worst car for winter
 

wow first time i am driving the rx8 in 5cm or so of snow and it was terrible.
car skids around like crazy. i dont have the winter tire's yet but going to get them used from a post online. i was just thinking how much difference that would make with winter tire's on this car. probably not much right?
i'd like some comments on those that drive the car in winter.
thanks

you really don't like searching, do you...

I live in the South and don't drive in snow much, but if you are driving around on stock tires in snow I'm surprised that you still have an 8. Snow tires would make a HUGE difference.

5 inch snow with stock tires Im amazed you still can drive.
I have those Potenza 050a. just a thin layer of snow Im going backwards doing a hill start.

Depending on what kind of tires you have now and how worn they are, getting a set of winter tires could make a whole lot of difference... If they didn't make much difference people wouldn't put money into buying them...

Until you get them try to avoid accelerating too hard while you are in a turn. The only real problem I've ever really had with mine on slick roads is the back end kicking out if I am giving it to much gas when I'm turning.

tried to search but couldn't find anything relevant.
you need talent to drive without snow tire ;)

you need talent to drive any car without proper tires.
sometime even talent wont help

Also try getting a couple of sand bags and put them in the luggage indent or whatever you want to call it. That made all the difference for me last winter. I was able to through last winter without a problem with a decent set of hankook all season tires and 100 pounds of sand in the trunk.

Honestly...don't give up yet. I hit my first experience in snow with my 8 this morning, on (pretty new/deeply treaded) all seasons this morning...we got nearly a foot overall, and the roads were terrible this morning. Still, I managed to make it to work. Had the shop put two blizzaks on my aftermarket 18's in the rear, tonight...and I could not BELIEVE the difference it made. Seriously. You'll be amazed.

Check the thread depth on those used snow tires.

I don't think Mazda was all that concerned with how the 8 handles in snow when they were designing the car. Get yourself an SUV and stop bitching. Rear wheel drive sports cars are notoriously bad in the snow. I thought this was common knowledge. :Drooling_

The 8 is probably better off than most sports cars. Low, even torque is better than high, peaky torque in snow. Too much power too fast = no traction.

Yeah, the rx8 sucks! I can't even drive in the rain with my advan a048 tyres! lmao!

Get a beater if you can or snow tires . I just put mine in storage , won't see till April . Bye Bye ..

^ OP comes on, calls the stock tire'd RX8 "worst car for winter", and doesn't get blasted? Maybe because she (I hope it's a she) calls herself cougarRX8 you're all being horndogs?

OP - you're a dumbass.

My wife's 128i Cab does better in the snow that my 4x4 Ram - winter tires vs. all seasons will do that. The same thing that makes a RX8 handle great on pavement helps it handle snow well too, all you need is winters. After a couple of winters in my RX8, I decided to save her from the salt.

The only limiting factor on the 8 in winter is the lack of ground clearance. That's it.

Questions:

1) Is this your first RWD vehicle? They all skid and kick sideways easily contrast to FWD or AWD vehicles.

2) Is this your first time on snow? Don't skimp on tires by trying to use seasonal or summer tires, especially if you live in an area that sees snow for 2+ months in the winter.

fixed.

Snow tires or not, a RWD can still easily kick out sideways but are far more controllable in such situations than the common FWD vehicle. It takes experience, not talent, to know how to properly drive a RWD vehicle with or without snow tires in the winter.

I made it though record snow last year with no problems. With snow tires, my 8 has been the best car I've ever owned in the snow. It's put away this year though. I don't trust the people out there with no experience and the wrong tires.

... nuff said:banghead:

Its been said all over this forum that winter tires is a MUST !!!! Yesterday we had about a foot of snow. First day driving in the rx8 with brand new blizzaks and it was alsmot like driving on dry road. Of course if you floor it youll skid but it wasnt that bad.

Do yourself and the car a favour, get snow tires before you kill someone.

It's highly recommended to have four snow tires so you can steer and stop as well as you can go.

The 100 lbs of sand in the back of a vehicle with 50/50 weight distribution?
All the sand will do is increase your polar inertia.... That's bad for handling... and increase your fuel consumption... that's bad for your wallet


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I run a 2002 Jetta with 4 snow tires... and get 30 MPG

I have to disagree. It may be that way for Toronto, but not everywhere else. I have been using all-season tires since I got the car. I live in the Chicago suburbs where the roads are keep clean after a snowfall. I have also driven throughout the midwest, including Michigan where my mother lives and I grew up, without a problem.

^ Im just saying that the forum "recommends" winter lol. I have never used all season in snow so i don't know how well or how bad they work lol.

Not everyone here is a race car driver. Driving adjustments for you are easy.
It is highly recommended for a first timer in the snow.

I'm older too. I learned to drive before front wheel drive became easily available. In 38 yrs of licensed driving (I drove before I had a license), I have never had an accident due to pure snow. Ice & slush are a different story. The only time I remember getting stuck, was when I was 19 driving on regular bias ply tires.
Thanks for calling me a race car driver. I haven't raced in all most 20 yrs. :) I still believe my reactions are faster than the DSC in the car.

Two passengers in the back seat doesn't screw with the 50/50 weight distribution? Its not like I'm worried driving the car like its meant to be driven while I'm driving in the snow... The car, despite the touted 50/50 weight distribution, lacks weight in the back like any rwd vehicle. I'm not saying its needed with a set of snow tires, but with my all seasons it made a world of difference. Try it before you knock it. :p: