So it finally happened, snow. What better time to see what your expereinces are with the snowtires you've choosen to challenge the weather with your 8. By the end of this winter, if we have enough people responding here, we will know what the best winter tire should be for the 8. Either that or have very interesting stories to tell.

I went with Toyos 215/55 with 17" steel rims, so far that the grip isn't as good as I would like during turns and making those normal winter road driving adjustments. Still I didn't have problems getting out of the driveway and onto the unsholved roads and down the 404. Breaking distance is the same for any car, earlier the better, but I felt confident and stopped where I wanted. So far, I would say, not great, but good enough.
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Buy vaporgenie

 

i have the michelin pilot alpin p2's, but haven't had to use them in the snow yet.
However, we are getting some snow today in Toronto, so will be my first test.

My only worry is the grip on corners. I don't have much experience with RWD cars, so it shoudl be interesting.

 

Hi hobbes-just posted my first impressions of the GT c/w At/ Hankooks in a related thread. So far, excellent.

 

I got the 18" 225 45 on my stock wheels...

They are Bridgestone blizzaks LM22 V rated tires... Yes finally tested them out today...

Not bad.. well ofcourse this morning the traffic was slow so can't really test them out the way it should be tested.... but getting up slight hills and downs are not a big factor..

will test them out more when I go home..

overall its pretty good..

mzpeed

 

I've got the Yokohama Ice Guards 225/45/18's on my 8. This is their second winter and they work like a charm.

If its snowing too bad or there's a freeze predicted. I shelve the 8 and take out the old S-10.

 

Dang, I didn't want to start a mirror thread, oh well.
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Buy Marijuana Seeds

 

Toyos Garit HT 225/55 R17 . A lot better then I feared . better trackion then my old front wheel drive minivan. I was following a SUV that had bigger problems with traction

 

Zipping around today with the Hankook Icebears and overall it did well. I did sway a bit twice. Mind you this happened on ICY non-gravel treated residential areas. Regular roads were fine though. This is my first RWD car so maybe that can account for the noobieness (don't worry I'm not flooring the accelerator coming out of turns).

But I wanted to ask if how the other Hankook users in Calgary are doing. I know there was at least one or two other guys here.

 

your Japanese "toyos"???.. that is the oddest way I've seen anyone refer to a non domestic brand of tire...

would you refer to your Kumhos as my "korean" kumhos........ ?

 

AHA!! Buddman ... I know you got Hankooks on your 8 as well. How'd they do in icy residencial areas in the aftermath of our recent Calgary snowstorm?

 

Had the Bridgestone Blizzaks 225/55/17's installed a week ago, just before the drving turned lousy in Calgary last Saturday. Pretty pleased with the way they feel on snow and ice. Not too grippy on bare or wet pavement, but that's to be expected with winter tires.

 

Are the Ice Guards rated as winter performance or winter snow and ice??
They have those microbubbles in the tread compound right?
How do they wear?
I have the blizzak LM22s on my stock wheels and they've been working very nicely and got me driving up snow covered mtn roads (see the "Post your snow pics" thread)

 

Michelin pa2's here. So far excellent, but it hasn't snowed much yet and the ground is not frozen. Especially good in dry road. Handles close to 97% of the bridgestones on dry.

PROBLEM: Drive a little aggressively for 5 minutes without burning out and I smell rubber is burning when I go close to the tire.

TRADE OFF: Soft sticky rubber for great performance but faster wear, I guess! Time will tell. If I don't get at least 4 seasons out of these guys and I won't go back to them and buy something that lasts a little bit longer but not as competent.

This thread would be great around February when we have had a decent pool of snow storms and freezing conditions to reflect on and advise others.

You know what would be really cool, if we had a little spreadsheet with 4-5 colomns advising performance, price, tread life etc... each guy completes a row and changes it as his/her impressions of the snow tire changes throughout the season.

I know Mic and I are going to have it out at some point this winter to see tire traction comparisons. Probably set a little course up in an empt y parking lot. The more guys that show the better data that can be compiled. Heck I'll even tape it so others can see the differences.

 

:D Hey Mic, I did a little fish tail'n as well today. But just easy'n off the gas a bit and the RX8 straightened right out. All the snow were getting reminds me of that song: "When the snow outside was frightfull... The Dunlop M3's I had on the 8 said "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...".

Actually, we had a few good days this week to take the 8 out into the snow. Glad I put the snow shoes my car early, because a lot of people were sliding around. The Tuesday SUN had a picture of all the bumper to bumper traffic caused by the snow fall and I got a kick out of seeing a picture of an 8 with all the other cars in the highway pic. Damn, I should of cut out the article and scanned it to show you guys.

 

If Anyone knows how to do it, by all means go for it!
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Yamaha artist

 

Toyo Garit HT 215/55-17, starting second winter on them.

They're great - reasonable on dry pavement (sidewalls a bit too soft for my liking, but Toyo summer tires have that same issue), and quiet. On snow, good grip, very predictable breakaway and recovery characteristics. Also good on ice. When it snows, I tend to turn off the DSC, since it interferes too much. I prefer to have the car able to move around a bit, and to be able to slide it when I want to (frequently). My 6 year old daughter loves it, my wife rolls her eyes when I slide it around!

Regards,
Gordon

 

My Bridgestone LM-22's are working fine. Good in the snaow...not bad on ice. There is some slippage but I always get going. I choose these tires becuase they should wear quite well. In Calgary the weather is all over the place until June so I need a tire that can run on dry roads one week and show the next.

The only complaint i have is that the side wall seems a bit week...I guess that is to be expected on a winter tire.

 

Dam, I have yet to try mine in any sort of snow, slush or ice. Not a freaking snow flake on the ground where I live in Mississauga I guess I'll just have to be patient.

 

Hankook W300 Ice Bear 225/50R17 V rated. Excellent so far, on a couple of inches of snow, slush, and bit of ice. Also excellent on dry pavement.

 

Judging by the comments so far, I think its safe to say the as long as you have some sort of winter tires onthe car, the RX8 works very well in the white stuff. Different brands will have there pros and cons but overall the message is "just get winter tires"

 

Just had my tires switched over yesterday by the Dealership.

Toyo Garit HT (215/55/17) H-Rated mounted on cheap FRD128 rims (packaged deal from Tiretrends). Will post pics later for anyone thinking of buying.

Overall, it's a MUCH softer ride than the Dunlops as it's more forgiving on the knicks and bumps in the road. There's a perception of a looser feel, far less road feedback than before. In the turns, it feels like the grip just isn't as prominent. Again, it's just perception... the car still handles beautifully. I managed to go up to 130km/hr on a straightaway, and still pull some high speed turns with confidence. I'm sure the 210km/hr rating is accurate.

In the rain, they definitely channel water much better than the stocks. However, because it has less grip to the road, the car is much more susceptible to tire spin. In the **** rain Vancouver, I got caught spinning the wheels on an inclined start.

No snow yet in Vancouver... I'm hoping for it. Will post some pics when I get home.

 

Toyo Garit 225/17 on steel Mazda rims...Works like advertised. Very happy so far.