Why Must It Snowwww!
 

RICHMOND 8ers!!!

NOOOOOOOOO THE ENEMY OF RWD HAS COME!!!!

Not looking forward to the drive downtown tonite...

Dang snow..and ice...

9-k Rever

Re: Why Must It Snowwww!
 

Hi 9-K Rever,

Do you realize that the car handles great with winter tires, right? It's not RWD that's the issue, it's the stock summer performance tires.

If you put those summer performance tires on a FWD, life would not be pretty on snow either.

safe driving,
rx8cited

Thanx for the feedback, I haven't run it in snow yet. I have been looking for a set of wheels and tires so I can keep my OEM wheels in good condition and have a spare set for the weather. Just haven't found a set yet. ( Plus save me money on mounting and ballanceing) Any suggestions?

9-K Rever,

Hi. You're quite welcome :).

If you have not already done so, check out the Wheels, Tires and Suspension forum at
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/

At the time I was ready to buy snow tires, the Tire Rack was not offering the TPMS sensors. I did not want to put up with the TPMS warning light flashing because the sensors were not installed, so I ordered 225/45HR18 Dunlop Winter Sport M3s from Tire Rack and had them shipped to Trussville Mazda for installation onto a set of Mazda stock 18" alloy wheels.

Tire Rack now offers the sensors, so I'd suggest going to www.tirerack.com and finding a set of 17" snow tires, a set of 17" wheels you like, then decide if you want to pay around $100x4 = $400 extra for the sensors or put up with the flashing TPMS light (I could not deal with that, especially at night).

Last time I checked, they were out of 18" snow tires, so that option does not make sense for this winter unless you find tires/wheels/sensors somewhere else.

regards,
rx8cited

Rx8cited-

Well, to tell you the truth thats why I haven't changed my tires
I haven't felt like haveing to deal with the TPMS. It irritates me enough when it come on when its cold.

. I have been dieing to get a type of tire called ADVAN NEOVA, wich is for sale in Japan and used on the Mazda speed. But also my friend has a STI and I have wonderd how the Potenza RE 70's would fair on a 8.

But, thanx for the suggestions and the links. MOST helpfull. I need to get off the money and just get the 17 inch rims and snow tires like a smart 8 owner...

9-K Rever ,
Tell me a bit more about this. I've never had it happen to me - but I'm aware it's happened to some people.

I keep my tires at 32 psi cold (snow tires get 36 psi cold) and check them about twice a month.

Your light should only come on if the pressure is less than 26 or more than 49 psi. And I believe every 10 degree ambient temperature drop/rise causes about a 1 psi drop/rise. So if the pressure was at 32 psi cold, then it would take a temperature drop of 60 degrees or more to make the light come on (assuming we don't have a leak). All approximate rough numbers. Just trying to figure out why your light might be coming on.

regards,
rx8cited

PS: On forking out money for the winter tires, I just dreaded the thought of not doing it and messing the car up - it would never be the same after repairs.

My darn light came on this morning, so we stopped and checked and two tires were at 29, one was at 29.5, and one was at 28. Grr. We just upped them all to 30, assuming the tires still needed to warm up. No idea what it's problem was.

I would like winter tires, but it looks like my baby will be grounded when it snows this year. We're buying our first house sometime in the next 4 months, so I really cannot afford the extra $1500 it'll cost me to get tires and wheels right now. She'll just have to sit the storms out for now.

The TPMS is very sensitve. (for the record I have 32psi all around) Just because your light is on does not mean your tires are low. My first encounter with the TPMS light happend in august. I park my 8 in a private coverd garrage but some times I get a space that is on a elevated angle and this causes the pressure to be slightly off in the tires and the light comes on when I park it like that. Now since the weather has gotten cold the light comes on every time I drive untill the tires warm up. The cold effects the pressure in the tires slightly but will go off after they car has reached tempreture. It does it every day now. So some times I get in and swerve the car to warm the tires and that helps. But also for the record I am as anal of 8 owner as there is and constantly moniter the essentials such as tire pressure.

PS: On forking out money for the winter tires, I just dreaded the thought of not doing it and messing the car up - it would never be the same after repairs.

Also, up untill this recenly I had a second car, a Subaru Legacy. I just recently got rid of it to save money. I have had it for 3 years and never worried about snow. This is my first winter in 3 years w/o a AWD car..so I am a bit worried. But, hopefuly I will take your advice and get new tires.

Hi 9-K Rever,
Few more thoughts comes to mind - do you have a good air guage or are you relying on the one at the gas station ?

If you don't have one - it's a wise investment. If you have one, maybe its bad. Try comparing readings between several guages (borrow on from a friend if you don't own more than one - I keep one in each car).


Since you're having problems, at least once try checking the tire pressure in the morning or after the car has been sitting (say after work before you leave to go home). You could then check them later after driving and see the difference.

I usually check mine after driving, so I put 36 psi in them (32 cold psi +4 because they are warmed up).

I'd be curious to hear what you find if you're up to trying my suggestions.

