Omicron
Thanks again for the update. You have me sold. Soon these tires will be on my 8. Many thanks again. As for the wet road test, I am pretty sure they will be an upgrade from our beloved P 40. Thanks

Mark

 

No problem Mark, happy to help. Be sure and post your thoughts when you get your Pirellis too!

 

Omicron, you need a snowstorm today so we can get a review in snow! Seriously, I guess they don't make these tires in 225 or 235?

 

They might, but I didn't even look. I wanted the wider tires... just plain love the way they look. And enough people on the board here had put this size on that I knew they'd work. And lemme tell you, they do look sweeeeeet!!! Even Mrs. Omi likes 'em, and she doesn't usually notice these things. :D

Yeah, I know narrower tires do better in the snow, but these tires, even in the wider size, will be a HUGE improvement over the Potenzas on snow. Hell, ICE SCATES would be an improvement over the Potenzas in snow.

 

That statement is SOOOOO very true. I tried to take my 8 in yesterday for the recall work, and with a light dusting of snow on the road, I barely made it half way to the dealership before turning around. I should mention that the dealership I have to go to is 60 miles away... I know what my next purchase is going to be!
-Doccable

 

No offense Doccable, but, I am thinking about an old Polock joke... made it half way but decided they couldn't make it all the way and turned back...ummmm, well, if you made it half way, why not go the whole and get it done?

 

"We just about to land ... then we run outta gas ... so we have to go back." Chico, MONKEY BUSINESS

 

'Cause he had to go the WHOLE way back, perhaps? :D

 

"Next time we take a' plenty of gas. But we forgetta the airplane."

 

Yeah, yeah, I know, there's always a smart *** on here, this time I'll take the title. :D

 

"This time we almost-a-make it, maybe-a three feet, but we runna outta gas... " The last thing I expected was Night at the Opera routines... "Ah, but canna no fool me, I know theres a-no sanity clause." :D
Actually, the road was getting much worse the further I went, when I saw the semi laying on its side in the ditch, I really had to rethink about just what I was doing.

 

I can't say I blame you then.

I'm looking at getting these tires locally and the least expensive I can find them without having to do all the transporting them after having them shipped is for $776 at Discount Tire including mounting, ballancing and valve stems, which, of course, they don't need because of teh TPM system. I might go this route, if I decide to do this soon.

 

If you can make friends with a tire dealer of some sort, they can probably get them from the Tirerack at a considerable discount. I have a buddy who manages a Goodyear shop, and as it turns out, they have a wholesale account with Tirerack. Because of this, I paid $149 per tire (his cost) plus $54 shipping. Can't beat that with a stick! :D

 

Yeah, I can get them from tirerack for $150 each and $36 in shipping. Then to get them mounted the best price I have seen is $20 each. That's about $716.

If I do it that way, it means I have to get them delivered to my house, then transport them to the mounting place and have them mounted then bring home the stocks because they are too new just to pitch. I can transport them by way of my wife's CRV, that ought to hold 4 good sized tires in the rear with the seats down. I also had the stocks siped to ghet me through winter. So, with that, I am not sure what I could sell them for either on here or on e bay. Any idea or guessimate?

 

I sold mine via an add here on the Forum. Just make sure you price them attractively.

Also, you could have Tirerack ship your tires directly to the place you're gonna have them installed... most places would be happy to receive them. It also may save you shipping costs - the "cheap" rate is often to a business only.

 

Tire Rack will drop ship to the place that's gonna mount them. I also proved, when I had the wheel/snow assemblies put on, that you can fit all four stock wheel / tires in the '8 if (1) you cover seats with a tarp, (2) you put one in the trunk, 2 in back seat and one in front seat, and (3) you're slightly nuts. (I then cleaned them so carefully before storing that, if they WERE marked as to which wheel they came off, they're not now. Can't think of everything.

 

D Menac
How many miles you have on these tires? how much tread is left? You will have better luck selling them if they have better than 60% tread. These tires go fast after the 50% mark, plus the road noise will drive you nuts. You can always send them back to Mazda as repayment for that paint touch-up you got. hopefully Mazda will find a home for your babies.

Mark

 

Not wanting to steal Omnicron's thread, but...I only have 3800 miles on them, the thread is well over 60% probably closer to 75%+. I've never been abusive to them, drive like a Granny, well, maybe an aunt, but, then again, my aunt drives a Miata and she's 77. (Lead foot) :D

Actually, they are in good shape, I just am planning on the months ahead after Summer and Fall. I want something that has better traction and this seems to me to be the way to go for us middle climatic drivers where we seldom get huge amounts of snow but occasionally get enough to ground us with the stocks. 95% of my driving is in the city with the worse part just getting off my tertiary street and that's only a half block from a clearer street.

