I work at Lowes and lately people have been buying alot of tube sand! Its main use is for weight on the rear end of their trucks or suvs. One of my employees said im going to have a rough time on ice and snow. Ive drivin on ice and snow but it was either with a Jeep or my old civic!

Now the question is with the rx8s having a 50/50 weight distribution am I really going to have a hard time driving in winter weather???

If anything my 8 is 49/51 becuase of my amp, sub, and box in the truck!

Any driving tips???

 

On the stock tires YES!! No matter how much weight you add to the rear snow+stock tires = scary times.

 

Not stock but not perfect NT555's?

 

I've done totally fine the last two days in snow and ice, and I still have my stock Dunlops. Just take it easy and don't step on the gas or brakes too hard and you're fine. I was actually surprised I wasn't having any problems. I did notice other vehicles at stop lights having their tires spin and stuff when they went to take off again. I just went slow and easy, giving it a little bit of gas to get rolling and then accelerating slowly. Not one problem. I was expecting some terrible times going to and from work since, at least by my house, everything was still snowy and icy (don't know about today since I haven't looked outside) until I get closer to town where it is more thawed, although quite icy when I get off work at 12:30 a.m. I was dreading it last night because I have to go up some pretty decent hills and around several sharp curves to get home, and I still did fine. I don't have any extra weight added to my trunk unless you count a blanket and oil basically, or the spare tire kit.

I just don't think people realize they have to drive more "gently" in those kinds of conditons, and, if they do realize it, a lot of them don't actually do it.

 

Those were made for rain, but I don't know how they will handle the snow.

All of you that got the Dunlops as OEM on the car are lucky. The Bridgestones didn't go anywhere on the white stuff.

 

BG, you're absolutely right about most people not realizing the need to drive more "gently," but with the 8 that's not enough! If I were you I'd get winter tires ASAP. Driving gently helps a lot, but I think you've also been lucky. Trust me—you don't want to be posting about how the car suddenly came around on you without warning and slid into a curb. Or worse.

Just my 2¢.

 

Stock Dunlops cannot even get me up my driveway (VERY gentle slope). Need 2 cars this winter, so I'm putting the rx8 on the road with Blizzaks on 17" rims.
Car feels a bit squirmy on dry roads at moderate speeds with winter tires. It hasn't snowed yet, but I'm sure the car will perform just fine.
Only concern is that the car is very low to the ground. Deep snow will jack up the car.

 

It's all relative (I imagine - since I have not had snow yet). My previous ride was a Ranger w/bald tires & no weight in the back end. Even w/a couple hundred pounds in the back I was taking inclines sideways. I don't imagine the 8 will be anywhere near that bad, though I got Dunlop M3s put on last week. But MTL is right - fast accumulation will be tough b/c of lower clearance.

There are lots of horror stories around here about the complete lack of traction on the Potenzas - so def. get snows.

 

I had stock Potenzas on last winter and I was lucky we didnt have a bad winter, I think it only snowed like 5 times and melted within a week. but I could still tell the Potenzas suck, I also had some on my 300zx the year before and they didnt work then either lol, This year I got a set of falken ziex ze512 all season they got good ratings from the resurch I did from consumers, we shall see lol anything is better then the stockers!!

 

Find an empty parking lot covered in snow and enjoy the beauty of RWD.

 

I had that happen a few weeks ago when we were having a very heavy rains and flooding. I was driving on 213, which totally sucks. It is deeply rutted, so it sucks when it's dry but holds the water terrible in the rain. Anyway, I was driving along going about 35 (speed limit 55) because it was raining so hard you couldn't see very well in front of you, let alone the road markings. Anyway, as I was coming around a curve I saw the car that was in the lane to my left suddenly start spinning around and hit the concrete divider in the center of the road. I took my foot off the gas and before I could even think past the initial reflex my car was spinning and fortunately ended up on the shoulder where it was wide pavement and then grassy. No damage to my car except sucking up a lot of water. I got out of my car to go check on the other driver (road not that busy usually) in the car that hit the wall and the standing water on the road was up over my ankles. As I got to the guy in his car, who ended up being stuck in there (car smashed up pretty good and the doors wouldn't open, windows busted out) a truck came along and spun out, too, fortunately stopping a foot or two behind my car on the side of the road, which was facing the opposite direction after spinning I don't know how many times. It totally scared me to death, and I've been a little driving paranoid since then unless it's dry and daylight out. LOL

If the weather gets any worse my mom is going to be driving me around in her AWD Tribute, or possibly letting me drive it. Bella will definitely stay parked if it gets too bad!! This weather, for the most part, is pretty atypical unless you live in the Gorge area. We usually only get one storm like this per year and that's not usually until January sometime, and we've already had several storms of various forms and winter hasn't officially started yet!! I certainly hope it doesn't stay like this.

 

Support Global Warming!

 

Anyone experiment with putting only a pair of snow tires in the rear?

 

Im also wondering that dynamho!

 

i just pull the e-brake :D

 

Great way to destory your brake pads (DSC cranking hard) and it isn't safe. Car really do handle differently with them on.

What RX-8 came with Dunlops?

 

I'm guessing the 06 came with the DUNLOPs as mine has them.......running change?? Altho, i dont think these are suited for snow driving, no M+S rating on the sidewall. Plus it doesn't look like the tread has swipes in the tread blocks to clear away snow like regular all season tires do.

 

I have car built Jan 2006. It's a 6MT w/ Sport package. It came with Potenzas, not Dunlops.

Thanks for the info tmak26b. Aren't you in Texas though?

 

I should be, but no, I am in CT.

I wonder if the Dunlop tires were based on region? WHat kind of Dunlops were they? I had the same RE040 on my Z, not impress by them. I do have to say thtat they are great tires to learn how to race on since they were so predictable.

 

Please explain how the DSC will destroy the brake pads if the rear wheels have more grip? DSC kicks in when the car is spinning, which should only happen in extreme conditions and mostly works on the rear wheels (because usually it's the back end swinging out that triggers the system).

Traction control kicks in with spinning wheels, usually at very low speeds, which snow tires should prevent and doesn't affect the front wheels at all.

I do agree that having 4 snow tires will help best of all during a snowy winter, but I can't imagine having only 2 rear snow tires will actually damage the car. The biggest problem I forsee is understeer with cold, slick, hard front tires when turning too fast for conditions.

 

Bad idea. The car will have traction to move the car, but good luck turning.

Remember, you not only need grip for the rear wheels to accelerate, but also grip in the front to control where you are accelerating to.

 

Not to mention a little more help in the stopping department. When the Potenzas are cold, they are as hard and slick as hockey pucks.

 

What about NT 555's? You think I should strap on sum winter tires?

 

Thanks. This is obvious in theory, but I'm looking for accounts of people who have actually tried them.

I use Dunlop Sport SPs on my FWD daily driver on snow and they turn fine when driven gently.

 

See if you can find ratings for them on tirerack.com or discounttiresdirect.com