So my brothers' contemplating getting an 8.... only thing is he might be moving from Florida to Alaska in about a year or so (Air Force). He's wondering if the 8 can handle the snow.... if so anything else need to be done to it to make sure it can (i.e. snow tires).


I'd appreciate the help...


THANKS!

 

The 8 is awesome in the snow! Especially if you have the Traction/Stability control systems. You WILL need snow tires, since the stock set is summer-only. But, other than that, I doubt you'll have any problems whatsoever.

I have to highly reccomend the Dunlop Wintersport M3 tires. They're amazing in the snow, and still have tons of grip in wet and dry weather as well. I've driven pretty hard on this set, and they have yet to show any signs of wear. You could probably use them year-round. lol

By the way... what area of Alaska is he moving to? There are some areas along the Inside Passage (Juneau for one), that rarely see any accumulation. The temperatures hover just above or below freezing, so the snow is typically washed away by the rain before it really has a chance to settle in.

 

Alaska needs a JEEP if you want to do some exploring

 

Alaska needs a CESSNA if you want to some real exploring.

 

I'd like to explore those smaller villages way up in North Alaska, no joke...my friends think I'm nuts lol.

 

OK kids... (LOL!) We went from an RX8 in the snow.. to exploring Alaska. Don't worry his wifey has an MDX... now back to the topic at hand...

The Rx8 in the SNOW! :P

 

Hmm...what about attaching a big scoop to the front and painting "MR. PLOW" on the sides like Homer Simpson? =D LOL To get back to the topic, I was actually looking at those Dunlops that vectorwolf uses...thinking about getting them myself. Might try ordering them from tirerack.com if they carry them.

 

Alaska Rocks!!! I don't bother with driving my 8 up here in the winter because I also have a 4x4. I made the mistake of taking it out one day too early last spring and lost control shifting from 5th to 6th on black ice and hit a snow bank. I went airborne for 63 ft. The responding officer measured it out.

 

do they even have a mazda dealer in alaska....

 

Yeah, there's 3 here. One in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Anchorage is about a 2 hour drive away from where I live. Awesome drive though! Check out some of my AK pics.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...7&page=1&pp=15

 

Thanks for the info AKBen... I believe my bro might be heading to Anchorage.

 

As far as winter driving, I know several people that drive their's year round (with winter tires obviously). Hope this helps! Is he going to be stationed at Elmedorf Air Force Base? That's in Anchorage as well.

 

Don't buy the car in an area with snow if you can't afford the snow tires. That means $800-1000 more if you buy rims to avoid balance and mount every 6 months.

I personally got the Pirelli 240 SnowSport. I've had 4 inches of snow laying on top of ice and had now problems.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=3

I also like the spare rims at $115 each low end. They're way easy to clean(huge plus for winter) and look great. Much easier to keep clean then the stock rims.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Displ...t+Silver+Paint

 

Who can afford an $30k car but not $1k for tires? If you're that strapped for cash you shouldn't be buying the car in the first place.

 

Not that anybody asked, but I have seen some discussion regarding putting chains on an 8. Chains, no, but I think these should work. I have a set for another car and they are slick. Very pricey, but slick: http://www.spikes-spiders.com/catalo...59b80e9&id=547
I think they will go on an 8 and not hurt the wheels or car. I'll be getting a set next year for my 8, but I'll be using 17" winter wheels and 50 profile tires.

 

Well not all the 8's go for 30k you can get them for as low as 24-26k and to most poeple its not the overall cost its the payments.

 

I note that you have some S2000 experience. Both cars handle very similarly in the snow: Horribly, if you're not smart enough to put proper tires on; very well if you put proper tires on and drive intelligently. We put Blizzaks on our RX-8 and S2000, and they'll go through anything we've seen so far (which isn't more than 6 inches, but that was no problem).

Those of us old enough to remember when all cars were RWD know that, even in those pre-historic times, cars actually got around in the winter, even in Minnesota and Buffalo. I once drove my RX-3 through two feet of snow in Providence (Bizzard of '78), with no problem, with good snow tires on it.

 

Anchorage gets more snow than interior alaska, but RWD works ok on snow as long as you get a set of decent snow tires. People around here like Blizzak (WS-50 has a size for RX-8), but I would go with the best studded. We have been using Nokian Hakkapeliitta 2 for another RWD car, and it has very nice characteristics and predicatable behavior. I believe a lot of winter rally cars use Hakka. I'm wondering if they have the size which fits to RX-8 (especailly the newer Hakka 4).
The other potential conserc is that we have to plug in the car during the winter in the interior, and RX-8 may have problems with winterization (no frost plug heater). But I heard that people in Anchorage doesn't need to plug-in most of the time, so it may not be the concern with your brother.