Well, I guess I'll start by posting these on the RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted section on here and give Omni back his thread. Sorry about that Omni. Thanks for everyone's help!

 

Not a problem, D M. :D

 

I have used the PZeroNero in the Z-rated version Max summer tire in a 205/55ZR16 and can say they have awesome grip.
I used them at a Summit Point track day and when they warm they get real sticky and have performance very close to the Azenis Sports.

 

Omicron,

I didn't see that you ever commented as to your snow driving experiences with the Pirelli's...anything to report? Thanks...

 

Those Pirelli's have the same traction, temp., and wear rating as the BF Goodrich G-FORCE T/A KDWS. I have read many great reviews of the BF Goodrich's great traction, I'd just go for price from there since they're both sticky. Plus I love the tread pattern on the KDWS!!

 

These PZero M+S seemed a great plan to allow me just to leave my house when it's snowing (got stranded last time, with the baby in the back!!) without getting an expensive winter Tyres+Alloys pack.

BUT : the PZero Nero M+S does not exist in Europe. Checking on Tirerack, it apparently is a special for North America ! And it seems to be the same for most brands.

So, two alternatives :

1- either tyre manufacturers cheat on Northern Americans making them believe that you can actually have a tyre that works in summer AND on snow ;

2- either they cheat on European by making us believe no single tyre can work in summer and on snow.

Considering :
- Omicron seems to be absolutely happy with his new tyres,
- Omicron does not work for Pirelli,
- some US magazines gaves good appraisals for these tyres,
- these magazines are not Pirelli owned,
- option 2 is more profitable for tyre manufacturers,

I think, we, Europeans, get screwed by tyre manufacturers...

 

Nope, your option 1 is correct. Note that Omicron has not tried them on snow yet! He's very happy with their wet and dry performance, but... while they'll be a lot better than the OEM summer tires on snow, that's not saying much. They'll give the RX-8 minimal snow capabilities, but will be nowhere near the performance of real winter tires. Read some of the comparison tests at Tire Rack for direct comparisons of all-season tires to winter tires.

The PZero Nero M+S will work fine in summer, and passably in snow. The OEM BS RE040 will work fine in summer, and not in snow. Real winter tires will work fine in snow. It's all about what compromises you're willing to accept. If you experience real winters, rather than occasional snowfalls which clear up within a few days - stick to winter tires.

Me, personally - I'd consider using the PZero Nero M+S for summer use, based on Omicron's description of their dry/wet performance, and be grateful for the limited winter capability if I was caught out in snow in early or late summer (it happens around here), but I'd still use winter tires for winter.

Regards,
Gordon

 

Nope, sorry folks, I have not yet had a chance to experience these tires in snow. Dadgumit, it's been in the 70s and absolutely BEAUTIFUL here in Colorado of late! (Can you tell how much I'm suffering? :D)

Gord is probably right, they will not be as good as "dedicated" snow tires. However, Tirerack customers who have bought these Pirellis rate them as a snow traction of 7.2 (out of 10 possible) which is as good as or better than all the other UHPAS tires they offer except for the Continental ContiExtremeContact, which gets an 8.0 rating. But the ContiExtremeContact is WAY noisy and harsh riding. Not worth if for 0.8 improvement, IMHO.

For the sake of comparison, the Michelin Pilot Alpin in the same size gets an 8.6 rating, and the Bridgestone Blizzak MZ-03 gets a 9.7 rating. So yes, dedicated snows will be better if you need them.

Fortunately here in Colorado, believe it or now, we only get periodic snow which usually melts off within a day or two. If it's gonna stick around for a while I just drive my Grand Cherokee. These tires are more so I can drive my RX-8 daily and not worry about getting caught by a storm. (Hi honey, I'm stuck in the parking lot at work, can you come get me? )

Another thing of note: These tires will outlast many other tires, (including the stock Potenzas) by quite a bit, as they have a treadwear rating of 400. Most of the other UHPAS and UHP tires have a treadwear rating of 220-300. Only the ContiExtremeContact has as high a tread life - but I already noted why I didn't want them.

Oh, and they're also WR speed rated.

To me, they're the ideal compromise.... but as Gord points out, they are a compromise.