Seeing how there are a number of new 8 owners/prospects and the digging required for a good snow tire thread, I decided to start a new one on the infamous question:

"Can I drive my Rx8 in snow?"

(and also to add to the SEO of the question)

I've now had two RX8 experiences to share:

A. 2004 Shinka w/stock tires

B. 2007 w/ Blizzaks


EXPERIENCE A: The Shinka got stuck in my driveway - polished snow and an incline just enough to propel a HotWheel® downhill without it flipping over. (how's THAT for science!)

On roads of same composition, the handling was challenging; judicious amounts of throttle, gear and steering control were needed...and the tension of coming up on a slower driver that might force a stop was high; the grip between tire and snow/ice was so tenuous, the slightest excess of force would cause SPPPPIINNNNN.

Stuck.

Conclusion: The RX8 was a wretched POS in snow, ice.


EXPERIENCE B: The 2007 has been fitted with Blizzaks - WS70s on 17" cheapie rims.

The driveway is polished snow with an undercoat of ice (yeah, it came faster than the ability to clear it off!) and the Rx8 handled it...just fine.

On roads of same composition (5" of moderate-heavy snow) the handling was remarkable, acceleration and braking surprisingly good - no sense of lack of control. Stop, start on hills (up/down) as well as unplowed, ruts and snow pack.

Ironically, I passed a Toyota 4wheeldrive SUV-thing that was STUCK and saw a late model Taurus slide sideways through an intersection with its front wheels spinning like crazy...(Rally time!).


CONCLUSION: RX8s need snow tires and the basic understanding of the differences between RWD and FWD. There is nothing inherently wrong with the RX8 for winter driving and it remains what it is - a brilliantly handling sports coupe that rewards people who drive because they enjoy the act.

 

haha, I once drove summer tires in snow. that was some scary ****.

 

Interesting. Maybe this is why Mazda warns to never, ever drive in snow with the stock summer tires.

 

I find the combo of winter tires and an RX-8 very satisfactory.

The '8 has DSC, anti-lock, limited slip diff and traction control - my old Acura had none-of-the-above.

Got caught at work when a couple of inches of snow fell when I still had the summers on - got to agree with Jason, scary ****!

I even prefer the softer ride of my 17" winters, to the 18" summers, must be getting old!

 

I've driven with summer tires on snow when we went to Reno, NV. We were at the check point when they told us to put chains, and we were told to exit at the next exit, and we went ahead to drive over there, but this big rig blocked us from exiting the freeway, and we accidentally drove pass the exit that we were supposed to put the chains on the tires. Anyway, to keep the long story short, we went ahead and drove it without the chains...yikes! I was driving very, very slow and whenever i pushed on the brakes, the car skids just a little bit, but we still went ahead and drove it until we reach the safe area when there is less snow. After that, we were so amazed that we made it safely, and we were breathing normally again.

 

My first winter with the car, I got stuck in my driveway when there was 1/4" of snow. I couldn't move with the summer tires on. I turned off TSC and was going an indicated 100mph and not moving an inch.

 

thanks for the posting. pretty much sums up what i was looking for. now to find some blizzzzzaksssss.

 

lol i moved my car to clean up my drive way, then i could not get back on it, with just a cm of snow and a 10 percent incline, no dice.. not even on a running start.. had to leave it on the side of the road..