Damn I want to drive my new 8 ... plus I NEED 18" wheels so I could drive in snow :(
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Damn I want to drive my new 8 ... plus I NEED 18" wheels so I could drive in snow :(
This is like torture . . . I picked up a brand new Black RX8 with the G/T package M/T on Thursday, I drove it home from the dealer in snowy weather and I haven't driven it since
Here in NY we have had bad driving conditions and since my tires are brand new with that coating they put on new tires, it is EXTREMELY sliipery driving the 8 plus I know the bridgestones stink anyway in snow.
The car has 14 miles on it and to top it off I am going away this Friday for over 2 weeks . . . I'm never going to be able to drive this car.
Also I've been trying to get another set of 18" wheels so I could buy some all-season tires so at least if there is snow on the ground, I will be able to drive and not get killed . . .
All I could do is just admire that black beauty in my garage !!
Here in NY we have had bad driving conditions and since my tires are brand new with that coating they put on new tires, it is EXTREMELY sliipery driving the 8 plus I know the bridgestones stink anyway in snow.
The car has 14 miles on it and to top it off I am going away this Friday for over 2 weeks . . . I'm never going to be able to drive this car.
Also I've been trying to get another set of 18" wheels so I could buy some all-season tires so at least if there is snow on the ground, I will be able to drive and not get killed . . .
All I could do is just admire that black beauty in my garage !!
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Re: Damn I want to drive my new 8 ... plus I NEED 18" wheels so I could drive in snow :(
Originally posted by Carguy
Also I've been trying to get another set of 18" wheels so I could buy some all-season tires so at least if there is snow on the ground, I will be able to drive and not get killed . . .
Also I've been trying to get another set of 18" wheels so I could buy some all-season tires so at least if there is snow on the ground, I will be able to drive and not get killed . . .
Regards,
Gordon
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I would love to buy 18" winter tires but there are none available anymore . . . as far as 17" wheels, honestly I have not found any 17" wheels that look as good as the stock 18's though I am open minded, unfortunately on this site there are limited number of cars with aftermarket 17's so the few I have seen I am not crazy about.
All-seasons would be the only choice at this point of the season plus I've been using all-season's for winter use only on my 330Ci and 330i for the past 3 1/2 yrs and they have gotten me through snow beautifully
All-seasons would be the only choice at this point of the season plus I've been using all-season's for winter use only on my 330Ci and 330i for the past 3 1/2 yrs and they have gotten me through snow beautifully
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Originally posted by Rotary Nut
Doooh you already have. My bad!
Doooh you already have. My bad!
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i'm also out here in li, and i'm riding on the stock tires, i have just over 2200 miles on the car, so i don't still ahve that slippery stuff on my tires, but i drove about 100 miles on friday, even went into a gated community that wasn't cleaned at all and drove a good 10 miles in there going to someoens house.... tires slipped a little bit but i had no problem keeping complete control of the car. def more fun to drive in the summer but good luck trying to get some driving before you leave.
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Re: Give it up....
Originally posted by Doctorr
I don't know why you bother, Gord.
They don't want to listen.....
.
.
.
doc
I don't know why you bother, Gord.
They don't want to listen.....
.
.
.
doc
I have had over 8 sets of wheels in the last 10 months on the Bimmer. . . I totally agree with what Gord says and he does have me rethinking the possiblity of going with the 17's ... if someone posted a picture of some attractive 17's I would definitely consider it.
Otherwise if not, since snow tires are not available anymore in the proper size and I don't want to take the chance with the Birdgestones, the choices are very limited . ..
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Originally posted by Carguy
as far as 17" wheels, honestly I have not found any 17" wheels that look as good as the stock 18's though I am open minded, unfortunately on this site there are limited number of cars with aftermarket 17's so the few I have seen I am not crazy about.
as far as 17" wheels, honestly I have not found any 17" wheels that look as good as the stock 18's though I am open minded, unfortunately on this site there are limited number of cars with aftermarket 17's so the few I have seen I am not crazy about.
This thread has pics of mine, and this thread (from Oct 6 on) has some pics of wheels that others have used that look very nice. They are out there - even the Kazera 17" wheels that Tire Rack offers look pretty good (those have been posted here as well).
Regards,
Gordon
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Originally posted by Gord96BRG
Actually, I've seen quite a few 17s that I think look great!
This thread has pics of mine, and this thread (from Oct 6 on) has some pics of wheels that others have used that look very nice. They are out there - even the Kazera 17" wheels that Tire Rack offers look pretty good (those have been posted here as well).
Regards,
Gordon
Actually, I've seen quite a few 17s that I think look great!
This thread has pics of mine, and this thread (from Oct 6 on) has some pics of wheels that others have used that look very nice. They are out there - even the Kazera 17" wheels that Tire Rack offers look pretty good (those have been posted here as well).
