fluque

I've gone through the different winter tire threads. Still, I would like to know how are DC-area-RX-8-owners going about the winter tire issue? Dedicated wheels/winter tires (17''-18'') vs. all seasons (18'')

I'm looking for the most cost efficient option as my budget is limited.

I took delivery yesterday and drove around the block today.... I don't think I need to comment on how bad it went!!

Thanks

clyde

If you want snow tires this winter, you're probably going to have to go with a 17" package since you probably won't be able to find anyone that still has 18" snow tires left. Around DC, snow tires are probably overkill since we typically such a small amount of snow through the winter. If I wanted "winter" tires (snows or all seasons), I would get another set of wheels for them. As it is, if the weather is bad (or might turn bad) the RX-8 stays at home and I take another car (the beater Buick or my wife's AWD wagon).

I am still looking for a set of OEM 18" wheels, though, but for dedicated autocross tires. :D

jniamehr

Now, If Im not worried about performance, would it be better to get all season tires? Or should I get a seperate set of winter tires? Regardless the deal I have with the dealer is that, I can come in and they will change my tires free of charge.

TreknMazda

fluque,
I got 17" tires and wheels because the 18" tires were sold out at Tire Rack by mid November. They were possibly going to get a few more late this month or next month. But 17" works fine and cost less. Not everyone can sucessfully change the 18" tires on your wheels without scratching the wheel. (I know from experience) So dedicated snow tires/wheels is the best option for the long term. If you only get tires, then you have to pay every time you switch. And 18" mounting can be double what you normally pay.

You also have to decide if you want the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) to remain functional. If so, you have to get sensors for the new wheels ($104 per wheel) or use your existing wheels. If not, when you put on wheels without the sensor your tire pressure warning light on the dash will blink or stare at you all the time.

My choice, shown below in the sig, was from Tire Rack and arrived mounted, inflated and ready to install at my home. Was a very painless (ignoring the $$) experience. I switched from stock to snow in no time. One of the contributors to the Wheels forum is Connor who works for Tire Rack. He was very helpful to me. You will probably need to call them if you want the TPMS installed. Not all wheels accept them and I don't think their website specifies which do/don't yet.

Yesterday and today were real tests of my snow tires and they performed magnificently! If, like me, you need to rely on your RX-8 for travel regardless of the weather, make the investment in a full set of show tires and wheels. Remember, this initial expense will cover several winters. And keep in mind since you have an RX-8 you won't want just any old wheel in a storm. One must keep up appearances, say what.:D

Positron

fluque - My response is almost a verbatim repeat of TreknMazda's. I too have Bridgestone Blizzak LM22s on 17" Mille Miglia wheels, but mine are EVO 5s. I got the pressure sensors also. Driving around the past two days has been fine. Previous threads indicated a cost savings if you got 17 inch tires and wheels and switched twice a year over swapping 18 inch tires on and off 1 set of rims. And then there is the question of damaging the rims.

The real question here is where are you going to be able to FIND wheels and tires this late in the season. Tire Rack was out last I heard. You will really have to search local tire dealers to find anything that will work.

And let me just add that I, for one, am much more comfortable riding the winter tires from Oct to March here in the DC area. The weather is way too unpredicatable to get caught on the OEMs. Besides, it should extend the life of both sets of tires. (I don't want to go to all season tires because I think you end up with a compromise that gives you the WORST of both worlds.)

Good luck in your search. Keep us posted.

fluque

Great comments, thanks a lot. How much $$ did you pay for your wheels/tires?

On a different subject what do you think of the traction control? Do you find it a feature that you cannot live without?

I drove off with a base model w/o traction control but have not closed the transaction and I might be able to switch for a sports package (strange... but I had to leave the dealership and they wanted so badly to do the sale that they gave me the car with a deposit. Still I have to go back for the paperwork).

TreknMazda

My winter package was $1886, including shipping.

I like knowing the DSC is there, but it has only had to activate a couple times for me, and then nothing major. One of the auto reviews said its ability to correct steering was "the difference between running into a guard rail and just going off the road a bit" or words to that effect.

fluque

TreknMazda, nice set of wheels.

dobe_dad

TreknMazda,

Thanks for including a picture - looks great. Did it come from TireRack with the TPMS installed?

I want to get a similar setup for next winter. I am so glad I haven't gotten rid of my old car yet!

RX8_GT

The best solution is an extra set of rims with dedicated winter tires IMHO. But this late in the season I have located a reasonable set .... so I have had my tires siped at the 'local' Discount Tire and plan to drive the car if weather permits. Today it's at my daughters - as it was not able to get up my sloping driveway - currently fully covered in ice 1 inch thick.

