Premium Gas. All Season tires. And if you dog it all the time then it's a gas guzzler, otherwise don't worry about it. Sounds like most of the traveling you do is highway anyway so it's not that big of a deal.

You bought the car even after looking at the sticker MPG and knowing it's a sports car and it wouldn't be the best in snow, but you bought it anyway so try it out before you just get rid of it =O

It snows in my area every now and then and my 8 did fine. If I floored it yeah I'd start to fishtail but so did every other car on the road that day.

 

Makes sense... thanks.

 

most things have been said so heres two random tidbits.

you could probably sell your bridgestone potenzas (default tires) on the forums and make up at least partially the cost of good all weather tires.

if you are a traveling salesman, or you travel for sales or w/e you do. write gas off as a business expense in your taxes. heck, you can even write the car off as a business expense.

 

only if you lease it...that's what my friend is doing and just plans on buying it after the lease is done.

 

My plan is to pick up a set of cheapo 15" steel wheels & winter tires this fall. i live in NYC and commute every day with my 8. The steel wheels will probably live on my car for about 3 months (late Dec - early March).

 

will 15's fit on an 8??

 

15s won't fit. I don't even think 16s will fit.

 

what do people out there use for a set of winter wheels?

 

17s mostly. I've got the M3s on my OEM 18s as a winter set. No problems. Check the stickies in the wheel & tire section for info. Depends on you location & how much snow you get.

 

you should tell mazda that, the autos can come with 16's from the factory

 

The good news on the gas issue is that the RX-8 doesn't care if it is drinkin 93 oct or 87. I wonder what a $/mile comparo would be against a better mpg car that required premium....

 

hence the word "think" in my post.

the only 8's I saw from factory w/o 18s was the 04 autos, which came w/17 inch wheels & the 18s were part of the sport package. IIRC (that 1st I = "if" which, in this case = uncertain) the 04 autos had smaller brake set ups, no?

but, to be fair, my knowledge is limited.

 

wow - really? so 87 will do the job?

 

Ugh.. don't run regular gas in the car on a regular basis. It's made to use 91 or better.

Plan on investing in a winter vehicle. You could probably find a nice Civic for $3000. Keeps the miles down on your 8 and gets way better mileage.

 

Well there is really no solution to the bad gas mileage, except drive with a light foot whenever possible. As for snow just buy a dedicated set of snow tires and rims (best bet 17x7.5 rims, narrower footprint = better snow traction). I was really worried at first, but im amazed at how well the 8 handles the snow with proper tires. No fishtailing here, unless you juice it, which is not smart. Just stay steady on the gas peddle and dont make and sudden jerks on the wheel and your fine. I drove in 5+ inches and was fine, even though FWD cars were flying off the road, like PS3's off the shelves at x-mas. Just be smart and you'll be fine.

 

I live in the middle of nowhere Iowa, I drove my 8 in 2 inches of snow with the potenzas (unexpected snowstorm). I never thought I'd see the day I did 10mph on the interstate. One time, i walked into my job and came out 8 hours later and there was 4 inches of snow, my car got stuck in the parking lot, lol. fyi, i just got rides when there was snow on the ground, but i got caught in 2 unexpected storms. so yea, get winter tires, trying to get other rides around to save a buck didnt turn out too well for me.