I suppose ultiimately your sensor(s) could be bad - but let's hope not. A new tire pressure guage is cheaper and less hassle :) .

regards,
rx8cited

Elara,

Why 30? Cold psi should be 32 and you want to add some if they are warm?

regards,
rx8cited

When I the light first came on, of course I ran up to the Mazda dealer to get the system checked. And they said nothing was wrong. So I have moniterd my tires at diffrent stages. I find on a warm day right before I drive it the pressure is right at 32psi but it can go down to like 28 after running the car on the same day. But, the sensors realy don't like the cold and I when I park on a slope all night it causes the pressure to be off. I am sure the system is fine. It just have quirks. And of course this is the first car that I have owned with a TPMS. So, its just forceing me to pay attenstion to it more.

No offense 9-K Rever (sure sounds a little familiar :), nice name ), but you have some issues when it comes to understanding tire pressure.

Parking on a slope of any kind has NOTHING to do with pressure. Period.

Second, if you check your pressure BEFORE you drive ... and then AFTER driving, you check again and the pressure is lower, you've got a tire pressure GUAGE problem, or a 'going flat' tire. Tire pressure goes UP after driving as the air warms up inside the tire.

Third, tire pressure sensors are not to my knowledge affected by cold, just air PRESSURE in the tire. Only exception that MIGHT happen, is if the batteries are bad. Still, they are supposed to be lithium with at least >10yr life.

Fouth, always inflate to 32lbs when tires are cold (less than a mile driven) or higher if tires are hot (more than a mile driven)when you fill them, e.g. 36 psi if it is cold outside approx 32 deg say)

Last, I agree with rx8cited thought in your case, you should invest in a GOOD tire pressure guage. They are not expensive, get one that has a nice round guage (not the pencil sized ones) or one that talks to you if you have trouble reading them.

Good luck!

Spin9k - Good Feed Back is always appriceated. So feel free to give it at any time.

I will invest in a new pressure guage and give it a go. :)

But, I will stick to the cold issue though. Once again on the way to work, the pressure light was on. As soon as the car warmed up and I hit my exit ramp to get off the highway...the light was off. Car was warm and ready for some spirited driveing.

Do you know anyone else that has simular experiences?

Oh, and with the slope issue, I tried parking in a flater area of the garrage and the light does not come on. Park it on the slope in the garrage it will come on. I can't explain it. I always felt that that added pressure due to the weight of the car being shifted to one side would cause the sensors to read higher pressure. But then again I could be wrong.

9-K Rever

9-K Rever,
Did the dealer actually hook the car up to the diagnostics computer to see where the low warning level is set? If not, it could be your TPMS warning for one or more tires is set too high.

TreknMazda..

Well, I didn't actuly see them work on my 8. It took over an hour to investigate it. I waited on the car at the dealer. And they explained the system was fine. The asked me a few questions and explained to me that there could be a number of factors that could set the TPMS off. And I found that parking on a incline over night and cold wether will mess with it.

The also took the car out to see if the light would come on. But, by that time I have already driveing it 10 or so miles and the system would have had time to adjust itself.

9-K Rever

Because I was worried they weren't warmed up enough to give me a good reading, even though I'd been driving it a good 10 minutes. They are consistently reading at 32-32.5 now, however, so I assume they're fine. The darn gauge is just too sensitive.

AMEN!!!!!!

What :confused: ? Sounds like you are under the false impression that the tires should have 32 psi when they are warm (i.e. after driving for a while). Does your husband know you do this?

I wonder if other people are doing this and blaming the TPMS for being defective!

From the owner's manual:
"Inspect all tire pressures monthly
(including the spare * ) when the tires are cold."

The key here is "cold" - and ignore monthly - do it twice a month or more often.

The tires are supposed to have 32 psi cold per the manual.

If you check them after 10 minutes of driving (i.e. they might be a little warm), then they darn well better have 32 psi or more in them because air expands as it warms up and causes the tire pressure to go up.


regards,
rx8cited

PS: For those running with snow tires - the tire pressure should be 36 psi cold (yes 4 psi higher than summer tires - see the RX-8 owner's manual).

9-K Rever,

Does this mean you agree with Elara? If so, that's a good reason why your TPMS light comes on bud :).

regards,
rx8cited

RX8cited. I was agreeing with the fact that they are too sensitive.

Wich is good. Don't get me wrong. Its just I know my tires don't have leeks and I know that the pressure can change in the tires per driving and tempreture chages. I just think that the light is causeing us to pay attention to tire pressure more.

Quick question, how many of you have owned a car with a TPMS before?

Hey Peops..Look what I found on the forum. Check it out.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...02-002-03.html

Yep, already have that site bookmarked.

This is a new bulletin, so, cool.

Speaking of cool, yeah, ALWAYS do your tire pressures COLD. Always has been, always will be. That bulletin mentions it too.

That should be good news to some of you...;)

Yeah, thats site definatly gets a book mark.

9-K Rever and Elara,

Hi. What's the latest on your TPMS lights? Are they still coming on?

regards,
rx8cited