Regards,
Gordon
On a serious note. . . I saw those pictures but I don't like the looks of the higher aspect ratio sidewall . . . plus here in Long Island, it's not like we get snow everyday or anything . . . I need a tire that can get me home on my 10 mile commute on a day it just happens to snow.
I don't know if you ever tried all-seasons in the snow but they do an excellent job as I have had them in various sizes for the past 3 winters.
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Keep in mind Carguy that lower profile tires don't do as well in snow and on ice. The more air pressure you have to keep makes the tires more rigid and "tight" making them less effecient. Many people keep their tires at 5psi under recommended pressure when driving on snow and ice. The reason for this as I understand it is that you have more tread on the ice for traction. Will someone help me out here? So the 17" wheels may not look as good but they should give you better traction. Oh and one other point, narrower tires do better in snow.
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Thanks 93rdcurrent, you make some great points . . . my last set of winter wheels were 225/45/17 all-seasons which was my first season trying out such a wide tire and surprisingly, they were very good, previous to that I was using a 205/50/17 all-seasin which were also very good though in the dry they didn't handle as well.
Both sets were the same exact tire too so the size and aspect ratio definitely gave a better feel as far as dry handling and in the winter, most of our weather is dry with snow a few times a year
Both sets were the same exact tire too so the size and aspect ratio definitely gave a better feel as far as dry handling and in the winter, most of our weather is dry with snow a few times a year
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Patience, Carguy, patience!
I'm in Tennessee and I drove mine home from the dealer the night I bought it in the middle of an ice storm and it didn't miss a beat.
'course you feller's been gettin' more than your share of bad weather here of late. I feel your pain.
I'm in Tennessee and I drove mine home from the dealer the night I bought it in the middle of an ice storm and it didn't miss a beat.
'course you feller's been gettin' more than your share of bad weather here of late. I feel your pain.
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Originally posted by Carguy
I don't know if you ever tried all-seasons in the snow but they do an excellent job as I have had them in various sizes for the past 3 winters.
I don't know if you ever tried all-seasons in the snow but they do an excellent job as I have had them in various sizes for the past 3 winters.
Seriously - there really isn't any comparison. All-seasons can get you by, but a good winter tire transforms the car. Something like a Michelin Pilot Alpin, Dunlop M3, BS LM-22, or Pirelli Winter 210 SnowSport give good dry pavement handling as well. I'd swear that the Pilot Alpins on the Audi handle better than the OEM all-seasons, but (again) provide much more grip than the A/S tires on snow or ice.
PS - I'm Canadian, so I've been driving in real winters on old bias snows, radials, all-seasons, and winter tires, in RWD, FWD, and AWD, for 28 years now! (Good lord, saying that makes me feel old!! )
Regards,
Gordon
Last edited by Gord96BRG; 01-18-2004 at 07:14 PM.
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Ok Gordon I appreciate the advice and am thinking of going with the Dunlop M2 but the problem is the only size around is the 225/40/18.
From another thread on this board it looks like others have done . . . what do you think about going with that size ?
For the $380 this place is charging how could I go wrong
http://www.bestwheel.com/specials.asp?id=29
From another thread on this board it looks like others have done . . . what do you think about going with that size ?
For the $380 this place is charging how could I go wrong
http://www.bestwheel.com/specials.asp?id=29
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Originally posted by 93rdcurrent
Keep in mind Carguy that lower profile tires don't do as well in snow and on ice. The more air pressure you have to keep makes the tires more rigid and "tight" making them less effecient. Many people keep their tires at 5psi under recommended pressure when driving on snow and ice. The reason for this as I understand it is that you have more tread on the ice for traction. Will someone help me out here? So the 17" wheels may not look as good but they should give you better traction. Oh and one other point, narrower tires do better in snow.
Keep in mind Carguy that lower profile tires don't do as well in snow and on ice. The more air pressure you have to keep makes the tires more rigid and "tight" making them less effecient. Many people keep their tires at 5psi under recommended pressure when driving on snow and ice. The reason for this as I understand it is that you have more tread on the ice for traction. Will someone help me out here? So the 17" wheels may not look as good but they should give you better traction. Oh and one other point, narrower tires do better in snow.
On sand dunes, and for most other applications off-road, we "air down" and some guys actually have special valves for letting out air faster to get out on the trail, and we carry various systems for airing back up quickly as well. If you think of tank treads, the lower tire pressure makes your tire act like that, kinda.
You definately don't want a hard tire, it spins, breaking traction, tearing up the trail (Tread Lightly). Best snow truck tires are tall and narrow, NOT those big fat floaters you see on monster trucks (those are used for deep mud and flattening stacks of import sedans :D ). The concept would hold true for road snow tires.
Fwiw, I'm buying 17s with snow tires to swap for winter. I'll let you all know how that goes. I don't know how that will look or handle vs the stocks, but I'll bet I will look better going than stuck on the side of the road. Such is compromise
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