There is a huge amount of information about winter tires on the forum. Check out the "Wheels, Tires, and Suspension" forum to get started. To provide a quick answer to your question, most people have gone with either the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 or the Dunlop Wintersport M3 tires. It's not going to be cheap... expect to spend at least $500-$700 on tires alone. Visit TireRack to see what else is available. Let me know if you need any help.

 

I haven't had any problems with flooding. Just give the car a little extra time to warm up when it's really cold outside. In this sense it's no different than any other car. By far the most important thing is to get winter tires (or at the very least all-seasons) if you expect to drive on any snow or ice.

 

i just got my dunlop winter sport m3's 225/50/r17 with kazera 17" light grey rims from tirerack today.

 

Right. No offense, but you obviously have absolutely NO clue as to what you are talking about. You obviously have NO understanding of the characteristics of performance summer tires (not all-seasons) in winter conditions, or what REAL winter tires are like. Good luck to you - please be sure to post in this thread when you have actually driven your RX-8 on OEM tires on snow/ice. We want all the details - and I promise to be first in line to say "I told you so" when you tell us how you got stuck, or if you did manage to get moving, how you nailed a curb the first time you tried to turn or stop. :p Unless you are a God to whom the laws of physics don't apply... somehow, though, I doubt it. Note that just because you don't understand the laws of physics doesn't mean that they don't exist.

(God forbid that you injure a passenger or other innocent bystander when your ignorance and arrogance gets you into a wreck.)

Regards,
Gordon

 

If you do a search you'll see that all of us who drive in winter conditions have winter tires or a winter car because the summer tires on this car or worthless below 40*F. My local dealer had to push the cars around the lot when there was an inch of snow on the ground because they couldn't get enough traction to move the cars. You should be able to find a good set of Dunlop M3s for less than $1k and buy some cheap 17" wheels to mount them on.

 

Don't forget to post pics too!

 

yes, last year when I ran into the problem of not being able to move my car with a DUSTING of snow, I was able to land a great deal on four Dunlop M3s for $400 from Tire Rack. I don't regret that purchase one bit.

 

Hey there

I have the Michelin Pilot Alpin's P2 on my car, anticipating snow soon in Toronto.

Just wondering, with good snow tires on, how is traction/driving in snow/ice?

Will there still be problems around corners or up hills?

I had Arctic Alpines on my last car (Grand AM) and they made a huge difference.

Thanks

 

with good snow tires, the car handles exceptionally. better than some front wheel drive cars I have driven.

 

I guess the dealers have a difficult time selling these cars when its snowing then.

 

As a former New Jerseyan, tires make a hell of a difference. Now post your Potenzas in the for sale section, so us Southern people can grab em and you can use the money to buy all seasons.

 

we get snow, just not as much as you up north.

yamajj

 

I lived in Tulsa for a while and in '77 we got quite a bit of snow... but I can see your point just don't try to drive on snow or ice with the summer tires. I would take the bus to work on those days.

 

no offense taken, as i have driven several rear wheel drive cars on snow/ice. i'm not being arrogant or ignorant, i've just had the experience needed to understand how to drive in certain conditions. (i'm 38 yrs old) you wouldn't think a miata would be a good car to drive on these conditions either, but i never had problems with it. i feel better when the crazy people stay off the roads. i also compensate my speed which is the biggest part of driving on snow/ice.

remember, only a zamboni drives well on ice and it still slides.

yamajj

 

anyone have any experience of the stock Dunlops in the snow?

I had a miata with Bridgestones last year, and would always leave it at home when it snowed (wife has an Audi...). PLanning to do the same with the 8, but I'm curious whether anyone had experience of the Dunlops.

 

If you've never driven on the stock Rx-8 summer tires, then you have no idea what you are talking about. It is UNDRIVEABLE. It is moveable, but not driveable. I was able to get the car moving, but couldn't steer and couldn't stop. Traction control was worth absolutey **** too. however, after proper winter tires, it controlled exceptionally and I was able to drive around people getting stranded in a foot of snow.

