Are there going to many winter RX-8 drivers this year?
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Joined: Aug 2002
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My 2007 is my daily driver (as was my 2004 before), including all winter. In the 2004 I made the mistake of trying to get by on the original Bridgestone tires, which was a BIG problem - the stock tires are totally useless in snow.
As soon as I bought my 2007 I replaced the original Bridgestones with Continental ExtremeContact high-performance all-season tires, which has worked out great. For *street* driving I can't tell the difference by the seat of my pants in dry-weather performance compared with the Bridgestones, but it's a WORLD of difference in the snow, and rain. I don't know how well it would work in a truly heavy snow area, but in the *usually* moderate winters around Philadelphia, the Continentals have made my RX8 perfectly useable all year round (except last year of course, with 4 insane blizzards that each dumped over 2 ft of snow - but nothing was moving then until the roads were cleared).
My bottom line, I think that good all-season tires (and sane driving) will let a RX8 be driven in moderate winter climates (works fine for me) - after all, until couple of decades ago, all cars were rear-wheel drive, and got through winters OK - but might not work in heavy winter conditions. For Minnesota, you probably want to get Blizzaks or some other dedicated true snow tires.
As soon as I bought my 2007 I replaced the original Bridgestones with Continental ExtremeContact high-performance all-season tires, which has worked out great. For *street* driving I can't tell the difference by the seat of my pants in dry-weather performance compared with the Bridgestones, but it's a WORLD of difference in the snow, and rain. I don't know how well it would work in a truly heavy snow area, but in the *usually* moderate winters around Philadelphia, the Continentals have made my RX8 perfectly useable all year round (except last year of course, with 4 insane blizzards that each dumped over 2 ft of snow - but nothing was moving then until the roads were cleared).
My bottom line, I think that good all-season tires (and sane driving) will let a RX8 be driven in moderate winter climates (works fine for me) - after all, until couple of decades ago, all cars were rear-wheel drive, and got through winters OK - but might not work in heavy winter conditions. For Minnesota, you probably want to get Blizzaks or some other dedicated true snow tires.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Annapolis, MD
My new (to me) RX-8 is my DD and will be driven all winter long. Shopping for winter tires and a set of wheels as we speak.
Anyone have advice for the usually mild Maryland winters? I was thinking all season tires, but the last few comments are trying to persuade me otherwise. What's the problem with all seasons? Is is the tread pattern or rubber compound that's the issue? I'd rather not drive on snow tires all winter long if I can avoid it since we only generally get a couple of small snowstorms.
Anyone have advice for the usually mild Maryland winters? I was thinking all season tires, but the last few comments are trying to persuade me otherwise. What's the problem with all seasons? Is is the tread pattern or rubber compound that's the issue? I'd rather not drive on snow tires all winter long if I can avoid it since we only generally get a couple of small snowstorms.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Philadelphia, PA USA
There is no problem with all season tires, unless you run into last winter again. It is a matter of how well you want the car to perform in winter. Will all weathers, it just won't go in deep snow and bad ice (like any car. This isn't just the 8 that will have this problem). Snow tires will perform better because of more aggressive tread patterns and deeper treads as well as much softer tire compound to keep them supple in deep colds. All weathers, are a compromise that doesn't work as well in winter because of a compund that is too hard, and they won't work as well in Summer because of a compund that is too soft. They will get you around most of the time just fine. So, what I am saying is, what do you want the car to do? It's up to you. If you want the car to perform in summer like a track car, then you will be disappointed. If you want it to drive in the worst snow storms, then you will be disappointed. For most snows, and most driving, they'll work. They just won't take you as far to the performance limits as a Winter tire Summer tire set up will.
Missouri winters are always a crap-shoot as to how bad they are. Regardless, this will be my fifth one in the RX-8. I'll be pulling out the WinterSports on my stock wheels for their third year. They've never let me down.
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