Chunib

So I just got an rx8 and I was considering getting winter tires. I live in Alberta Canada, so more then likely we're going to be getting snow most of the season. I have a set of winter tires from my old Mazda 6 (205/60r16) and I am wondering if they would fit, or if I should really only go for proper sized tires.

Also curious if I should put studs on all/rear tires to help out. Or if its even a car I should be driving in the winter haha.

Its a stock 2004 rx8

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

if it has the larger front brakes (typically the 6-port 6 spd models) then it needs 17” or larger.
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Loki

iTrader: (1)

You can drive it in the winter, it's well balanced and holds the road well for a relatively light rwd. It's a hoot in a empty parking or ice race
However you can't plow snow with it, it sits low and is liable to beach on medium accumulations of snow.


And obviously the salt will destroy it with time.

spectre6000

Nokians. Hands down. Finnish company (cold, lots of snow, where they make all the rally drivers) that literally invented the snow tire. Find any car mag where they review snow tires; any time Nokians are in the mix, they win by a landslide. Small company, not as well known, don't have the advertising bucks, etc. so they aren't included in every single "SNOW TIRE SHOOTOUT!!!!" [/monster truck announcer voice] every year, but they're the best thing going.

I live in the mountains above Denver, and we take our snow tires very seriously. It'll snow up here and rain in the flats; in the middle, thar be ice. Not just ice, but ice on twisty canyon roads where an off can be either a stone wall, or a drop off, or a frozen stream, etc. where no one will drive by for quite a while, and even if they do they might not notice you down in the ravine. Studded Nokian Hakkapeliittas go on literally every vehicle we own (or that I take care of/advise) that sees drive time in the winter. Hakkapeliittas are truck tires (my RX-8 doesn't know what snow is), but there's a road car equivalent.

Studs are the only question mark. They're not legal in every state, and I have no idea about Canada. Also, if you live in a place where the roads are manicured, reasonably straight, lots of people, etc. then they might not be for you... Kind of something you have to really give some thought to. I put some friends down in the flats on some, and they were rear ended literally about 3 hours after putting them on... Conditions have to get very extreme before you notice any degradation in traction, and when you do, it's controllable. The schmuck behind you may be on Blizzaks or whatever, and they'll just eat your bumper... If you're in the sort of situation with straight manicured roads with lots of people, Blizzaks are a good choice as they're pretty much what the average car around you will have.

Cost is on the high side of average, but not by much. The hard part used to be just finding them at all, but the internet solved that pretty well.

MrAdam5

I'm also in Alberta and drive mine year round.
As was previously mentioned your old Mazda6 wheels won't fit. What I've done on both my 8's is put the winters on the stock wheels and buy new wheels for summer. I went studded this time around and suggest if you're in an area that sees more icy/hard packed down snow roads go with those if you can. If your area is mostly dry roads probably go studless.
Also just go with stock size, or maybe one size narrower like a 215 if you're having trouble finding 225/45R18.

To second spectre6000, get the Nokian Hakka 10s (KalTire). Probably the best winter tires available in North America. Otherwise, I haven't had any trouble with my Blizzaks.

Not tire related, but get an oil pan heater installed if you can afford it. Should be around $400CDN installed by the dealership. I've driven an 8 with and without one and can say it does make a difference on startup in the cold, which I can only imagine is better for the engine.