Winter Driving
 

Some people have made request for winter weather options. I was wondering if people here plan on driving in snowy winter weather. Also how do you expect the RX-8 to handle with rear wheel drive and 50/50 balance?

Thanks
Ryan Fritts

Probably like a Miata except bigger and heavier.

I'll be driving it in the winter. Use snow tires and if it comes with traction or stability control, keep it on. Unless there is two feet of snow out there, it should be fine.

What is this "snow" substance you speak of? :D

If we survived without front wheel drive cars in every garage for some approximately 75 years, I think we can survive into the future without them being mandatory on every car.

Besides, traction/stability control has progressed so far that the "requirement" for front wheel drive has almost become a non issue. There are those who say it is preferred for "packaging" purposes. I, however, don't fall for that. The rear wheels were designed to move the car and the fronts to steer and brake (mostly).

As for snow driving, yes, some of us are going to have to at least occasionally drive our cars in the snow/ice. We just have to be properly equipped, you know, snow tires, traction/stability control and more concentration when driving, but that's true for any car you drive in the snow/ice.

its this white stuff made of ice crystals that will on occasion fall from the sky, usually coinciding with cold temperatures(below freezing). take some ice cubes from your freezer and and crush them into very small pieces. this will give you an idea of what snow looks like when on the ground. unbelievable but true, when there is a large amount of it on the ground in hilly or mountainous areas, normally sane people have been known to strap long boards (called skis by some) on to their feet and slide down the slopes that are covered. this is done at great speeds and at the risk of very painful injuries.;)

Of course some folks, those who can afford it anyway, typically buy a "beater" car for the winter and keep their nice sports car clean, undented, and salt-free.

Beaters are usually some unattractive, cheap, easy to pick up (wait! I just described most of my dates in the 70's..) car that no self respecting motorhead would be seen in.

Maybe mine will be a 350Z...

You don't see many beaters around Toronto anymore since the emissions testing began. That means a "beater" car has to be something half-decent, unless you can find a mechanic willing to pull some tricks to get a POS car to pass.

Anyway, I'll be driving the RX-8 year round. 4 really good snow and ice tires and some winter wiper blades should do nicely.

I hate driving my current FWD in the winter. Its 2300 lbs, ~65% concentrated on the front end. The rear end is very squirmy when it is slippery (like ~5 flakes of snow on the ground). My RX-7, with a bag of sand in the rear and ~50/50 weight distribution, was much better. The RX-8 will be a great improvement!

Mine will definitely see the ice and snow.

I am considering doing what many of the Miata owners are doing – put snow tires on all four corners. They say it improves winter driving tremendously.

i might go that route, but we'll see.. i don't know how many winter tires will fit on those 18inch rims :)

I’m still not totally sold on the idea of four winter tires. However, I will be buying four steel rims for the winter so the 18” snow tire problem will not exist.

How much will that set you back?

if you're going to put winter tires on, put on FOUR.

if you only put two on, you're asking for trouble and making your car less safe than leaving on the summers.

the difference in traction between front and back will ruin your handling.

Less than buying 4 18" winter tires would.

Usually 4 steel rims + tires runs around $400-$600 US. A good investment.

Hrmm interesting :)

I might get a set of crappy tires to use during that weather, so I can prolong the life of the tires on my lease.. taht way I don't have to replace them and while the winter time is around I won't have to worry.

If the brakes are large enough to warrant 18" rims, can you find 18" steel rims?

Although if the slushbox comes with 16"ers and the brakes are the same size on the 18", they might fit on 16" steel rims. Of course this is just speculation, but just something to keep in mind.

Ahhh, good point Fuz. The brakes are a potential problem.

Winter me no drive RX-8 in.

Are you saying to only use TWO winter tires? Can you explain how is that safe? Assuming winter tires on the rear wheels, you will have traction to get started but your front tires will not have any grip to steer the car. Using two winter tires on ANY car is a terrible mistake, never mind a rear wheel drive sports car that comes with high performance summer tires stock. :confused:

Some insight on Winter tires.

http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caran...eywords=winter

http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caran...=winter&page=1

http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caran...eywords=winter

It may not be the best thing, but it's better than no winter tires. I had a '81 Chevy Malibu (RWD) with two winter tires in the rear and some crappy all seasons in the front. It got me thru 40 mi of the Blizzard of '93 (upstate NY). I probably wouldn't have made it without getting stuck if I didn't have those two winter tires. I agree it's not the safest set up, but it can be better than nothing.

The larger brakes that you get with the 240-250Bhp car and 18's will not fit in anything less than 17" wheels.... You'll have to get some cheap 17's for your winter tyres not steel's I doubt you can get 17's steel's.

Agreed but only if you have all season tires on the front. On the 8 they will be summer only tires so unless you change the fronts too, you are asking for trouble in the winter.

toyo tires
 

I checked with a tire store and they suggested that I order Toyo winter tires if I drive on snow.

The expected price is about Can $ 350 per tire, or about US $ 260 per tire, plus the rim.

Questions

are Toyo winter tires good or i should choose another tire ?

Is the Canadian price reasonable or should I order the tires in a nearby USA state ?

Thanks
:confused:

Toyo has 2 models of winter tires that offer very good performance. Size is a problem, it depends if you want 18" or are going down to 17" or 16" (if 16's fit over the brakes). Ideally, you also want to go narrower with winter tires as well, while keeping the overall diameter the same. A contact at Mazda NAO in Irvine told me that the OEM 16" alloys will fit over the GT brakes, but I'd love to have someone in the US confirm that for us.

www.tiretrends.com and www.talontire.com are two good online Canadian tire vendors.

Regards,
Gordon