How many considering Driving in Winter
#51
'O' - 'H' !!! ...
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Not a chance! That's what my truck is for!
#52
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I bought my Accord for $1500 last year. Runs great and is perfect for the winter. It also is convenient to haul bikes. It was cheaper than new wheels, sensors and tires and it also keeps the 8 in mint condition.
#53
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I kept my '93 Jeep Cherokee. It was only worth $750 or so as a trade in, cheaper than new rims and tires.
I figure on snow days I won't miss the 8's driveability very much anyway. Of course it's easy to say that now. Watch me whine when I actually have to leave her behind in the garage!
I figure on snow days I won't miss the 8's driveability very much anyway. Of course it's easy to say that now. Watch me whine when I actually have to leave her behind in the garage!
#55
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Originally Posted by RX8_Buckeye
I kept a 2nd car for winter last year, and I was bummed every day that I couldn't drive the RX-8. I think my investment in a winter wheel and tire package is well worth it. There are drawbacks to having a 2nd car. In my case, it sat in the driveway for most of the year (I got sick of seeing it there and having to maneuver around it every time I took the RX-8 out).
#56
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If I did a Tire Rack wheel/winter tire deal without the TPMS units, would I have to listen to a tone constantly, or can I just tape over the warning light and not be bothered with it until I go back to stock?
#59
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sorry but I think this is kinda related... anyone have experience running autocrosses in winter?
I ordered a set of blizzacks but was wondering if I should bring my summer tires along to swap just for the runs? would I melt through/destroy a set of winter tires if I autocross with them in the cold??
I ordered a set of blizzacks but was wondering if I should bring my summer tires along to swap just for the runs? would I melt through/destroy a set of winter tires if I autocross with them in the cold??
#61
Registered
Originally Posted by bmcc49er
That siping looks interesting. If it works it seems you could save alot of $$$$
In other words - it will make a slight improvement on a horrible in winter tire. The tire will be slightly less horrible, but nowhere near acceptable. I still wouldn't use a siped summer performance tire in the slightest amount of snow - I'd park the car where it is and take a bus, cab, whatever.
Re autocrossing WS-50s - you'll quickly destroy the tires. If you don't chunk off the tread blocks, you'll wear off the soft outer layer so fast you won't believe it!
Regards,
Gordon
#62
snows??
think 2 snows on the rear is adequate?, rather than putting 4 on???
i live in pennsylvania...and i think this season is gonna be a bear(snow wise),
i have a 4x4 for back up but want to drive my 8 whenever i can.
i live in pennsylvania...and i think this season is gonna be a bear(snow wise),
i have a 4x4 for back up but want to drive my 8 whenever i can.
#63
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Join Date: Jan 2003
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2 versus 4
not a good idea. you need steering as well. You should always keep all 4 corners shod with the same tires.
just as an idea-I've had a fulltime AWD Subaru XT6 to play around in the snow the past couple winters (sold now). I had new all-seasons put on it last January. In the snow they still had trouble getting grip. If you go into a turn too fast, even w/ AWD and all-seasons - it doesn't matter much what the rear-end is doing - you'll miss your turn. Of course, I've played in the snow with cars since I was 16 - which takes you back to 1977 and a lot of snow and an empty parking lot after all the bowlers vacated the center in a station wagon w/ rear wheel drive. Had front wheel drive, all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel drive in snow. If you don't anticipate doing a lot of snow driving with the 8 (if you have a 4WD or AWD vehicle to back up the 8) consider some inexpensive 17" rims and all-season tires-that way you can drive safer through occasional small snow amounts. I have snow tires I'll be putting on my 8 and back on the minivan for the winter again, even though the van has decent all-seasons already.
just as an idea-I've had a fulltime AWD Subaru XT6 to play around in the snow the past couple winters (sold now). I had new all-seasons put on it last January. In the snow they still had trouble getting grip. If you go into a turn too fast, even w/ AWD and all-seasons - it doesn't matter much what the rear-end is doing - you'll miss your turn. Of course, I've played in the snow with cars since I was 16 - which takes you back to 1977 and a lot of snow and an empty parking lot after all the bowlers vacated the center in a station wagon w/ rear wheel drive. Had front wheel drive, all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel drive in snow. If you don't anticipate doing a lot of snow driving with the 8 (if you have a 4WD or AWD vehicle to back up the 8) consider some inexpensive 17" rims and all-season tires-that way you can drive safer through occasional small snow amounts. I have snow tires I'll be putting on my 8 and back on the minivan for the winter again, even though the van has decent all-seasons already.
#66
Registered User
Originally Posted by rotten42
In Florida?...as long as your car can float! :D
OUCH!!! I don't know if I should laugh or gasp... okay, thought about it, LOL!!!! :D
#67
Great8Fifty
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Got to have cables or chains in CA. Anyone tried cables?
This doesn't apply to you serious-winter easterners. But in California, they won't let you over the passes in winter unless you have 4WD AND snow tires. A two-wheel drive car has to have cables or chains. The manual says chains will damage the aluminum wheels. I am going to try to fit a pair of thin cables on and see what they look like. Supposedly they are fitted for the 225/45-18s, according to http://tirechainsrequired.com/ Has anyone tried these? If they don't work, I'll just stick with the Trooper for mountain driving this winter.
#68
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I would highly doubt it if they say it WON'T scratch your wheels cause there's too little profile on the 225/45 tires for the chain to mount so some part of the chain will be touching your wheels
#69
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Originally Posted by bleedingedge40
You have obviously never driven a car with high performance tires in the winter. The stock tires on an rx8 are summer tires, the compound will get very hard in cold weather. You won't need any snow at all to start slipping and sliding, and the instant the first snowflake hits the ground forget it. Either get snows or park it.
#70
The Stickinator
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Originally Posted by great8fifty
This doesn't apply to you serious-winter easterners. But in California, they won't let you over the passes in winter unless you have 4WD AND snow tires. A two-wheel drive car has to have cables or chains. The manual says chains will damage the aluminum wheels.
#73
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Originally Posted by Rob Tomlin
Man, reading all this stuff really makes me glad I am in SoCal where I don't have to worry about all this stuff!
rx8cited
#75
Sorry, i was too lazy to read thru the whole thread, getting ready for bed. i figured i could give a good input since i spent last winter with the car in Northpole, Alaska. We drive on ice, minus the main highway, for majority of the winter, which is Sept to about Mar/Apr. I went with Dunlop winter M2's and drove the car all winter...minus the two times it dropped to -50F and i had flooding issues, haha. I kept my stock wheels, btw. --Mark