Your solution is certainly reasonable. I may be giving up too much to keep tire pressure sensors.
As for the tire-transportation problem, I have already notified my son that his Explorer will be pressed into service. I'm not so sure the tires wouldn't fit in the RX8, though. I get my bicycle in (both wheels removed), with old towels used liberally to protect the upholstery.
Mitch

 

are you sure? our secretary at work got a new 2004 run of the mill Monte Carlo and it has the pressure sensors on the wheels.

 

The Monte Carlo is a new model, like the RX8. That's different from other US cars made in 2004 that are continuations of old designs. As long as a manufacturer is starting a run that will be going when it has to have sensors, it is more likely to have them from the start. Less so for an old model soon to be phased out. Price and image probably have something to do with it, too. If every dime in the price counts more than bragging rights, the cheaper non-sensor system (which is still legal) is likely to be used.
Mitch

 

FWIW, I've bought several sets of tires from Tire Rack over the years and they have always done well by me, altho I've never confronted them with a brand new car like the RX-8.

Tire Rack will tend to err on the side of caution in recommending wheel offset and tire fitments because they don't want to have to deal with returns, and that's understandable.

I too am dismayed that the only other tires apparently available in the stock 225/45/18 size are full-out winter tires. Winter in Cincinnati requires only an all-season tread, and a Toyo FZ-4 or equivalent would be perfect for me.

I guess I'll bide my time on a cold weather wheel/tire purchase until more choices become available, and also explore the 17" option. The extra sidewall height with 17's might save a bent rim during pothole season.

 

Agggh! Tires. I am expecting my 8 to arrive next week and I hadn't given a thought to what tires I'd drive on in the winter, here in Chicago. Am I to understand that the OEM tires are not good in extremely cold weather? I had assumed that I would be okay just to not drive the car on wet/snowy days.

 

I also got the Dunlop M3's from Tire Rack. I emailed them and asked if they recommended the LM-22's or M3's for my area (Virginia) and they indicated the Dunlops might be the better choice since they would perform and possibly wear a bit better on dry pavement.

They're sitting in the garage right now. All I have to do now is decide when is the right time to have them put on.

 

so is the website wrong when it says the M3's aren't available until Oct 31??

 

Probably not. They were in "low stock" when I ordered them, so they must be temporarily out of stock.

 

what the ----... I was just about to order them from the website with the understanding I may have to wait till they become in stock and they don't even show up as a selection anymore!

 

Whoops, you're right. Sorry prober. They're brand new tires (replace M2's), so maybe they're just short supply right now. Probably other places will be getting them in and hopefully Tirerack will get more in stock at some point.

 

I ordered from Tirerack.com 17x7.5 Sport Edition Fox 5 wheels for my snow tires (Blizzak LM-22). I've got my fingers crossed that they will fit.

 

red_rx8, did those Fox 5's fit? I'm looking to order the same wheel for a winter package on my 6-spd. (You do have the 6-spd according to your profile, right?)

Thanks