djho

hi all Ive been a 8 owner since the summer just haven't posted on this website. I was wondering if any of you guys have slapped on 18 inch winter tires on rather than buying 17 inch rimes and tires just wondering pricing and products

rotten42

Yes, I put snow tires on the stock rims....there are pros and cons each way.


My reasons:
1) I'm leasing.....so I didn't want to buy another set of rims
2) If I mess up these rims then maybe I'll consider an aftermarket rim - maybe, If I keep the car at the end of my lease
3) I got a good deal on the tires, so I wasn't out as much money as if I bought the tire/rims combo
4) I don't have to pay the mounting fee when I get my tires changed in spring and fall
5) I know some people say that the bead will deteriate over time changing thee tires on the rims but I've done it before and found the the tire tread seesm to weear out before the bead ever will...same thing with the "don't Armorall your tires" warning.
6) I like having the stock size 18" tire on my car


I don't know your situation..these are just my reasons why I went the way I did.

Enzolor

Well, I did some shopping around and found that 18" costs as much as $60 more per tire.

For me it would be:

$1,200 for 18" tires
vs
$1,600 for 17" tires + alum. rims

So, there's definitely something to consider from a cost perspective.

djho

thanks for the info you guys much apreciated just wanna say this website has been the most useful regarding any rx8 owner as for me I'm leaning towards puting on snow tires on the stock rims and buying aftermarket rims when summer does come. Rotten what did you mean by the BEAD? wearing out?

Rotary Titus

I went with the 18" on the stock wheels cause it was kinda like an excuse for myself to get some nice aftermarket wheels for summer

I think the bead's the lip of the tire that attaches to your wheel? My uncle told me it's bad too if you keep on mounting and dismouting the same tire over and over cause they bend the bead when they pry the tire loose from the wheel especially for low profile tires like ours. But yea most likely you'll wear out your tires first though!

rotten42

Ya, that's what I'm talking about...but like I said, I've never have a tire where the bead has worn out before the tread....I really don't see it being any differnt with this car....especially considering how fun this car is to trow into a corner at high speeds.

dmp

why was I under the impression 17" rims wouldn't clear the front rotors/brakes?

Rotary Titus

You need at least 17" to clear the brakes for the manual car (In the USA I think all manual cars come with 18" and upgraded brakes, but automatics get 16" wheels and smaller brakes and softer suspension. In Canada we all get 18" and upsized brakes).

rotten42

you are correct sir!

Gord96BRG

Over a year ago, I posted a cost analysis that proved that it's cheaper to buy 17" winter tires and separate (alloy) wheels rather than 18" winter tires swapped back on forth on the OEM wheels if you're driving more than 3 winters with the RX-8.

Not all 17" wheels fit, but many do.

Regards,
Gordon

titaniumZoomZoom

There was a time I mulled over the merits and negative points to changing up between winter & summer rubber on the stock 18" rims. All the above points are valid. In my case, I had to decide if the convienence of a second set of rims w/ already mounted rubber out weighed the cost savings of not buying another set of rims.

I opted for buyings a second set of 17" gun metal rims with dunlop m3 winter rubber because I can interchange between the 17s or 18s in a moments notice. Dry warm weather; boom the 18s are on. Wet/snowy cold weather; shazzam the 17s are on.

Enzolor

You interchange them yourself?

Shamblerock

Titanium knows how its done. I been doing this changing of tires myself for the past 7 years. No appointments, no waiting, no fees and plenty of control. You only need about 45 minutes maximum and 2 beers to make the transformation using the stock jack. I wuld recommend getting a torque wrench as well and set it to 90 LBS.

Alternatively, you can get a jack from Canadian Tire and pump the car up even faster with less hassle. But I still have to figure out a way to circumvent the 3/4" rib that runs along underneath the doors from front to back.

Rotary Titus

I just changed them myself last night too and it took me an hour!!! and now my back hurts I think the most annoying thing is lining up the studs to the holes for the new tire when you have to lift the 40lb tire a few inches off the ground

I tried to use a hydrualic jack before too but I've already slightly bent my rear fin last time.... think I'll have to use the differential and front cross member jacking points next time... but I'm just worried if I get those points wrong I'll break something..... stupid mazda and their scissor jacks.....

Shamblerock

I'm working on an idea for an adaptor for the hydraulic jack. Don't want to say anything yet until I tested my idea. It will be ready for the spring.

Hint/riddle: "It will be made of 2 things attached together. Almost all Canadians are 2 familiar with them when the winter comes around; but not this winter!"

Wow, what a bad riddle :o

If you can guess what my idea is, I would be very impressed!

Enzolor

Go Canucks! Or am I dead wrong?

Enzolor

Wow RT, I'm impressed. That's alot of faith you have in yourself. For me, I'd be too scared to drive on something I put together... almost would feel safer driving on stock tires :D

Rotary Titus

lol yea I read about the hockey puck in another thread
I was thinking of carving them out of wood until they say wood might split....

Rotary Titus

LOL well wheels are one thing, I'm scared to do anything with suspension. Once my friend change the sway bars himself but he knew what he was doing, and if it was me I'd be scared to drive the car if I did it myself too lol

but yea if you do change it yourself, invest or borrow a torque wrench to tighten them back up and retorque after a day or so of driving!

Shamblerock

Doh! I feel like Homer now. I just remembered posting the puck idea somewhere on this site when I saw the rib going from front to back. Oh well. I'll post pics when I'm done. It'll be a few months before I look at it anyway.

Rotator

Just mounted 225/45/R18 Pirelli 240's on stock rims - V rated.
Going to get summer wheels 18x8.5" and mount 245/40/R18's.

So far so good.
Wet weather performance better than RE040's
Dry Weather? More squirm from the deeper treads - but they are quite good - probably as good as a premium all-season.
They are quiet as well.

Missed out on the deal at Discount Direct - they had the Goodyear Ultragrip GW3 225/40/R18 for $149USD each.

The Pirelli's came in @ $305/corner installed. Was quoted as cheap as $285/corner.

Advice? I wouldn't recommend changing rubber every season on stock wheels.
Best snow traction will be with a smaller width tire.

My preference was dry road cold weather performance - GTA 98% of winter driving is either salt covered dry roads, or wet roads.
Pirelli's fit the bill - stock size, and decent performance.

Rotary Titus

I mounted my blizzacks lm22s yesterday and I find a lot more squirm on the road as well. Wet traction is a lot better than my dunlops (but they were worn down from autocrossing a lot too). Haven't yet had time to go onto cypress or SFU, probably will try them out tomorrow
I've also noticed a howling/humming kinda sound when going above 30kph. But it's still within tolerance

Rotary Titus

Here's some pictures



and an addition, they are GREAT in the rain (or perhaps my summer tires are really bad?) I drove on W16th near UBC today and if you drive there on rainy days you'll notice the drainage on the left lane is really bad, huge puddles at a place where ppl usually go at 80kph. It used to be a little scary when it slighly hydroplanes when I go through there on my dunlops but now I went through those puddles at 90kph and only a slight tug at the wheel and barely felt anything at all!

Machi

Hi All:

Appreciate if any of you who bought the 18" snow rubber can advise me the place for a good deal.

Thanks in advance,

Machi

rotten42

I fins that they sqirm around a bit in the dry...I think it has to do with the sidewall to some extrent....still they are very predictable.