Winter Driving
#1
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Winter Driving
Sorry if this topic has been discussed already but I couldn't find the following question answered yet. First of all, I live in Columbus, OH. We get snow here. How important is it to but winter tires? Am I insane to think about driving without winter tires and relying a lot on the DSC system? Secondly, do all 4 need to be changed or just the rear 2? Lastly, I called up the dealer where I bought the car and they said they can get me the 18" Brisgestone Blizzacks for $255 and $16 installation fee per tire. Does that sound reasonable? Thanks
By the way, any recommendations on how to protect the open areas by the oil filter and AC filter area on the front by the air dam?
By the way, any recommendations on how to protect the open areas by the oil filter and AC filter area on the front by the air dam?
Last edited by RX8rider; 12-14-2004 at 03:49 PM.
#3
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Originally Posted by LOUSINIT
From what i have read the 8 is a no goer in the snow..... and even with snow tires the ground clearence would be a killer .... good luck
RX8rider, your search techniques obviously need work! There are dozens, nearly hundreds, of threads discussing winter driving and the RX-8. Even the forum software found some - look at the very bottom of your thread, for similar topics. Search in the Wheels and Tires forum section for "winter tires" and you'll find plenty of useful reading (actually, start with the sticky threads at the top of the Wheels and Tires forum section).
18" tires are not necessarily the best way to go. I did a cost comparison that showed if you keep the car 4 winters or more, it is cheaper to buy a separate set of 17" winter alloy wheels and 17" winter tires. Again, relevant discussions are in the Wheels and Tires section. Do some reading there, then feel free to ask more questions.
Regards,
Gordon
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Originally Posted by LOUSINIT
From what i have read the 8 is a no goer in the snow..... and even with snow tires the ground clearence would be a killer .... good luck
Also $255 (USD?) seems a bit pricey, but not unreasonable.
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there shoudl be a little list of related threads at the bottom here, go check them out. From what I have gathered, in general the 8 is OK to drive in winter, but snow tire or even good all seasons are more recommened than stock rubber. All 4 tires should be changed out, even if you changed the rear 2 for traction, you still couldn't turn worht a darn.
not sure on pricing, check tire rack, might have soem winter tire/wheel specials, and come next summer they can become the auto-x wheels with race rubber.
not sure on pricing, check tire rack, might have soem winter tire/wheel specials, and come next summer they can become the auto-x wheels with race rubber.
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Haven't had the pleasure yet (I'm in VA and got mine at the end of Feb). From what I've read here the car does fine in the snow if you replace the OEM tires with winter tires. Clearance shouldn't be an issue since you shouldn't be going anywhere a plow hasn't been (I drove a Honda CRX through three winters here and only got it hung up once. The trick is, if your going to get stuck, get stuck in everyone's way...then you'll get a friendly push from the people that want to get by.).
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I am happy to hear they go good in the snow then.... maybe it was another MD driver who posted they don't ... i know mine won't .....i'll leave the snow to the 4X
#8
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Originally Posted by LOUSINIT
I am happy to hear they go good in the snow then.... maybe it was another MD driver who posted they don't ... i know mine won't .....i'll leave the snow to the 4X
Regards,
Gordon
#9
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Another thumbs up from a snow RX-8 driver... with winter tires, the 8 is wonderful in the snow. I went through some pretty deep stuff last winter, and it out handled and out stopped my wife's 4WD explorer (with all-terrains). Without snow tires, you will not make it though the winter undamaged.
#10
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Speaking from intimate experience, DO NOT drive your -8 on summer tires in the snow.
If your area doesn't get socked a lot with snow, and you don't want to invest hugely in extra wheels/snow tires, get a set of Pirelli PZero Nero M+S all-seasons from tire rack. They handle just as well in the dry as the stock tires (in fact, they rate BETTER than the stock tires in the dry stuff) and rate a solid "pretty good" (7.5 out of 10 in the snow).
That's what I did ... haven't seen snow with them yet, but love them on the dry. Quieter and better handling than the stock Potenza's ...
Check out the two threads on the Tire/Wheel forum on the PZeros ... one from me, one from Omicron, who has driven his in snow and loves them.
Stew
If your area doesn't get socked a lot with snow, and you don't want to invest hugely in extra wheels/snow tires, get a set of Pirelli PZero Nero M+S all-seasons from tire rack. They handle just as well in the dry as the stock tires (in fact, they rate BETTER than the stock tires in the dry stuff) and rate a solid "pretty good" (7.5 out of 10 in the snow).
That's what I did ... haven't seen snow with them yet, but love them on the dry. Quieter and better handling than the stock Potenza's ...
Check out the two threads on the Tire/Wheel forum on the PZeros ... one from me, one from Omicron, who has driven his in snow and loves them.
Stew
#11
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Also, you should be changing ALL FOUR tires, not just the back. It's no good if you can get traction for moving the car with the rear wheels, but no traction with the front wheels to steer where you want the car to go. You gotta do them all.
