S3/P3/E2

I'm actually getting ready to move up there from So Calif. When do you guys usually get the last of your snow each year? I'm due to leave here in Feb but probably won't actually make it up there until the mid of Feb or even first part of March. If I need to buy tires when I get there - fine. Given a choice though, I'd rather put off the purchase until next year.

S3/P3/E2

Hey Speed Racer - nice V1 install! How much were your winter rims, and are those 16's or 17's ?

deepakmr

RPIRX-8:

Great to hear your rubber performed so well. How much did it cost you for the Dunlop's, and where did you buy them from.

Deepak.

Speed Racer

S3/P3/E2,

Thanks!

My winter wheels are 17"x7" Kazera KZ-V and the tires are Pirelli Winter 240 Snowsports in 205/50R17 because I wanted to go with the narrowest tires I could find. The whole package with lugs nuts, spacer rings, and shipping was about $1,100 through Tire Rack. I'd highly recommend going with a similar setup.

my10ae

Thanks to Roy I have a VERY similar setup with Kazera KZ-R's with Pirelli 210 Snowsports in 17X7. :D

Kazera KZ-R's

Pirelli Winter 210 Snowsports

Gyro

I'm in Billerica......and currently getting SLAMMED with a Nor'easter. Already over 12' on the ground......and its going through to sunday night......

My Altima got stuck twice today (lost a hubcap as I slid into a granite curb).....so much for a "winter" car...

Speed Racer

Hey Pat,

Did you put winter tires on the Altima or are you just making do with all seasons?

Gyro

Its entirely a tire issue..... slightly balding (like me ) all seasons. I'm going to get some new rubber this week.

hows the snow up in Lebanon......are you missing this one?

Speed Racer

So far we have about 8 inches and the RX-8 has been great except for starting from a dead stop in the deep stuff. The weather forecast seems to change every minute and they have forecast total accumulation to be between 12"-24". Either way it is still a fair amount of snow.

my10ae

We are slowly getting buried here in Manch-Vegas. The snow is really coming down and the 8 is being enveloped in its snow cacoon Gonna clear her off early in the am and do the driveway too.

RPIRX-8

Hey Deepak,

I got the dunlops through tirerack for $154 a tire. I got them mounted at Express Tire in Watertown, MA for $45 a wheel (that was an ouchie, when you go above 17" rims, prices go way up). I never believed in snow tires before, but I've been converted

I live in Newton, MA and I measured the snow outside my apt building at 16 3/4". From looking at the radar it doesn't seem like it is going to let up until early monday morning. I've been going out and incrementally cleaning off the car and digging out the snow behind the car. Everyone make sure you clear out the snow behind your 8s so no snow stands above the level of the exhaust pipes. I made that mistake once when i had my celica, not fun

my10ae

Thanks for the tip Justin!!

Spinny 3ngls

jeez gyro 12'! leave the car at home and take the dog team today.

Gyro

oops....I meant 12"....

my10ae

So did everyone survive this first major snowstorm? I cleaned the 8 about 4 times this past weekend. Can't wait until the roads dry up so I can wash all this crap off my 8

Speed Racer

Yep, made it through the first storm unscathed. :D

MrWolf

S3/P3/E2

Well... DC really doesn't get that much snow. We might have a couple of good storms a year, at least the past few years... it's possibly to have snow as late as Feb or March, but it won't last very long usually.

We tend to get a few big snows that tend to shut down the city... but... given how bad the OEM tires are on snow/ice... I'd try to find the budget for 'em.

Basically, IMO the car's undrivable on lots of snow... with the OEM tires. Or at least, I found it to be so.

I could barely control the car... although I'm used to front-wheel drive vehicles in snow, too.

TreknMazda

I concur! And I'm used to RWD.

I think my Blizzacks and 17" wheels (with TPMS) are shipping today. So I should be okay for the next storm.

S3/P3/E2

Mr Wolf / Trekn,

Yeah, that's what I was kind of expecting. I lived in Va Beach for about 2 years but really only saw snow there once (but it played hell all over the city considering they usually don't see much). I might be alright though since my wife won't be working yet when we get there, and we've definitely discussed the likelihood of just parking the -8 and driving her car around for a few weeks if need be. You guys aren't but a few hours north of where I was before, so I can't imagine it would be too radically different. I've got time to kill before getting there, so if it appears that winter is dragging on then I'll just take my time getting there. DEFINITELY though, the next year there's going to be a separate set of wheels and tires to put on before the weather turns bad (buy 'em in the summer and have them waiting). Thanks for writing back (both of you guys)!

my10ae

Here's a picture of me unburying my 8 this past Sat during the storm...

deepakmr

The Monday after the storm (8th) I took the RX-8 to work (80 miles). I had no problem all the way, until the last 3 miles where I needed to go through in-roads.

The usual route I take has a steep incline, and the car stuck halfway up the incline. No go - up or down. Then a few friendly folks from the homes around came out and shovelled off a bit of the snow from around the tires. There was no way I was going to get the car up the hill without the momentum, so, down the hill I went again, and went through another road.

This had quite a bit of slush on it. The Plows had given up during the night I think. The car got stuck here again, but managed to get it out with a little bit of pushing from a few folks, and the DSC switched off.

The rest of the road was the same, but kept the momentum going. The rear kept swishing out, but could get it back in control soon enough. After a little bit of the swish's, I was actually enjoying it !!!! In the begining, there was a car following closely behind me. But after the first swish - he decided to keep his distance :-)

All-in all a fun day - especially because I escaped / rather the car escaped unscathed during the day. Touch wood.

In the afternoon of the same day, I had a small trip to make, and I noticed a small incline road which was not well treated. Since it was a secluded area, I thought I'd experiment. I brought the car to a stand still, and after that the car wouldn't move upward. This was partially solidified snow that it was sitting on. Had to coast it backward, and move forward with momentum.

Of course - all of this was with the car still on its OEM Bridgestone tires.

Can't wait for the winter to end - oops, forgot - the winter has still not officially started :-(

my10ae

Well here we go again.. possbily another snowstorm this Sunday (about a week after the first major storm). Gonna be a LONG winter!!

snowbound

Hello all,

It's quite comforting to read all the posts by those who have put winter tires on their 8's. I'll be taking delivery of my 8 later this week, and the winter wheels/tires came in this morning.

Actually, I'm kinda betting the 8 will be better suited for winter than my Ranger. Lessee... 50/50 front/rear weight distribution, traction control, heated mirrors, and heated seats... yep, that's stuff my truck doesn't have. :-)

I'm starting to get to the 'can't wait' phase...
:D

Oh, if anyone's wondering... I ordered Blizzak WS-50 225/45's on 17x7.5" ASA rims from Tire Rack. I was going to order the 215's, but they were running out of 7" rims that I would consider putting on the car. The winter rims don't have to look awesome, but I do have my standards... :-)

- snowbound