmm i hope it will be a bteer outcome and not 5 people there like last time .....

 

New to the forum and thanks to DANOMITE I'll be there this coming Sunday... looking forward to meeting some other 8 heads that appreciate the beauty of driving as much as I do...

cya all there - Fudruckers in Columbia! awesome.

 

i'll see yall on sunday.. it's been some time.. since things always kept coming up on that day.. i'm going to work on Saturday all day.. so if someone in the white marsh area and want to swing pass the movies stop by and ask for "coke" (not the drink) and they'll come get me.. i prefer going to a manager though. there are alot of new people that had just started.. Then we can talk about meeting up at whitemarsh then caravan down to colombia.

 

I have a few things going on Sat... but I'll try to stop by to meet you. I only live 10 min. from the Avenue so meeting up there Sunday will work for me.