Winter tires and rims...
 

Guys,

I'm trying to buy a set of winter tires and rims but I don't want to spend $1500 !!! ANy suggestions for inexpensive tires and rims??
Any websites selling inexpensive wheels??

I found a package in Tirerack:

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22 Blackwall

Kazera KZ-V Chrome Plated

total....
$1,621.68!!!

Anybody know any cheaper prices??:mad:

What size wheels are you looking at?

17 inch rims

as for the tire ...225/50/17.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

This may help with calculating a good tire size. Look for wheels that are on sale. I picked a set of 17" wheels that were being discontinued for $60/wheel. You can get good tires for $129-185/tire and now with mounting and balancing (aproximately) $50. You would be looking at $1030 for your winter wheel package.

should I just buy the Dunlops M2 or M3s???

Here's another tire size calculator:

http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp

Re: Winter tires and rims...
 

The regular Kazeras were much cheaper, but they've sold out. It's later in the winter wheel/tire shopping season, so supply and selection are limited. There's a bunch of threads here, in the Tires/Wheels section, and in the Canada regional section of the forum discussing suitable wheels and tires. You should have a quick read through those for ideas.

Regards,
Gordon

I would do the M3's myself.

Is this an adequate size...225/40VR18 Dunlop Winter Sport M3
Blackwall . I can't find 225/45/18

I'm in the same boat as you, my friend. I just bit the bullet and plunked down $1,500 for a 17" Mille Miglia wheel/Pirelli snow tire combination from tirerack.com. Not exactly the Christmas present I wanted to buy myself. They should be here today or tomorrow.

Don't know if you've played with your RX in the snow yet or not, but everyone is right... snow tires are definitely NOT optional. Despite a light dusting last weekend and very modest slush my RX was slipping and sliding all over the road.

I'm thinking of just buying snow tires and putting them on my existing rims. At least this way I'll save money on the rims. However, I can't seem to find a 225/45/18 snow tire anywhere. I've only found 235/45/18, 235/40/18 or 225/40/18. Which one do you guys recommend ??

www.bestwheel.com

Dunlop M2 Snows 225/40/18
RSL Ricochet 18" wheels - black

4x=$899 - mounted, balanced, and delivered

Thanks for the link.....I've just ordered Dunlop M2 225/40/18 for $400 !!! Eventhough there probably not as good as the M3 or Blizzaks, I figure for 400 bucks I can't go wrong. Now, I just hope they have them in stock.

I'm thinking of just putting these tire on the OEM rims or should I just dish out another $500 or so on new rims???

I just talked to Tirerack.com, they said that 225/40 R18's will not have adequate load capacity for the RX-8....

Grizzly, that's a little cryptic; care to elaborate please?

I realize that this is a slightly lower profile tire (1cm), but there shouldn't be any load capacity problems for such a light car.

Thanks.

I called one of the technical service reps at tirerack.com earlier today. I was asking them about available snow tires for my RX-8. He said that there was nothing available from them for the rest of this season, apparently i waited a bit too long. I asked him about changing sizes and he said anything that is wider than 225 would cause a problem up front with rubbing, and a tire that is 225/40 R18 will not be adequate for the load capacity of the RX-8. I just took his word for it and didnt inquire any further. I didnt think it would be a problem either, its only 1/4 of an inch.....i'd like to see you prove Gary at tire rack and me wrong, cause i really want to get some snow tires on my car...and there is nothing left in 225/45....

I ordered 235s from Tirerack.com and have had absolutely NO rubbing problems on my stock 18" rims. I got in on that deal they were running for those Dunlop M3s for $89/tire. Rest assured that while 235s may not be the ideal choice, it will fit and still works quite well in the snow.

I took my car out in the snow this past weeekend and had absolutely no problems whatsoever of tire rub or loss of traction.

I won't even get started on how pitiful my car was with the stock tires...

Are you Dunlops 235/45 R18??

Anybody running 225/40 R18's without a problem?

Yes, I have the 235 45/18s.

Thanks, RX8Lover.....i'm taking your word for it and just placed my order. 235/45 18s Dunlop M3's 89.00 a piece from tirerack.com going on stock rims, my fingers are crossed

So what's up here. Two days ago I called Tire Rack and told them I needed snows for an 8 and Gary told me they were out of anything in 18s that would work on the car and the only thing he could offer was to go to 17 inch tires (and get new 17 inch wheels ). He offered LM-22s or W50s. I got the new wheels and LM-22s anyway mostly to be done with it since it is snowing here in DC (again!) and I think separate rims for snows is better in the long run than swapping on one set. Locally, none of the tire dealers (or the Mazda dealer) could do anything for me.

Well i ordered the Dunlop M3's...235/45 18's and tirerack just called me and said they can't be delivered. Back to the drawing board

If anyone can confirm that 225/40 R18's are going to work i would really appreciate it

well, Miles from Tirerack told me I shouldn't have a problem with 225/40/18. SO I ordered Dunlops M2 225/40/18 and should have it in in 2-3 days. I'll rather go smaller than larger to avoid any rubbing problems.

why did Tirerack call and say they can't be delivered? When I placed my order, they called me to confirm that they could indeed fit on my rims. I based my decision on someone else who had already done it, and they said no problem.

When I received the tires last Friday, I brought them to a WTC Tire place and watched them put all 4 on with no problems.