robfernando

I'm pleased to report that I succesfully got to work in one piece! NE had their first "winter weather event". I drove 2 miles through 3 inches of unplowed snow, ice and slush, no problems! From then on it was the regular salted wet slushy roads.

For anyone who is wondering, there is NO reason you can't use this car in winter weather. Drive sensibly and cautiously and you're steady as a rock.

I'm running Pirelli SnowSport 210's.

Leesha

Nice to hear you made it safe and sound...

Does anyone here drive their 8 with a MSbumper in winter? My bumper is so low and I'm afraid it will plow the snow for me instead of getting me from A to B...

robfernando

Thanks for the suggestion. I have done so. I'm in Milford, MA, which is metrowest Boston.

As for the MS bumper, I would imagine that is most of the road you drive on are plowed, you should be ok. In 3" so far I'm ok. But I'm running stock bumper with the added lip. I would suspect that you should be good up to 4' at minimum?

Astral

Went up 3 inches of wet snow driveway incline (stopped in the middle even, to make sure I had no problems). About 10-15 degree incline. No problems!

Running new full tread Dunlop Wintersport M3s.

Also saw a Mazdaspeed 3 with summer tires on, but was in line and couldn't catch the driver to tell him to get those things off lest he wreck the car.

Finally, saw a black RX-8 driving south past me on Bacon St in Waltham, but I looked away and didn't notice the driver in time to wave.

Kel Rx8

? steady as a rock
I am glad I have a winter car since my autobahn cant take any more abuse.

Astral

Winter driving reports, not winter garage parking reports.

Leesha

Humm...we get quite a bit of snow here and yesterday there was a good foot and a half. (being by the lake we don't get too much snow, further north gets 5x what we get in snowfall) I would have been plowing the snow...


My bumper is 15.5cm or 6.5'' from the ground. And I bought snow tires too... I can only drive when the roads are plowed I guess...

robfernando

Well, once you're in 6" territory it's probably best that you stay put to begin with .. unless of course you have an SUV as a backup.

Leesha

I have a van but work in the evenings and my van wouldn't be available so I have no choice...

Clavius

Had a blast driving sideways late last night through Sharon/Canton and Norwood haha.

In all honesty this car is a champ of champs in the snow. Very easy to predict and inticipate what it shall do unlike my previous cars which was a complete crap shoot. Hell even my gf's car which is a civic had trouble in this weather.

Anyways my Avon A/S are showing their limitations I think so I think next year I'm gonna slap on some full blown winter tires since the guys at the Tire shop said it will most likely gonna be their last season. Something about the way I drive hahah.

rx8convert22

Well I am a bit of an idiot, but luckily didn't pay for it. I got up this morning and saw some slush/snow on the roads of my development. My brand new 07 has summer tires and I knew it was a risk, but I decided to give it a try. BIG MISTAKE! The traction control light was constantly lit and I was basically ice skating out there. I luckily was able to pull over to the curb and just park it there.

I know it has been said before but just wanted to say it one more time. DON'T DRIVE IN ANY SNOW WITH STOCK TIRES!

Today I placed an order for Dunlop Winter Sport M3s since I read a lot good about them. I bought them in 215/55/17s which I think will do a bit better since they are a bit narrower. I am going to mount them on some Mazda 3 wheels I bought a few months ago. I am thinking my next outing in the snow will be a bit less scary.

Astral

See "Holy snow" thread...

RshnRoket

Running on the stock Dunlops and got stuck 4 times in about 3 miles yesterday on the home from work. I was even driving on the Garden State Parkway (65 mph limit) and was only going a max of 35 mph. 25 mph was about my speed on the Parkway once I was north of Paramus. Got stuck off the exit, had some people to help me out, then got stuck about 1000 feet away, got a cop to help me out. Then got stuck on two more hills on the way home.

Snow tires are a MUST if you intend to drive this car in the snow.

robfernando

Just survived the 13" dumping of snow we got in NE yesterday. Drove carefully in about 3 inches on the roads and managed ok. Definitely a big difference between driving on snow and driving on ice. Snow is a lot tricker!

Had some fun in the company parking lot tho!!!

I do agree, this would be NO fun with stock tires.

RshnRoket

Just bought Dunlop Winter Sport M3's because of the people on this post. I must say thank you! (And due to my own experience, but that was my own damn arrogance)