Well, since this talk of winter tires has spawned, I thought I'd ask... you guys think it's worth it to buy a set of winter tires for Vancouver driving?

We get like 3 days of snow driving in a whole year. Not worth the $1500+ I would presume.

 

yah im not gonna buy um for the 3 days we ahve snow ill just drive my dads truck

 

Just don't try to drive your car in temps below 28*F and definitely not on the snow.

 

Just as long as you know up front that you will have to leave your RX-8 parked, where ever it is, when the snow hits on those 3 days, then I'd agree you don't need winter tires!

Regards,
Gordon

 

Good point.. but then again, we Vancouverites usually don't have the foresight of mounting snow tires before a storm hits.

What about chains? That would work okay on 18"ers right?

 

I would never put chains on a low profile tire like the ones on the 8. They are difficult to put on properly, and have a nasty habit of coming loose and making a mess out of your wheel wells

 

Hello,

We did a group buy last year from Tolon Tires in Montreal. The sets were running for 1,600 taxes in. Fore that you get 17inch toyo grit HT's and nice looking steel rims. I ran on them all winter and the car was great, just as long as you keep the revs low.

FYI-- The price above included shipping to Toronto. So shipping to Vancouver maybe a few bucks more.

 

I bought from www.tiretrends.com , located in Vancouver. I think I'm the only one - although their prices were competitive with Talon Tire, none of the Easterners bought from TireTrends. I'd suggest that Vancouver people should check out TireTrends first!

Regards,
Gordon

 

well if you guys are doing group buy for some 18 in blizzacks (I don't want to get extra 17in wheels), I'm in!
I think it's more than just snow in the winter, even though we don't get a lot of snow in vancouver, the subzero temps we DO get turns summer tires to rocks so they have lot less traction than "snow" tires, especially on those frosty/black ice mornings!

 

You're absolutely right about the cold temperature characteristics of summer performance tires.

BUT - how long are you planning to keep the RX-8? I posted a simple cost analysis last fall that showed that if it's more than 3 winters, then it's cheaper to buy separate 17" wheels with winter tires than to buy more expensive 18" winter tires and pay for re-mounting/balancing twice a year.

Regards,
Gordon

 

hmm no I didn't see that thread, but thanks.....
hmm..... interesting.... argh.... decisions decisions lol

 

it's definitely a better idea to get snow tires mounted on cheapo 17" steel wheels than buy and mount ultra low profile super wide (completely the opposite of what you want in the first place) snow tires on your expensive stock rims.

i'd definitely say that they're worth the no-more-than $800 investment, as those winter tires will last you (certainly) as long as most of you will own the car.

 

it's just that I might want to get new wheels so if I get the 17" winter wheels, then I'd end up with 3 sets of wheels!
or maybe I can find a buyer for my stock wheels after I get new summer wheels...
hmm...

 

Call me ignorant...

My plan is to buy new rims. I'm planning on buying 18" winter treads and place them on the old stock rims.

Wouldn't that work?

Then you won't end up with 3 sets as you say RT.

 

yea that's what I planned too but then Gord calculated that it would cost more (after 3 yrs) to get 18" winter tires than to get a set of 17" wheels with smaller less expensive winter tires
hmmmm well guess we have 5 more months to think about it :D