RONSTER

CAN SOMEONE TELL ME ...I HAVE THE OPPURTUNITY TO BUY AN RX-8,BUT CAN 'T MAKE MY MIND BECAUSE IT WOULD BE MY ONLY CAR AND I HAVE TO DRIVE IT IN WINTER CONDITIONS ...WHAT SHOULD I DO.

Rxdriftingaction

buy a 4wd or awd. don't drive a ff or fr car in the winter. cuz that's dangerous. but u have a super skill on fr. just go ahead. ha ha .. drifing on the ice is a super cool things. =) but 4wd is good on icy road. and safer to drive. evo and wrx is a very good 4wd car.u can think about it.

RONSTER

Thanks...i Just Have A Great Offer On The Table, Got To Make A Quick Decision Here To Friday.

kellybrf

iTrader: (2)

get the car, get winter tires

RONSTER

That's Exactly What I Told Myself...i Am Just In Love With This Car...and I Will Have To Be Extremly Careful...winter Tires Should Do The Trick.

buzzwordenabled

http://www.tirerack.com

Buy snow tires and you will be fine.

rumatt

I agree. Buy snow tires and you're fine.

Does the car have the sport package for stability control? That can help.

Osiris

My 8 ran fine last winter with Blizak snow tires on! They run about $1100 for a set. A bit on the stiff side, nevertheless, not getting stuck in the drive way.... PRICELESS!

Redlinin 8

Winter tires are all you need........

93rdcurrent

Ask Canzoomer...

apaul

Got through five Ontario winters with Blizzaks on my RWD MT Miata, which had Traction Control, without sudden cardiac arrest. Go for the snows as the others have said.

RONSTER

I finally made up my mind and went with buying Rx-8 red 6manual,I will now have to get some good winter tires for the great snow we have get here in montreal.Hope i won't regret it.

red_rx8_red_int

You won't regret it. The car is great in winter with the proper tires.

jimbo912

Drove all winter on Pirelli snows in Buffalo NY...no problems. Oh by the way,we had plenty of snow

irish8

Even in Canada your winter snow must only last 3-4 months? That gives you at least 8 months of FUN driving!!!

Glad you bought it. Enjoy!!

-Irish

Gord96BRG

It depends - on the Prairies (Manitoba, Saskatchewan), they can get full snow cover in November that doesn't leave until late March - minimum 4 months solid. Early snow can be late October, Late snow melt can be April, with spring snowstorms well into May. Winter tires are a 6 month proposition! (all of November through end of April).

That said - often, winter is the most fun for driving! those drifters think they've invented something new, but that's how we drove for 6 months of the year when I started driving in Manitoba! :D

Regards,
Gordon

RONSTER

I Just Can't Wait To Try It In Winter,i Wonder How It Must Feel With Rear Traction...and The Traction Control System.















Mazda Rx-8 Gt 6speed Manual Rouge Feu.moonroof

StewC625

I am so glad I live in Chicago. We get PLENTY of snow here but they really take care of the roads here (yes, lots and lots of salt - hell on the car) and I've driven performance cars on summer tires all winter without issues. The only time you feel it is if you're dumb enough to go out in it WHILE it is snowing. If that happens, you're on your own - but within an hour or so of a big snowstorm, most roads are just wet and slushy.

I'm going to give it a try this winter with my standard wheels and tires ... if that doesn't work, then I'll buy the snows next year. Probably in the spring on close out.

Gord96BRG

Please consider this notice that I am reserving the right to say "I told you so" (only in big, bold letters) when you do try driving your RX-8 on the performance summer tires in slushy conditions. IF you don't bend it right then and there, you'll be on the phone shopping for winter tires the same day! These aren't your performance all-seasons fitted to Mustangs, etc. - they seriously become slick as oiled snot in any wet or slush at freezing temperatures.

PS - Winter tires in RX-8 sizes don't make it to spring close out - last year, they soldl out long before winter was over.

Regards,
Gordon

93rdcurrent

Ditto ^^.

The local dealerships here couldn't even move their 8s around on the lot as long as the snow and ice was on the ground. The stock tires are for summer conditions as Gordon has stated and you will be lucky if you have a car to shop for the tires left. Here in Spokane we have similar weather to you in Chicago and I say Don't Do It Man!

MEGAREDS

I took Gordon's advice last year and bought a winter tire package from Tire Rack... probably paid a bit too much at $1492 but, considering the posts last year, I'm glad I did. There were many posts of people who were stuck at the bottom of their driveways or unable to move on flat roads, unable to get the wheels to grip. One memorable post, as I recall, was a link another forum and involved an RX-8 that hit a patch of ice, came off the roadway and flipped, killing the passenger. Obviously, if your wheels can't grip the road, DSC, TCS and ABS won't do a bit of good. Winter wheels save some money by giving your summer tires a break, and gives you a chance to give your ride a "new look" every Fall. Money well spent, IMHO.

At the very least, have a plan for buying winter tires if you discover you need them in hurry. There are many issues that you need to resolve before pulling the trigger, like wheel size (if you go with winter wheels), tire type and what to do about those pesky tire pressure sensors.

SpinninAgain!

I drove two first gen RX-7's through seven CT winters with all-seasons. No real problems. But I'd never dream of driving my 8 in winter conditions on the OEM tires. That would be suicidal. Snow tires for sure and narrower wheels would be a plus.

Of course I still have my Cherokee and four Blizzaks. That's a real plus!