Need winter tire help please...
 

Have mercy on me -- great new job is taking me from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (paradise) to New Jersey (!)...

Naturally, I'll need a winter wheel/tire combo... Went to Tirerack, selected 18" MM Evo 5 (inexpensive and looks somewhat like stock wheels), but no winter tires are available in that size... Can this be true?

Any advice? I'd like to stick with 18s...

Thank you.

Try the Discount Tire Co. They have a web site and should be able to help.

Why?....
 

Why stick with 18"s?

It will look pretty much the same in 17", and WAY more suitable rubber available.....

Check out GORD's posts in the Canada forum.....those guys know their winter 'boots'!
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doc

I just got a set of Sumitomo HTR+ in 245/40WR18 to replace the 040's. They're Ultra high performance all season radials. $114 a piece from the Tire rack. $510 for a set of 4 with shipping.

Sumitomo HTR+

I just tried their site... for the RX-8, 2004, etc., they show "no products available that match the size you entered" and I put in 17" and 18".

Too bad, I like Discount Tire, they always treat me well...

Re: Need winter tire help please...
 

Advice - search this section, the RX-8 Discussion section, and the Canada regional section for 'winter tires'. Read every thread.

Like Doc said - why 18s? If you're getting separate wheels - 17" wheels are cheaper, 17" winter tires are cheaper. Read the Tire Rack tech articles on winter tires - narrower is better, in 17" you can get a few choices in 215/55-17 rather than 225 width. Don't go wider, you'll have poorer performance on snow/ice.

After doing your homework, ask away with any more questions, and we'll be glad to help!

Regards,
Gordon (Hmm, that TiGray RX-8 up there looks awfully familiar! ;) )

Try your search on tirerack again i just did it and they have some dunlop M3, Blizzack WS-50 (heard these are terrible) and some pirellie 210 snow sports in 17's

The local Discount Tire Co. to me has snow tires in 17" (you will need to get a wheel/tire package). They may have 18" but I didn't check that out. You can get Michelin Alpine Pilots in a 225 50 17, Continental TS 90 in 225 50 17, or Yokohama Guardex in 215 50 17 all for around $175/tire. My local shop can deliver them to a shop near you. The phone number: (509) 466-8773 ask for Jim or Mike. They said that you can call collect as well but they have these tires in stock.