I am hopeing for a fairly mild winter in St. Louis this year. Or at least mild snow fall. I know some of you must have had some expericances in the snow already and i was wondering how it went. Any feedback would be nice.

 

Read this thread: First test of RX-8 in snow - it's great! (A quick search will find you a bunch of threads).

To sum up - with winter tires, the RX-8 does great. On the OEM performance summer tires, it will be extremely bad and dangerous on snow. Do not drive your RX-8 in snow with the OEM tires. The difference is all in the tires! Am I getting the point across?

Regards,
Gordon

 

i'm not getting winter tires so i have no choice. i drove an MR2 in snow(bad) and an eclipse GSX(good) in snow so i guess i'll have to take my chances. work commute is 5 miles each way. Philly had double the normal snowfall last year. hopefully this winter is less harsh.

 

So why can't you get winter tires? I'm serious when I warn that the car will be near impossible to drive in snow/ice on the stock summer tires. Sure, winter tires cost a few $$$ - but how much does suspension repair and body work cost when (not if) you nail a curb or another car???

Regards,
Gordon

 

Go to the Canada forum before deciding to drive in winter with your OEM tires. I've already tried to do it.

 

I live nearby too, hoping our winter is not too bad. Sticking with the stock tires, last year handled a Type R Integra with Kumho Summer tires, which was managable at 20 mph :-). RWD might make a noticable difference..I am sure..

 

Do you guys get packed-snow/ice there?

The tread on the RE040 does not give you any purchase in a forward direction on packed snow or ice.

 

Has anyone tried some good all season tires in the snow? How much performance would you lose (in good conditions) with all seasons compared to the stock summer tires?

 

Hey Irish and Gr8 -

I know what you mean about the dilemma of getting or not getting snows in Philadelphia. After all, snow here is either terrible or really not much at all.

My previous car was a Nissan Maxima, and I ran Pirelli P-6000 summer tires on that all last winter (and all of the ten years that I owned it), and it still did better than most cars on the road with its torsen limited slip diff (which we also have on the 8 with DSC for most people [not me]) and front wheel drive.

However, with this car I have chosen to get a four wheel snow tire and wheel package with the only negative being that it will trip the Tire Pressure Monitor Senor light since the wheels do not have pressure monitors in them.

I did this for a number of reasons. 1) the difference in torque to the wheels with high horse power will make the power harder to control than in my maxima leading to a greater potential for wheel slip 2) the tires are far wider than the tires on most cars which makes traction on snowy roads much less grippy than thinner tires 3) rear wheel drive means that we will lose a little weight over the drive wheels although the 50/50 weight and placement of that weight should make handling control better if traction can be maintained and 4) when I used to live in Syracuse, New York, I learnt that four wheel snows are a night and day difference in control and traction of a car that will give you the advantage of getting home in a storm when others won't.

Last, have you looked out the window? It's been like this every four days at least all year, and my hopes for a clearish winter are slipping with every rain storm that we get. Aah, the wettest year in the history of Philadelphia record keeping.

Just my take on the thing.

All the best - Haze

 

We get some snow....and I was not planning on winter tires either but I guess when the first snow hits then I will find out! Usually the snow hits and it's not on the streets too long. Only time will tell.

 

I don't want to be all doom'n'gloom, but... if you drive your RX-8 on summer tires when the snow hits, then you'll hit. Something - curb, tree, guardrail, other vehicle. If you're lucky, you won't be able to get out of your parking spot or driveway, and will then avoid crunching something a few hundred yards down the road. I suspect that most of you that are thinking you can "get by" have never tried to drive on snow with high performance summer tires.

If you don't get different tires - then leave the RX-8 parked at the first sign of snow. Leave it at work if you have to, until the snow melts, take a cab or rent a car for a week. I've posted enough warnings about trying to drive on the stock performance summer tires in winter conditions that I fully reserve the right to post big "I TOLD YOU SO" messages when one of you writes about crunching your car by driving on snow with the stock tires. So there! :D (cruzdreamer, not picking on you, just a general message to all considering this!)

FWIW - we got another 4" dump of snow last night. My RX-8 was great this morning - I had to drive around compacts and SUVs that couldn't pull away from the stop lights because it was too slippery for their all-season tires to grip. IF I'd still had the summer tires on, I wouldn't have made it one foot from my driveway (very slight uphill slope to our street)...

Regards,
Gordon

 

Wondering how much snow tires are then? Ok Gordon...thanks for your input. Sounds like I need winter tires! Now I am scared!

 

Hey Gord- didn't you used to be on the Miata.net list?

Anyway, not that I have an RX8 yet, but I can totally attest for the complete uselessness of high-performance tires in the snow. I have two sets of tires for my Miata, and I'm still running the summers on it as we haven't had any snow yet. However, they even become dangerous with just cold air and pavement- below 40 or so they harden up and the rears break loose on dry pavement very easily.

I'll definitely be getting winter tires when I get my 8... so I'd love to hear from our friends up north what sizes and brands are available that work well with the RX8.

Thanks!

 

Hey Cruzdreamer- just saw your location- I'm right near you in Lake in the Hills... I'll have to keep my eyes open for you around town : )

-Sean
http://theswamp.com/miata

 

Yup, although I unsubbed almost 3 years ago when the volume was getting too high! I got into the forums at www.miata.net instead (I'm one of the moderators there).

Quote:

I'd love to hear from our friends up north what sizes and brands are available that work well with the RX8.

There's several threads now in the Wheels and Tires section and in the Canada regional section of the forum - search for 'winter tire' or 'snow tire' and you'll find plenty of discussions about suitable sizes and brands (FWIW, I'm running Toyo Garit HT in 215/55-17 on Konig Holes 17x7" alloy wheels).

Regards,
Gordon

 

Snow tires are a must. You will be a hazard and or a crash. Invest in the wheels and tires. They will last you many years. I bought 4 Ice and snow for my 88 Mazda 323 with a turbo. The performance summer tires in winter conditions suck big time. I drove on snow, ice and black ice and always had no problem. I had cars spining out behind me in front and I would drive right through. I drove in 12 " of snow with a 4" of ground clearance. People think that snow tires are not needed with front wheel drive even, just because they can get by. I owe my life to $400 with of snow tires on black ice on RT 80 in Gary Indiana. Not so lucky was the Ford Taurus in front which broad sided a truck in front and a hugh pile up in back of me. I plan to park in in the garage until spring. If I had to drive it I would get the tires and wheels.