I changed my stock tires to Dunlop M3 Snow Tires, and they do wonders in the snow, with no fear in a foot of the white stuff. It should not even be a question to get them if you have the intention of even driving in a 1/4" of snow with the stock summer tires, as they do ****.
I changed my stock tires to Dunlop M3 Snow Tires, and they do wonders in the snow, with no fear in a foot of the white stuff. It should not even be a question to get them if you have the intention of even driving in a 1/4" of snow with the stock summer tires, as they do ****.
#12
I just recently drove my yellow Rx-8 in its 1st snow here in Michigan and it was great with the all season 245-40-18 Toyo Proxes 4's! Much, Much, better than my 99 Mustang GT. I do not see the need to get snow tires for the amount of snow we get around here in Detroit.
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The RX-8 has a built-in advantage for driving in the snow! It's one of those looking on the bright side of things. The RX-8 is, as has been pointed out repeatedly, low on torque. That's an advantage in the snow because you are less likely to lose traction when accelerating. When I drive a standard transmission on snow, I try to stay a gear above where I would normally be just to reduce the torque and the possibility of breaking the driven wheels loose. With the 8's low torque, that may not be necessary.
#14
Originally Posted by LOUSINIT
From what i have read the 8 is a no goer in the snow..... and even with snow tires the ground clearence would be a killer .... good luck
Besides, it has MORE ground clearance (assuming no 'appearance kit' crap) than my VW GTI. If you lower it, or put on a ground-scraping bumper, then it's your fault, not the 8's.
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Gord96brg, you sound like one who's had some experience here...what brand of winter tires do you use? And what are you guys paying for the whole deal?
#16
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Originally Posted by Benedick
The RX-8 has a built-in advantage for driving in the snow! It's one of those looking on the bright side of things. The RX-8 is, as has been pointed out repeatedly, low on torque. That's an advantage in the snow because you are less likely to lose traction when accelerating. When I drive a standard transmission on snow, I try to stay a gear above where I would normally be just to reduce the torque and the possibility of breaking the driven wheels loose. With the 8's low torque, that may not be necessary.
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Is it the tires that make the most difference in snow traction, or is it the DSC? I don't have DSC / Traction Control on my 8 (base model - 6sp). Assuming that I get snow tires, am I still asking for trouble?
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Originally Posted by DavisRx8
Is it the tires that make the most difference in snow traction, or is it the DSC? I don't have DSC / Traction Control on my 8 (base model - 6sp). Assuming that I get snow tires, am I still asking for trouble?
#19
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Originally Posted by RX8rider
Gord96brg, you sound like one who's had some experience here...what brand of winter tires do you use? And what are you guys paying for the whole deal?
To sum up, though - I run Toyo Garit HT 215/55-17 on Konig Holes (Graphite) 17x7" wheels (pictures are around here in a few threads). It's actually cheaper to buy separate 17" alloy wheels and 17" winter tires than to buy more expensive 18" winter tires and pay to swap them with your summer tires twice per year, if you are planning to keep the car for 4 winters or more. Also - for winter use, narrower is better. A 215 width winter tire gives much better traction than a 245 all-season tire. For more than occasional snow use, the all-seasons would not be adequate (especially wide ones like 245s).
Regards,
Gordon
#20
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Originally Posted by DavisRx8
Is it the tires that make the most difference in snow traction, or is it the DSC? I don't have DSC / Traction Control on my 8 (base model - 6sp). Assuming that I get snow tires, am I still asking for trouble?
Regards,
Gordon
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Originally Posted by Gord96BRG
What GR8boy said - DSC can not magically create traction, they can only use as much traction as the tires provide. If you have the stock summer tires, there is extremely little traction available, and DSC will just ensure that you slide off the road pointed straight ahead rather than sideways or backwards - but you'll still be sliding off the road. If you want traction, then it's all about the tires.
So where in all of this do chains come into play? I've always put chains on my accord (front wheel drive / stock tires), when going up to the snow. Does having snow tires negate the need for chains on the 8 in all but the most snowed in conditions?
#22
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Originally Posted by DavisRx8
So where in all of this do chains come into play? I've always put chains on my accord (front wheel drive / stock tires), when going up to the snow. Does having snow tires negate the need for chains on the 8 in all but the most snowed in conditions?
Chains would still help on winter tires in extreme ice conditions, maybe in deep loose snow. I don't have much experience with chains, though, haven't used them in over 20 years.
Regards,
Gordon
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Originally Posted by DavisRx8
So where in all of this do chains come into play? I've always put chains on my accord (front wheel drive / stock tires), when going up to the snow. Does having snow tires negate the need for chains on the 8 in all but the most snowed in conditions?
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=chains
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=chains
#24
Lost control in an intersection recently with just a tiny amount of ice/wetness. Granted, my DSC was off and I was doing a U turn... and I still have my summer tires.
First and hopefully last time I end up facing the wrong way down the street.
First and hopefully last time I end up facing the wrong way down the street.