It's time to start thinking about using snow tires again.
 

Winters coming and bringing the snow with it. If you don't have your winter tires and and wheels yet i wouldn't wait to much longer. We have already sold out of our two lowest price wheels for the RX8 and the tires are also going fast. I put together a list of the top recommended snow tires with some of the more popular wheels for the RX8 to try and make it a little easierand to give you an idea of pricing. The listings below do not include the sensors. They would be an additional 58.50 per wheel for the sensor and the mounting sleeve. Purchasing the sensors is optional and completely up to you. For those that may not know, with out the sensor you would constantly have a warning light on your dash board. Some people are OK with that and others would rather have the sensors installed and working correctly.

215/55QR17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 -- 98.00 each
17X7.5 Sport Edition A7 -- 104.00 each
Total without shipping or TPMS -- 808.00 set of four

215/55R17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 -- 135.00 each
17X7.5 Sport Edition A7 -- 104.00 each
Total without shipping or TPMS -- 956.00 set of four

225/50R17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 -- 141.00 each
17X7.5 Sport Edition A7 -- 104.00 each
Total without shipping or TPMS -- 980.00 set of four

225/50R17 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 -- 141.00 each
17X7 Kazera KZ-V -- 129.00 each
Total without shipping or TPMS -- 1080.00 set of four

225/50QR17 Dunlop Graspic DS-2 -- 109.00 each
17X7.5 Sport Edition A7 -- 104.00 each
Total without shipping or TPMS -- 852.00 set of four

225/50QR17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 -- 109.00 each
17X7.5 Sport Edition A7 -- 104.00 each
Total without shipping or TPMS -- 852.00 set of four

225/50QR17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 -- 109.00 each
17X7 Kazera KZ-V -- 129.00 each
Total without shipping or TPMS -- 952.00 set of four

When placing an order please place it through the Tire Rack link that i have listed below. The forum gets credit for the order which helps offset some of the updating and maintenance of the site. If you have any questions or would like assistance in setting up the order please call me directly at 877-522-8473 X269.

Take a look at The Tire Rack's Preferred Winter Tire & Wheel Package for the 2007 Mazda RX-8 6-Speed Manual:



http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AC4&...7&autoModClar=



:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:



Preferred Packages are available for other Mazdas as well. Or, you can build your own by selecting from the various tire and wheel (both steel and alloy) options that we have.



Read more about or build your own Winter Tire & Wheel Package here:



http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AC4&...changeover.jsp

My current tire size on '07 is 18 inch rim. Is it okay to use 17 inch?

Not for me Connor, I'm in Florida! :)
Bump for a good person though!

Yes you can drop down to 17" with out any issues as long as you are using the correct rim.

Here's a question......I live in Victoria on Vancouver Island (just up from Seattle) and we honestly get about a week of snow for the entire year (even less than Vancouver). When it does snow it's not a whole lot either. Do you think I'll be okay with Pirelli Winter 240 SnowSport's in 225/45VR18 on the stock 18" rims? They're much cheaper than the rest.

I make no bones about it! Connor does a great job for us. I have first hand experience.

My many thanks for your help on my recent tire purchase Connor. I'll be back again when my 8 needs a new set. And that may not be far off.

-Mark

Slightly related question. I bought 17" rims and snowtires from you guys last season and was wondering when going from 18 to 17 will it through off my speedo any? It seems on my 18's I might be off by 1-2 mph at 60mph anyway (showing 60 but going 58).

just purchased the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 from tire rack 215/55/17 WOW their prices are good!! $190CAD, $93US from tirerack. Hope this forum gets the credit for it! Tirerack is all out of steel rims tho :(

225/45R17's
 

Will this tire fit on my Automatic 05 Shinka?

Yes they will fit but the diameter is slightly smaller and that will affect the speedo.

215/55QR17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 -- 98.00 each
17X7.5 Sport Edition A7 -- 104.00 each
Total without shipping or TPMS -- 808.00 set of four


I want this package but i cant get anything that cheap:banghead:

Just a reminder:

I bought Hankook iPike W409s (NOT Icebears). 215/55/17s.

They are awesome - better than the Blizzaks I had on another vehicle. If you see a good price on them, do not hesitate.

i kno blizzaks are better for me but on the tirerack.com website they are 159.00 lowest i can find unlike the 98.00 a piece he is stating above :eyetwitch

?? dude they are $75 bucks now.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e1=yes&place=4

$75 bucks is a great price for the Blizzaks - even the WS-50s.

That's a steal.

When I called around here last year, the minimum asking price was over $135 per tire.

The economy sucks, though - I've noticed tire prices being slashed along with everything else.

Just filled up my tank with 93 octane for less than $30 - I can't remember the last time that happened.

Connor,

Over the next couple of months, I'll see how well those Goodyear Eagle F1 A/S tires perform in the snow. Thanks for being there for me when I ordered them.

Driving in snow - what sort of country do you live in? Too awesome to contemplate.

Has anyone tried Firestone 235/40/18? They've been recommended to my by my service place.

MN gets 3" snowfall
 

Firestone are fine, used them years a go but going a larger footprint makes it worse, not better in snow. Firestone braking is so-so and they seem to hydroplane more than the other top performers. I used the original Blizzaks on a S-10 GMC compact truck in upper MN and never got stuck and the braking was excellent on ice, so I will assume the latest versions have only been much improved.

I just did a deal with TireRack ( see Cooper for sales) Cooper was excellent and well knowledged on our RX8 needs and specs. He took time to relate their latest snow tire testing this past week and their use of the ice rink lap..only the Blizzak WS60 ( newest version) actually squealed a bit cornering on the ice rink field- the others slipped.

