mcballz13

My work closed early today as I dreaded the 1 hour ride home in approx 5 of an expected 10 inches of the first snow storm of the year (outside the Phila. area). Luckily most of the trip was major road ways. All in all on slush covered back roads and wet n slushy highways the 47 mile trip was not that bad! As long as you take your time and use caution I would say you will be ok. I added about 150lbs of sand bags to the trunk for more weight just in case. Usually if there are some kind of car tracks already created in the snow I would say the car is driveable during rough weather. However, if the road is covered completely with the white stuff I would still prob recommend leaving it home in the garage where it belongs.

RX-GR8

im in nj and i just went to mcdonalds for lunch and almost got stuck in the drive through lane which had a little bit of snow and slush but not that bad. this car or should i say the tires on this car are not good in the snow at all. i would have driven my wifes car to work but she needed to use her car.

Haze

RX-GR8 you're running the stock tires right? Mcballz are you running the stock tires?

mcballz13

Yeah , ur right rx8-gr8 the car does kind suck in the snow. I was just trying to be optimistic after making thru my journey home in the mess. Also i got rid of a practicle car to purchase this one so the bright side is all I got this time of the year.

P.S. I have stock tires on currently but what love to purchase snow tires but don't have the money... anyone know any prices???

RX-GR8

yes haze stock tires.

zoomalot

The car will do fine with winter shoes on. I wouldn't have even thought of driving trhough the winter on the original equipment tires.

huhsler

Note to all. The stock Potenza R40's have the lowest rating of any tire in snow, according to tirerack.com (very reputable).

The majority of the winter tire people (hehe...sounds funny...) on this forum recommend the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22's for the RX-8.

They go for about $200-$300. If you have a CostCo near you, they sometimes have them for $239 installed, balanced, stems, and mileage warranty. I can't vouch for the TPMS, though.

I didn't follow my own advice today and took my RX-8, with stock tires into work. Did my impression of a centrifuge on the highway. Errrr.

My tires arrive on Tuesday, AFTER the fact!

Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes.

Good luck!

RX-GR8

i thought i read on here that the TPMS is another $100 per tire.

mcballz13

Thanks for the news on the tires... Still too rich for my blood.
Where can i get the aluminum gas cap?

Haze

I bought the LM-50 Blizzaks which were cheaper than the LM 22s, but they are not speed rated for the RX 8. The car is a little squirmy driving on them, but it is definitely more stuck to the road. I bought four tires, four wheels, mounted balanced and shipped from the Tire Rack for $1,200 or so. No tire monitors in the new wheels, and I put electrical tape over the TPMS idiot light. Can't see it at all now even at night. The LM 50 was around $136 a tire from the Tire Rack. Costco I'm sure can get you a better price since this was full retail. I chose to get the full set of tires and wheels because four snows is a better set up than two for traction and over the course of the life of the car, mounted wheels are cheaper than paying a guy to put them on and take them off every year. Also, it is hard to find a guy with a machine that will fit the 18 inch rims. There is also a chance that the Tire Pressure Monitor can be damaged removing and replaing the tire, at least that's what I've read in other threads. I have no idea which way you guys should go, but if you bought a pair of tires from a large enough retailer like Costco or Sears, I'm sure that they would be able to mount them on your current rims without any problems.

RX-GR8

if i were to get the winter tires i would get rims also like you did.

Haze

Well, just to give you an idea, the wheels were one of the cheaper sets that would fit at $144 per wheel. (There were cheaper ones on the tire rack but these were just a little more expensive and looked better.) Tires $136 per wheel. Mount balance free. Shipping was like $25 bucks UPS ground. These were 17 x 7 inch rims not 18s which are stock. Mountedd 'em yesterday, and they run fine. It can probably be done cheaper, but I don't think by a whole lot from the Tire Rack. Other retailers can probably beat my set up by a bit.

Gord96BRG

We've said this many times, but - it's the TIRES that suck in the snow, NOT THE RX-8. ANY car on high-performance summer tires sucks in the snow. A bunch of us have had winter tires on for over a month, and have been having a great time, with no problems driving our RX-8s anywhere and everywhere.

I've posted this about the RX-8 many times, hoping to head off this sort of pass-the-blame attitude, so it's safe for me to say I TOLD YOU SO. On the OEM tires, you should just leave the RX-8 parked.