I lived in Nova Scotia prior to moving to the States - and had a RX-7 up there - in my opinion ANYONE using the RXs in winter even with dedicated tires will have problems with local streets, sloping driveways and highway on and off ramps. Even with DSC, snow tires and 50:50 weight distribution it is a sports car with light weight, wide tires and limited clearance. Drive carefully and defensively - use the SUV or beater in heavy winter weather !

The best price for the pressure sensors I have found have been about $76.95 each at Rosenthals - one of the advertisers on this forum.

My 2 cents

John

Mitch Strickler

I ordered early, so I was able to get Dunlop M3s from Tire Rack for $154 to fit stock wheels. This choice was partly to keep the tire pressure monitors. When I was deciding, no reasonably priced replacement wheels could take the monitors.
I agree that switching tires twice a year is undesirable. The local dealer Tire Rack recommended because he had the latest model equipment got greedy. When I didn't agree to buy the tires from him for more than Tire Rack's price, he said he would charge $50 a wheel to mount. Tire Rack wasn't happy to hear that. My dealer said he had a $7,000 machine, new last year, and would do it for $15 a tire, so I went with it. The only problem was that the tech neglected to mark which wheel my OE tires (with 4,000 miles) came from, so my first "rotation" will be random.
I really like the M3s, because their ride, noise and handling characteristics are not too far below the OEMs, which are hopeless in cold weather. And, of course, as dedicated winter tires, the M3s have good traction. Still, I stronly advise getting traction control and DSC too. When things are icy, any car lets go, and those electronic systems work well.

TreknMazda

Yes. I ordered in November when the sleeve/nut of the TPMS was still on backorder from Mazda for all dealers/merchandisers. Delayed delivery a couple weeks. This was probably one of the first sets sold by Tire Rack with the TPMS installed.

UPS delivered the tires/wheels to my door inflated and ready to swap. I saved the cardboard shipping circles that protected the tires/wheels to use on my OEM set of tires/wheels stacked in storage.

I did buy a hydraulic scissors jack from WalMart before I switched the tires. I used the screw jack when I put the new centercaps on in August and it's okay but hydraulic is much easier on the arms.

shebam

I went with Dunlop M3 run-flats on 17" Sport Fox2 wheels from TireRack, drop-shipped to Fairlington Shell, who I'd had good experience with in the past putting Michelins on BMW rims. They were very careful as this was their first RX8, and they didn't gouge me. Just put some tape over the tire pressure light. Lots of confidence in the icy weather and you can break them loose a lot more easily on dry roads, for a change of pace. It did dawn on me later that I don't know if they marked the wheels -- but if they did I probably erased it when I washed and scrubbed the wheel/tire sets down so carefully before storing them for the winter! Oh well.

MrWolf

After a really bad experience with the first snowfall last December (or November, don't remember now) using the performance tires, I ordered a wheel-and-tire package from Tire Rack, came to about $1200.

Swapped 'em out myself, no problems... and the tires have performed admirably.

I don't remember which wheels I got off the top of my head, but I got Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50s, not LM22s.

The LM22s received a better score on dry pavement in one review I read than the WS-50s, but the WS-50s scored better on snow.

Since I mostly drive city streets, and don't usually push it above 50 mph on my commute to and from work, I found the performance on dry pavement a bit more mushy in turns, but otherwise quite acceptable.

On snow and ice, though... they are tremendous. I can't recommend them enough.

Although we don't get a ton of snow in the DC area, but if you want to be able to drive on snow ... definitely get winter tires and separate rims.

I didn't get tire pressure sensors, so I just put up with the tire-pressure light coming on after about 15 minutes.

$.02

rx8daniel

my solution this winter was driving my 89 AWD Subaru XT6. But now I've acquired an inexpensive of [used]17"(225/55) Dunlop Winter M2s. So I'll add rims over the summer for next winter. Soon I'll be selling the Subbie - need more room with the 8, Miata and our van so tires will fit easier in the garage in the summer than the XT6.(the Miata fits with the van and the 8, parked in the back-the Sub has too long of a turning circle to get in)

Katchoo

Go with the sports package...it will pay off in the long run over the base model (resale).

broberts77

Hey Trekn, I've been checking out the tirerack site, but can't find out how to determine if I can get the TPMS preinstalled. Where's this option available? Thanks,

rx8cited

You have to call - they don't have that info on the web site.

rx8cited