rx8wanted

I may be transferred to Vancouver or Toronto in the near future. I currently own Toyo / 17 inch winter wheels for my rx8.

Will winter tires be required if I live in downtown Vancouver (travel to Whister occasionally in the winter)?

I'd also ask your opinion on living in downtown Toronto. I'm trying to avoid wheel storage while living in an apartment. Any storage advice for apartment dwellers is welcomed.

Your replies are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

BlueFrenzy

From what I know of Vancouver "winter" weather ... it's mainly rainy with occassional sleet. So winters may be overkill. But seeing as that you do visit Whistler, winters are a good idea.

Having lived in Downtown Toronto, some of the better condos do have pretty good storage lockers. The limiting factor would be the type of lock you put on your locker. I use to keep my buddy's golf clubs and my way-too-expensive goalie pads in the locker when not using them (also not to stink up my place) and it was fine. I saw other people storing their winter tires in their lockers. I'd suggest if you were to store your winters in your apartment locker, that you get some cardboard boxes with some old clothes showing to "hide" them and to make your locker less attractive.

I guess it really depends on the apartment you end up living in and how the security is. With my place, the concierge had to give you a special key to enter the storage room, sign you in and the place was rigged with security cameras.

LiTTleRX-8

Vancouver winters are usually just rain, rain, rain, rain, rain with a day or two of light snow. However there are some years where it does snow quite a bit and the summers on the 8 are definately not driveable in it. I'd keep the winter treads especially since you plan on travelling to Whistler. If you really worry, I'd recommend switching to high performance all-seasons, they would work great in Vancouver weather.

rx8wanted

I appreciate your prompt replies.

YT1300

Vancouver drivers generally have trouble driving around bends and up hills in the snow. You'd laugh at the kind of snow that counts as 'snow' here. If it covers the ground, for example, it's 'heavy snow'.

In the city, snows are overkills. You are just fine with all seasons and prudent driving, or with your summers on, very prudent driving. Short shifting, feathered clutch, that sort of thing. You need snows, and probably AWD, to get up to Whistler if it's coming down hard.

spigot52

I lived in the Toronto area for ten years and have lived in the Vancouver area for over fifteen. ..IMHO snow's in TO are a MUST....here on the wet coast...I mean west coast some aggressive rain tires are more practical. Light snow a couple times a winter and it melts by the afternoon or the next day. I had nice snows on my car when I came here and they were useless. First snowfall I had lots of traction, but the thousands of others on the road ahead and around me did'nt...you ca'nt get around everyone else.

RX4life

if it snows that ONEEEEE day in Vancouver.. take Transit/carpool with someone or taxi it.. ..big whoop.. save your $$ and keep your ride clean..... simple!

rx8wanted

Appreciate the replies - thank you.