So you can't afford winter tires - how are you going to be able to afford the bodywork and suspension repairs WHEN (not if) you nail a curb or another car while sliding around on your summer tires?

Time for a recount - you'll find that the majority of us are using the Toyo Garit HT 215/55-17, especially in Canada where a group buy was in place. The LM-22 is a good choice, though, especially if you choose to go the expensive way and swap them back and forth on your stock 18" rims (I posted a cost analysis that proved it's cheaper to buy a set of 17" winter alloys with 17" winter tires if you're keeping your RX-8 longer than 3 years).

Regards,
Gordon

WTF no turbo

Hmm wouldnt know kept the 2000 4runner for ripping thru the snow.

chinx

just curious, for you guys who didn't put your 8 in storage for winter... what w/ all the sludge and mud and salt on the road, how much does a new car "age" after a winter? i'm a student in maryland, from socal (LA), and one of the biggest things keeping me weary about getting my 8 (besides the $) anytime soon is having to leave a new RX-8, what would of course be my baby, outside during the winter and driving it thru the snow and salt and freezing-ness. is that a genuine concern?

ciccone376

man, some of you just ar eplaying with the devil.


I too posted my comments on winter tires in another thread.

it is the tires!!! the tires!!! the tires!!!

I drove around with a Lexus IS300 with winter tires in VA and had no problems.

Guys, you say you cannot afford $300 for tires...what a CROCK! You wreck the car and its $3K + and higher insurance on top of that. What is worse?

Also, why not take the good route, instead of buying crap wheels with winter tires, keep the 18's get snow tires on them, then buy nice new 19's and summer tires for spring/summer/fall

Actually, if you guys do your research, you may be able to find a tire place that will BUY your current tires and give you credit towards winter tires.

I did that with my lexus. Yes I had less then 200 miles on the tires, but it was worth the effort to ask around.

take care
Ciccone

MikeDemo

Yeah, I left my 8 in the parking lot, ain't taking crap for risks. Lucky enough I work with my roommate with a Blazer ZR-2. So I ain't gotta drive it at all. Lucky me, i guess!

desmo996

Snow? WTF is that?

Mitch Strickler

Another tire choice for those who are considering stock wheels (retaining the sensors) is Dunlp M3s. They are V-rated, and they (and predecessor M2s) got good Tire Rack ratings. I got mine early for $154. Tire Rack was out of stock for a while, but according to some posts they are restocking.
If you go this way, check out tire changing equipment, and the price. My dealer has last year's Bear machine. Allthough this year's is better -- not even touching the rim according to one Tire Rack guy -- last year's $7,000 machine should be OK if used correctly. And the dealer's charging $15 a tire, which IMO is a reasonable price. Also, be sure whoever does it knows the latest procedures for switching the sensors to new tires. Mazda put out a bulletin December 1 revising its recommended procedures. I haven't seen the earlier instructions, so I don't know what has changed, but it makes sense to use what Mazda now thinks is the best procedure.
I agree with those who think the best answer is winter wheels/tires, but there was nothing on the market when I looked that had all I wanted, including proper provisions for sensors. By the time my first sets of tires wear out, I hope there will be really good all-season tires in 225-45. For mild Washington, DC they would do the trick year round.

mamccubbin

I have the Dunlop M3s and they are great. I used them today in some slush, ice, snow and even dry pavement. Couldn't be happier.

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

I've been putzing around all day on the snowy roads with my Dunlop Wintersport M3's on... didn't even spin the tires and I live near a mountain

... I guess I'm smoooooooth :p

mikeb

I've seen snow once 10 years ago

VelocityRedRX8

That's about right. I paid $97/tire for mine, plus $5.00/tire for a little stem from Mazda to mount the TPMS to the wheel. I hope to get mine from TireRack.com next week (which is unfortunately after my intended road trip to the great north of Ohio).

iamcanadian

Chinx:

For me, very regular washings and waxings a number of times per year. Heated indoor parking year round. The wife and I walk to work everyday. Our RX gets it about as good as it can in a cold climate. I know there are some guys on here that park outside year round who can speak better to your situation. The key is to keep it as clean as possible! However, with no block heater available I would be concerned parking it outdoor every night.

As for the car in the winter. I have a 17" ADR wheel and Toyo set up and the car is fantastic. The only problem on occasion is clearance . . . but if there is that much snow we just don't drive unless we wbsolutely have to.