I too come from a history of rear wheel drive cars and have never had a trouble with driving in the snow. But i was in for a rude awakening when I tried last winter with a dusting of snow...it's not pretty. You could be Mario Andretti and not be able to drive this car with the stock rubber in snow. Period.

Sorry.

 

ok..so pretty much decided..since i don't have the money right now to get Winter Tires....My baby (Rosey) is gonna be tucked under the blanket for the winter season....Here comes out my Sleeper Car (LOL).....My 99' Maxima SE.....Watch out people!!!!

 

The Eagle GW3s I ordered weren't going to be in until the middle of December so I bought the Dunlop M3s instead and I have to say that so far I am pretty impressed. Should have some snow to drive on in the next few days so I'll get to test them out there too...

 

I love my RX8... but the best suggestion for using it in the winter environment is to put it into a nice warm garage whenever there is ice or snow on the roads! Then buy yourself a $1500 rat car like an old 88 integra.

Maybe the winter tires would help, but all that damn salt is just horrible for the thing! Lucky I am not stationed down in NC and wont have that problem this winter!

I tried driving mine a few times up in PA last year and it was quite an experience! When you start moving, you have to turn the computer off so the tires can spin on acceleration. Then you have to remember to turn the computer back on so that it doesnt become a wandering jew at around 25 to 35mph. It also likes to fish tail on hill that have slight downhills. Best part about the fish tail is that even thought rear end doesnt come all the way around, it does it when you least expect it! Its quite the white knuckled driving experience at under 40mph!

 

I'm sorry, but every word you've posted on this thread re: snow tires on the 8 is nonsense. You're speaking from pride and from non-relevant experiences with other tires.

You're 38? Very impressive. I'm 50. I've been driving all kinds of cars in winter conditions in Illinois, Michigan and New England since you were in training pants. Two first gen RX-7's with stock tires. Any number of overpowered RWD V-8's with stock tires. FWD econoboxes with stock tires. Even Jeeps with Blizzaks (now that's a combo!)

Every one of those other vehicle/tire combos was manageable in the snow, some better than others of course. The RX-8 on stock tires is not. Not even a little. Please listen to what everyone with relevant experience is saying:

THE STOCK TIRES ON THE RX-8 ARE UNDRIVEABLE IN WINTER CONDITIONS. PERIOD. END OF STORY.

Last week we had a surprise dusting of snow while I was at work. Fortunately it was too warm to stick to the roads except in a few spots. On the way home I approached a familiar stop sign at 10mph. There's a slight (not steep) downslope to the intersection. I slid straight through that intersection. Even at 5mph the ABS was still pumping its little heart out trying to find SOMETHING to stop the car with. No dice. When I pulled into my slightly downhill driveway - now at 5mph - I just about sidewindered into the garage. It took four tries to turn the car around, it kept going sideways.

This was on less than 1/4" of warm, wet snow. No other vehicle I've ever driven would have even noticed such a tiny amount. But if there'd been an inch more I'd have been completely immobilized.

If you attempt to drive your car in the way you're suggesting you'll smash into something. For your sake, I hope no one gets hurt.

 

Aaahh! I drove mine all winter last year here in Spokane and with good winter tires I had no problem. I also live on the South Hill (note the name hill in my location...) and still didn't have any problems getting up or down. I loved it and actually it handled just as good as my M3 did in the snow and ice. We must've had about 3' or more of snow and we had temps down to -25* F. The salt or chemical salt replacement surely aren't good for any car but I bought mine to drive it and that includes the winter too. So don't worry so much about the 8's ability to handle the wintery conditions most of it is driver ability.

 

what the **** does that mean?

 

yamajj, I actually ENCOURAGE you to drive your car in the snow on stock tires, but you have to promise to have someone video tape it. I'm sure everyone here would love to watch. :D

 

Don't listen to anyone. Find out for yourself. ----- just in case they are correct, do have someone stand by with a video cam to record this event.

 

I drove last year in Philadelphia on stock tires. Yes I survived, but just almost. They are driveable, everyone saying they are not are incorrect. Of course the probability of losing control is 90%.

For me its not worth the headache, I went out and purchased some M3's - however for some it will be 'live and learn' and not what they read here.

Good luck

Wayne