So__ I saved $25 a tire by going with the Blizzak WS60 ($115.00 each) over the slightly quieter Michelin X Ice Xi2 and ordered the least expensive wheels out there as a package; MSW Type14 17x7. Total shipped cost: $992.00 Adding up the cost of mounting twice a year and not to mention the potential damage to the bead over time , the wheel/tire package is actually cheaper after the second year. Mount/balance, taxes in MN yearly costs vs. new wheels ready to go, shows a break even cost after the second winter.
Hopefully_ these cheap wheels will be solid. I realize MSW are China and not Japan made. Ugg.

Thanks - I'll try them. I'll never have to drive them in snow.

winter season driving
 

This thread is really helpful to me as a new RX8 owner [09 GT black mica], but I live in DC where the temps are below 40 most of the winter but we only receive perhaps 2-3 small snowstorms of 2-4 inches per winter. most driving is on cold pavement. It's unclear if I should get snow tires or all season high performance. many posts are from owners in Colorado, Minnesota, etc that receive more snow than we do in DC region. We end up with more slush than deep snow. Any insight is appreciated, as it's already end-October so i want to be ready. If its all seasons, recommendations are appreciated. thanks for the terrific info posted on the site so far.:lol2:

I live in MD between Baltimore/DC and I used all season Falken's last year and they were perfectly fine. I haven't decided what I'm going to do about tires this winter though. We don't really need "snow" tires here, because we probably won't see much at all, and if we don't we won't likely be driving in it.

thanks blackenedwings. do you keep the falkens on all year or replace the stock tire? and since we live close by where do you buy your tires? thanks for the quick post reply.

When I got the Falken's I kept them on all year round while I was naturally aspirated. Now that I'm turboed I changed to larger, stickier Federal 595s which I'm very happy with.

edit: Oh sorry, I order all of my tires online and have them shipped to a local shop to put them on.

will it fit?
 

225/55/R17

bolt pattern: 5x114.3

snow tires
 

I purchased an 09 rx8 grand touring lst spring that came from the factory with Dunlop Sport 2050's and they got zero traction in the snow up here in Minnesota. I purchased a set of Continental Extreme Contact DWS tires and they do great on snow plus they are all season and are 'y' speed rated to boot. The DWS stands for = dry, wet, snow. I couldn't be happier. check 'em out...

Lookin to snag some winters from Tirerack. I think I will be grabbing some 17" wheels but cant really decide on the tire size. I am thinking 225/50 so that I can match the height of my current setup (18" oem, 225/45). I have been reading that the 55's are recommended but I am afraid that if I go with that i might start rubbing in the front. I have been using 1010tires.com size calculator to get comparisons

225/45 18" vs 225/50 17"
Overall Diameter: 25.97 in vs. 25.46 in

225/45 18" vs 215/55 17"
Overall Diameter: 25.97 in vs. 26.31 in

Thoughts?

I was thinking about these but aren't they all soft and mushy? I hear the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S plus isnt quite as good in the white but has better clear road handling.

Go with the taller setup, cause you are very low in front.

I was thinking that, but wont that cause some rubbing in the front since the diameter is going to be an inch greater? Or am i talking apples and oranges here

^ bump for my question

Edit: I guess the more important value is the radius.


Radius: 12.98 in 329.69 mm , Stock
Radius: 13.15 in 334.01 mm , 215/55
Radius: 12.92 in 328.16 mm , 225/50

Looks like there isnt too much difference between stock and the 55 ... might actually be better than going with the 50 since it will make me sit a tad lower ..

Just bought a set of MSW T14's (17x7) w/ Blizzak WS70's @ 215/55. I will throw some pics up when i pick them up friday

Conner,

What is up with the Contiwintercontact TS810? I need a new set and I really want another set of them (had two already).

You dont seem to have them in stock - are they coming or what?

I want RX-8Club to benefit when I buy snow Tires
 

sorry if I missed it, but what is the link to Tire Rack that I should use so RX-8 Club gets credit?

Thanks!

Snow tires - Used 1 month
 

HI. I'm new to all of this. I'm trying to find a good home for 4 like new snow tires. The wife bought a Mazda RX8 in Oct of '05' and I bought snow tires for the care in Jan '06'. She traded in the car in Mar '06'. I still have the snow tires. Here are the details

4 - Dulop Winter Sport H3 Snow Tires
225/45R18V
Paid $209.00 each. (have invoice)

These tires deserve a good home. Please let me know if you can help me or maybe put me on the right track. I appreciate any and all help. Thanks and have a great Holiday Season.

Dennis McGinity
Richmond, RI 02832
401-539-0076

^^ Not sure its polite to sell your own stuff on a vendor's thread ...

might want to check out the for sale threads that we have here

First of all, these tires are now at least 5 years old, so they are one year away from the 6 year rule - meaning they should not be used any longer. You should have sold these 5 years ago.

Second, you owned the car for 6 months? LMAO, you guys must have more money than sense. Sorry to hear that, too funny.

Third, I think this post is outside of the rules - you need to post your own for sale thread.

This actually sounds pretty fishy to me - who does this?

1st post for a newby..:)

I've got an 04 RX8 found some decent Blizzaks for a steal but there 235/55/18, I don't think there would be a fit issue but thought I'd ask the experts. My normal tires are 225/45/18.

Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks
Joe

No ideas??? Fellas

I live in NYC. we get it all. rain, snow, dry, wet, slick , bumps, pot holes........ I use Conti Extreme DWS All Seasons.... I can drive in snow rain , dry ,, you name it, no wheel changes, handle well, wear well, look great, and highly rated!