Just thinking about the stock 225/45/18 tires, the RE040. Has anyone here actually used these or heard any feedback? Are these "run flats"? From reading some reviews on Tire Rack clicky click people complain of low tread life, 140 rating and uneven wear. Then again some of these idiots tried using these in the winter.. Expensive too, $225 US per tire. Ouch.

Personally I think I'd rather have the S03 Pole Positions.. The reviews are good and I also have had very positive feedback from other users personally. Reviews here

Do you guys think the dealer would swap these or perhaps take the RE040's off and mount S03's if I bought them myself while giving a credit for the OEMs? Fat chance I know..

Btw, the low treadwear doesn't bother me.. I'm using Pirelli P7000 summer which have a rating of 160.. Can't have good sticky rubber with high treadwear life.. oh well. Too bad the S03's are $400 Cnd each..

 

I read somewhere that the stock tires are run-flats, and a full-size spare is an option. Sorry. can't remember where I saw that.

 

The tires that happened to be on the models in the show were not run-flats.

---jps

 

Where did you find info on what tires come standard and with the sport package?

And I couldn't seem to follow that link to the discussion of these "run-flat" tires.

Also, does having the sport package tires mean I shouldn't drive this car during the winter? I couldn't seem to find any all-weather 225/45/18 tires on the tirerack.com site. I live in NY and it would be a pain if I had to keep changing the tires and/or not drive it in the winter at all.

Thanks

 

The tires that come stock with the 18" wheels are Bridgestone Potenza Re040 assuming from the pictures I've seen. These are high performance SUMMER only tires. You will NOT be able to drive this RWD car in winter with these tires on. Unless the roads are always plowed and the temperatures never go below 0 deg C. The rubber compound on these tires gets very hard and slippery at colder temperatures. You will need dedicated snow rims/tires. I doubt you can find "all season" tires in the 225/45/18 size.

 

the brakes on the sport package are designed to fit under 17 inch wheels, the press kit states that this is because winter performance tires are available in this size for the rx-8.

So you need to either change rims or buy a second set for the winter.

 

Another reason why I love Texas. Winter tires? We don' need no steenkin' winter tires.

 

I don't see an option listed for a spare tire on the website.

Aren't the RE040's the same lousy tire that the IS300 and 350Z come with? I believe there were some serious quality control issues with those tires.

 

if you go to the spec section its at the very bottom of the list

 

RE040s... WORST TIRES EVER!!!

Yes, they came standard on the Z after we watched months of testing and photos on Michelin Pilot Sports. At least Mazda has the decency to kiss you first before f**king you at the last minute. We didn't find out the RE040s were coming until a week before the launch.

The manufacturers must be getting these tires for $15-$20 bucks each. I simply cannot understand why anyone would put these worthless, POS tires on a new car after all that has already happened with the S4, TT, IS300 and now the Z.

I just replaced the 040s last week with the S-03s after a mere 4 months and 7K miles to the tune of $1K. Make sure that you budget a grand a year for new tires...

 

Well all I see is the size, not the actual make/model of the tire.. Unless I'm looking in the wrong space?

Personally I will lobby my dealer VERY HARD for a tire switch. I will request the S03's. This might be a deal breaker for me.

 

i was responding to his question about a spare tire . at the bottom of the chasis section in the spec part it says not included(accessory) i agree when i get to my dealer todday i will ask about the possibitliy of a tire switch.

 

Honestly, I think that 18 inch tires are a stupid idea period. At that size, the tires are insane amounts of money, and for us winter-bound Canucks, no all-season/winter tires means no RX-8. I think that the 16 inch tires are the way to go. At least you can get Blizzaks for 16's. Now the only trick is to get the dealer to give me a 6 speed and the smaller tires...if I had 26k US to buy the RX-8 that is

 

According to the Michelin site, the Pilot Sport A/S (these are high performance all season tires), are available in a 255/45ZR18 size. They do not have a 225 size. The difference in width is .9 inches. I would think that would still fit. The Michelin site stated they will fit 8 inch wide rims which is our stock 18 inch size.

I'm thinking of asking my dealer for a swap (I suspect I'll have to pay a premium).

 

For the winter I would suggest 17" "steelies" with dedicated winter tires. An "all season" tire on this car doesn't make any sense, you are compromising performance in summer or winter. No tire manufacturer has made an "all season" ( rolleyes) tire that has top performance in summer AND winter. That's the greatest NA tire scam today.. all season tires..

 

Absolutely true!!!

 

Well maybe all is not lost. I was looking at the RX8 Press kit and on page 4 is a nice picture of an RX8. You can clearly see "S-03" on the right front tire (not RE040). So maybe the particular tire may not have been decided on yet. Mazda has a about 5-6 months to decide which tires to mount on the first shipment of RX8s.

 

What about the 18" wheel? Does anyone know what the spacing and offset is?