how bad do you think this winters gonna be? i heard its gonna be real bad. i hope it doesnt snow a lot considering i decided to not get winter tires.

 

that may change then lol

 

You're probably gonna be sorry for not getting all-season tires. The Potenza's turn into greased ice-skates if the road has even a dusting of snow on it. Plus, you'll find that even on dry pavement, the traction of the Potenza's really diminishes when the road temperature drops below freezing.

 

aww man i really dont wanna hear this
where can i get the cheapest tires that will do the job w/o getting new rims?
i'm 18 that gets like 100 bucks a week

 

then you're in trouble, start saving now- hell it might be cheaper to get a cheap beater car than drive the 8 in the snow.

Either way, you DEFINATELY want snows- I wouldn't even play around with no-seasons. The difference between all- seasons and snows are night and day- and I come from AWD- it will just be compounded with RWD

good luck

 

Sorry to bring you the bad news - but its better to hear it now rather than find out the hard way this winter.

I've been driving for 25 years, all lots of cars and trucks, with new tires to bald tires, and I never felt tires as bad as these in the snow - period. I got caught in a minor snowstorm last winter on Rt 80 in PA with the 8 - and these tires made me nervous. I've never lost control or had an accident in the snow with any car, and not the 8 either, but I was worried that night home.

Don't get me wrong, its not the car - it's definitely the tires. The responsiveness and balance of this car is fantastic. With the right tires, it would likely be excellent in the snow. But that night with these tires, any slight movement of the wheel, or adjustment of the throttle, was enough to break traction and put the car into a slide.

Its the price you pay for having an awesome sports car like the 8. There are all season tires available for the 18" rims (Kumho makes some), but they're not going to be cheap. You might even consider picking up a $200 "beater" car for the winter to drive in the snow - that'll be cheaper than tires (maybe not including insurance though).

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I'd hate to see you lose control this winter and really be sorry. Plus, a "beater" car will give you a chance to get some winter driving "experience" without risking the 8...

 

i guess i'll get winter tires. i dont think my rents are gonna let me get another car. wut do you gusy recommend? i guess i want cheap tires that'll get the job done

 

The severity of the winter is inversely proportional to the condition and type of tires you have on your car.

--kC

 

like having Azenis on your car during a snow storm

 

They aren't cheap, but they aren't expensive either - Pirelli P Zero Nero M&S. You're gonna have to upsize to 245/40/18.

A couple of people here have them and are pretty pleased with them, though I don't know if they've been snow tested.

If you can swing it, try to get some snows, otherwise, good luck with these.

 

It's better to go with a narrower tire. Maybe you can find some cheap used rims and put the skinniest tires you can on it for winter.

 

If he's trying to go for cheap new rims and tires is gonna be too much. The cheapest rim for the RX-8 is around $119 each. Add tires and your talking $900+.

 

my solution is a $400 civic rice bubble back car i got. lol
its not a really good car for the winter but beats driving the 8 around and GAS is
so if u guys can get a beater mobile do so.

 

Kel, did you insurance go up.....by much?

 

my parents just told me that they're going to china on december 6th. which works out REALLY good for my because i'll just drive my parents car while i put the rx8 in the garage. they have a beat up 92 Cadillac. i kno wut yoru thinking, why does this kid have a RX8 and his parents have a crappy car. i dont kno, i did offer to take the caddy but they were like no we just wanna get this over with and get you a car.

 

i put it under my girls name
but im not totally happy with what i pay a yr 809 i think
i would of been happy with 600 for the beater.but oh well
im saving on gas so it all adds up anyway.

 

two things the tire compound gets too hard in the cold so even without snow and ice you have to be really careful! and isnt a cadillac a RWD car anyway not much different.

 

yea but i'll risk their car instead of the 8 heehee
no but seriously, the caddy is really crappy and they already decided to get a new car once they come back. but still it's gonna be risky

 

IByouwreckyourparentscaddy,getkickedoutofthehousea ndhavetosellyour8forfood :D :p

 

are your parents going away until April? If not, you're still going to run the risk of having to drive in snow. And as other members (myself included) have said, the stock tires do absolute SH*T in even 1/4" of snow. They are THAT bad...not meant for anything except summer driving.

 

Last time I looked, tirerack was still out of stock of the pzero neros, but you can get Continental contact extremes for the same price ($660 shipped for 4). You could then sell your stock tires for ~$400. This is probably your cheapest option.

The Contis grip very well, though they're not as responsive as the stock tires due to some additional body roll. They're also not quite as good as the Pirellis on dry pavement, but they're superior in snow.

Whatever you decide, do not drive the stock tires in cold weather.