Sorry--I'm a total noob. Is it possible to get winter tires on the stock rims or do you have to replace the rims?

 

Yes, you can put winter tires on your stock rims. Then you won't have to buy a new set of rims. But… many choose to buy a separate set of rims for their winter tires:

• your OEM rims won't be subjected to all the salt they spread on the roads. You can get cheap steel wheels for winter for not much more than $100/wheel. Cheap alloys start at only a little more than that.
• you won't have to pay to have your 4 summer tires dismounted and your 4 winter tires mounted twice a year. Cost of that can add up!
• Most RX-8's have 18" wheels. You can get 18" winter tires, but 17" are better. In snow, narrower, smaller tires perform better.

 

yeah... What i think i might do is go to a local tire store (in MA, a good one is Direct Tire) and buy my Dunlop M3 tires from them... and then for the rest of the tires' lives, Direct Tire will change them onto and off of my wheels every winter for free... or i might buy cheaper tires AND a chepa set of rims from TireRack, and change them myself... not sure

 

Also check through Tire Rack - they have preferred local dealers that might give you a good deal. I had Tire Rack ship my M3's to a local tire dealer (Craven Tire) for installation.