Guys what do you think about wheel chains?
I have like 5min to work and thats the only place i want to get when it's snowing.
My friend told me not to use them bc they will screw wheel alignment O_O

 

I had my first bad experience with the 8 in the snow. I have snow tires on all 4 corners. The 8" storm last Thursday was awful. They barely plowed and it was 5 inches of crud all the way home. I was fine-ish when I was on the flat. The backend was drifting out toward the curb in bumber to bumber traffic.

Then came the Hill at the top of Main Street in Nashua. I turned oh so slowly onto main street right at the bottom of the hill and came to a halt. I had traction control off so I restarted the car and tried it with traction on. Much worse.

Turned it off and now everyone is driving around me. I'm thinking this has to be possible. This hill was here before FWD was invented. So first gear ...

Beep, 2nd gear .... Beep 60 mph, Third gear I start to move ... Got to about 70 and plowed all the way to the top. If you get stuck on a hill you might have to TRY harder.

I had one more hill on the wy home but chickened out and called for the Family SUV. Why I let my wife convince me she MIGHT need the truck I have no idea.

The roads are so bad this year I'm drifting all I want :P

NH

 

Don't you feel positively awful when a FWD car with obviously poor tires accelerates cleaner off the line than you?

So there's some tradeoffs to RWD, but meh Like you said, drift at any turn is awesome

 

I guess it's not that bad to have if you live in a location where there is 6+ inches of snow EVERYWHERE ... but if it's only in unplowed roads and u drive on highways that's just wet... i'm sure that won't be good at all.

Don't wreck ur beautiful yellow 8 and drive w. the dsc off in the snow but drive safe!

 

I agree


Just went through Roger's Pass in BC. Mountain driving in almost blizzard like conditions. No complaints. The only time I got stuck in BC over xmas was trying to get up the steep driveway (needed 3 guys and 4 tries to get me up), and when my gf's dad decided to stop on a backroad corner. The rear end just fell into the slope.

 

I use Toyo's Garrit KX 225/17/50 on 17" mag wheels. Total invoice about $1,800 CAD. Very good on any surface. Traction control helps. Don't get the 8 on the road when snow accumulates, not because of traction but it is simply too low.

I live in the Laurentians, north of Montreal... good testing ground!! ;-)

 

Weeeeeee!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbhKTLfi__w

 

I don't live in snow country but would never attempt to drive in the snow with my RX8 on summer tires.....Bad idea.

That being said, I think the RX8 would be a blast with a set of 17" wheels and dedicated snow tires. It should do quite well with the limited slip, low torque engine, 50/50 weight distribution and ABS.

 

It sure is!

 

North Carolina FTW.

 

blizzaks on 17" asa rims here. i was very impressed a month back when i was driving through 3 or 4 inches of slush.

spare tire acts as weight and help keeps the rear down. :P

 

Heh, 70 lb. audio system in the trunk keeps my car planted.

 

Wow, this car is great in the snow! Drove thru snow and sleet on Vermont's Route 7 yesterday, straight, true and sure-footed as can be. (Of course, the fabulous Dunlop WinterSport M3s deserve some of the credit, not to mention the considerable winter driving skills of the driver.)

 

This is my 4th Chicago winter on Dunlop Wintersport M3's and I have had very good results. They also channel out salted highway slush very well. As noted eariler, you can not drive the stock tires in snow. If you planned to drive your new RX8 through a snowy winter, you have to accept that it actually costs $1000 more than you just paid, because you still need winter wheels.

 

The best tires in the world can't make-up for a lack of ability when it comes to winter driving.

Some people should not be driving in winter even if they're on a Zamboni.

If you know how to drive in winter, you'll probably do well in almost any car with good rubber.

 

I am in the second winter with my 8, Blizzak LM22's all around. We have had several 8+ inch snows, with no problems getting around. Recently we had rain then ice then snow, which put a stop to most traffice, but I had little problem driving up hills and otherwise getting around. I have found that the traction control screws things up, so I usually drive with it off in town in the winter. The only problem I have had are the big berms left by snowplows that often block intersections, but nothing that a good running start can't cure. The Blizzaks are great on dry roads, and great out on the rural roads we have around here which are often very poorly plowed. Give me my 8 over my wife's FWD van any day in the snow.

 

http://www.flextrax.com/install_02.html

 

That's what I did, no changing tires. You will take a small hit in grip but my Avons ride great and have low noise. The best AS ultra performance tire is the Continental Extreme contact according to Consumer reports and the Tire rack rates them well also. Plus the price is around $130 per tire.