Take a tire pyrometer, measure the tread temperature after a 30 minute drive on a performance tire and an all season touring tire. I think the question will be answered. I mean this is on above freezing temperature, between the 35-60 range that you stated. Also look at all competitive racing, no one is putting on a super hard rubber when the temperature is low.

 

im surprised no one told the thread starter to remember to turn the DSC back ON after getting out of a bad situation ... that thing has saved so many people on this board it should not be left OFF.

(but you have to get to a good safe place cuz the only way to turn it back on is to turn the car off/on again)

 

Which is really lame, when you get right down to it.

 

Just learn how to drive, that's as good as a DSC

 

not true! a lot of the chicago peeps are track junkies and they have ALL said keep it on, unless you're on the track or out in the snow having fun.

you drive without a seatbelt too?

 

ok Mario.

 

Yup. As long as, like a professional race car driver, you're doing absolutely nothing but concentrating 100% on your driving, not taking a moment to even think about changing radio stations, grabbing a swallow of water, or turning your head away for a nanosecond to smile at your girlfriend. Great advice!

 

You cant lose control of your car unless you are being stupid. To lose control of the car, you either have to be driving too fast or doing something wrong to lose it. I would prefer to stay within control rather than drive like an *** and have the computer save me.

 

why not be incontrol and have the DSC on?

 

The advice to turn off the DSC is to get the full benefit of the LSD rear, you can get both tires into the act and grind your way thru the snow.

....and to turn it "on" again, you don't need to stop, just push'o the little button again. No turning off needed.

S

 

I tried that, didn't work for me. I pushed the little button many times, but it didn't turn on again. I had to shut off the car and start it again to get it to come back to normal.

 

Yea, I thought the only way to turn it back on was to shut the car off ...

 

I've turned mine on and off several times and I never have to turn the car off to get it to come back on. You might want to have it checked out at the dealer.

 

DSC can be turned on and off with the switch...but you need to restart the car to re-activate the TC if you've turned it off.

 

Are you suggesting that your reaction times and throttle control are as quick and precise as a computer??

 

My reaction time might be slower, but guess what, I can still drive the car faster Yes I know I am, because my lap times went down 1.7 sec with the DSC off. Also in case you don't notice, the DSC flips out if you put high grip tires on it even if you are not racing. I think it is more hazardous to have the car cut off in the middle of the corner than to drive cautiously with the DSC off..

You have a Mazda system, which is gear toward more for safe driving than for high speed performance driving. You don't have a F1 system on your hand.

 

Maybe I actually want to be a fast driver, not someone who can't drive a car correctly. You won't understand unless you are actually racing the car. Also the DSC system is for keeping hte car in control, it doesn't make you faster...

 

well, i thought we were all talking about using DSC for getting out of the snow.

no one mentioned racing until you brought it up...

 

From my perspective....DSC/TC is great for keeping in control for everday normal driving. It sucks on the track...unless it is really wet and you wnat/need it as a saftey net.

There are times when you want some wheelspin on the street...and getting unstuck in the snow is one of them.

I agree with tmak....it is almost always faster on the track with it off.

If you turn just the DSC off....you can turn it back on with the switch. If you do the long hold off you have to restart the car to turn it back on.

tmak...if you are cutting out hard in the corners.....have a look at the fuel starvation thread........it probably wasn't the DSC/TC. It shouldn't do that!

 

nada, the DSC was cutting engine power upon hard turns with sticky tires. I saw the DSC lights blinking. It only happens when I slap the RA1 on the car.

In the snow, the best thing to combat snow is awd, snow tires and good driving. DSC will only cover your mistake, it wont safe your butt if you are going to be an a$$ about it. Well, that's unless you have a Mercedes Benz that shuts off your car company.....

 

DSC is kinda like ABS...makes the unwashed masses feel safer when they drive faster than they should.

Problem is....it doesn't, and there are a lot of crashes that prove it.

My favorite are the SUV's that think they can corner better on ice cause they are 4X4's :

 

Um, yeah this was about driving in the snow not on the track. I agree it's faster on the track without the DSC and I don't know if anyone was debating that. Unfortunately AWD is not an option on the RX-8 so I think the point people are making is that: on the road, in the snow, with or without snow tires, it is safer to have the DSC on than off.

 

So wait, you cant practice safe driving in the snow? You have to drive like a jerk and use the DSC to save your ***? This is no different than some redneck flying in the snow with an SUV at a high rate of speed. Like all driver's aid, they all should be used as a mean to help your driving, not control your driving.

Also any snow driving in the RX-8 should have snow tires or good all season tires, not the stock OEM summer tires. DSC can't save you when you dont even give it a chance.

Yes I agree DSC is safer, but better driving is even better.

 

^^ I agree...if your DSC is going off a lot...you need to learn to drive...and quit using it as a crutch. If something unforseen happens it is a good safety net...but it should come on only in an emergency if you are a decent driver ( at least when not on purpose )

 

Exactly, I can drive the car without having the DSC kicking off in the snow at all. I actually find them to be quite annoying as it can sometimes cut power during moments that you want to have power. It takes the control out of driving a car.

I still wouldn't buy a car without DSC for my family, but then I always yell at them for not learning how to drive properly. I always make them drive around without the DSC the first winter storm (on a car equipped with proper equipment).