hahaha, i'll remember that for the first big snow, thanks...


all joking aside though, if i do happen to get stuck on some ice or whatever, what should i do with the DSC? im guessing i should press the disable button to try to help get out, right? or should i even do the thing where you hold it down for 7 seconds?

 

one thing I know for certain is:

you can always lose traction on ice, one time I did full-on donuts in a nissan pickup, with 4WD turned on and with studded tires on. and it wasn't a paved road (for those who don't know, if you're driving studded tires on a dry paved road, you should start writing a will)

 

Important Tip Not Yet Mentioned

In general, all the advice people have given is good. But you have special considerations as a Boston winter driver. I lived in the Boston area for 25 years before moving out west this past spring, so I know a little something about it. Here is my advice:

Boston drivers are insane . Normally, they are just pleasingly aggressive, but what I observed is that many of them *don't adjust their driving* to conditions. It's snowy, it's icy, it's pouring buckets of rain, they don't care, they drive *exactly the same*. And then they scratch their heads and wonder why the radio is so overflowing with accident reports on crappy-weather days. What does this mean to you? Mainly this: don't let them influence or intimidate you, and for god's sake, don't use them as a model for how to drive in the snow!

Let me give an example, one I've lived through countless times: Trying to drive home from work on 128. It's snowing hard, the road is in bad shape, it's hard to even see where the lanes are. I'm doing 30-35, maybe as much as 40 sometimes but feeling white-knuckled about it. And all around me, douche-bags are zipping along, passing me, doing like 50-55, well beyond what the conditions warrant. (and mind you, I'm trying to be in the lane with the least-awful road surface, i.e. the one with the most usable tire-tracks with maybe a little pavement showing, so these guys passing me are using the *crappy* lanes). The key here is: DON'T let them hurry you, DON'T let them convince you that it must be ok to speed ahead. Use your best, rational judgement, and stick to it, regardless. It takes patience and perseverence, but the most important thing is making it home in one piece.

I promise you, I am no timid, granny driver, I've seen my share of prodigious speeds. But driving in snow is a whole other animal, and prudence is really called for.

 

Starting in 2nd instead of first also works well, I have driven my rx-7 through a few winters and they will go anywhere, as long as you take your time and plan ahead. Also as said before, learn to control your gas pedal, small movements with it can mean alot in the snow and ice. Lastly, knowing a little bit of rally drift can really help incase your rear comes loose.

 

If you get stuck, apply the throttle in such a way as to make the car rock back and forth like a pendulum and build momentum to get out of the rut. I don't know how DSC will react in this situation. It might not matter because you are trying to avoid spinning the wheels anyway, but I cannot say for sure as I have never had to drive my 8 in snow and ice...

 

DSC will probably intervene as it senses you're losing traction or one wheel spinning faster than the other. if you're stuck in the snow, you might want to turn it off to regain some footing and traction. Because DSC is going to think you're losing control and apply brake forces and cut engine power if your trying to get out of a rut in snow.

 

You'll be fine. Same set-up I have. Just remember you're not driving a 4X4 (thank god!).

 

I think it's entertaining every year to see what happens to the 4X4 crowd when it snows. A lot of the 4X4 and SUV drivers in this area are Type-A yuppies who think the world should move over for them. (I love it when one tailgates me into a highway on-ramp, with predictable results.) Many of these types tend to learn the same lessons every winter:

1 - They're called snow tires, not ice tires.

2 - The laws of physics apply to everyone, regardless of attitude.

3 - SUVs and 4X4s are top-heavy, dumbass.

4 - Curbs love tripping top-heavy vehicles driven by dumbasses with bad attitudes that are sliding because the owner thinks their vehicle is too macho to be affected by ice.

Like I tell every boss I've ever had... I grew up in this area - I know how these people drive in the snow - When it snows, I come in late - I sit back and have another cup of coffee and wait until all the impatient people are safely in a ditch, then I go to work.

 

I havent drove my RX-8 in snow but i have a general idea how it will react. Turning the DSC off is a no no. First and foremost moving like a pendlum should not provoke DSC because you are not loosing traction.

If you do loose traction on one wheel when stuck it will quickly spin and dig a pit there getting you stuck even further. The DSC will prevent this from happening. If you are starting to drive and you feel the DSC interfering with you: You are giving too much gas and without the DSC you would either have stood still spinning your wheels or rotating your car sideways.

Finally if your rear tires are stuck in snow and you want to burn the snow away to be able to push the car out of the snow bank you just recently drifted into: Turn DSC off and give some gas. Be very certain that you arent just digging yourself deeper in then.

As a last point: DSC is smart, humans are stupid. Use DSC.

 

The 4x4 Yuppie crowd never remember the reality of four wheel drive. Even though regular cars are only 2WD, *every* vehicle is four wheel braking and four wheel cornering. Throw in top-heavy, and once a 4x4 is rolling the laws of physics are more severe than for a regular car.

I grew up and learned to drive in snow country, but have lived in the DC area since the mid-70s. If it snows while I'm at work, I stay late and go home after the locals have slid into the ditch, leaving the roads clear. If it's snowy in the morning, I telecommute. Drive through a few snowstorms around here, and you get to appreciate how a duck in a shooting gallery feels.

Ken

 

drive slow as hell in low gear and use a lot of engine braking

 

You must be joking playdoh. Proper advice...drive at low revs in higher gears, usually a gear higher than you normally would. Engine braking will simply break the rears loose, DSC - TSC - ABS won`t help you there. AND don`t drive slow as hell, drive relative to conditions. People that overcompensate their speed and drive at 2mph make it dangerous for all of us.

Otherwise, good winter tires are everything and are MORE valuable than AWD. My 8 was unstoppable with my 17`winters. And weight in the trunk is a waste of space, performance, fuel economy, etc. - see tires comment.

A big point not mentioned here. Don`t drive in deep snow storms, take a bus! Unless you want to replace your AC condenser and oil coolers, the 8 is way too low, especially when crossing intersections that were half cleaned.

 

i think i understand.... basically, leave DSC on unless youre stuck and can't get out. thought so...

i feel you on that one. i hate all the little soccer moms / yuppies that feel invincible because theyre in an SUV and are determined to believe they can drive however they like in any conditions solely because of their large car...

 

Just get the snow tires on BEFORE it snows or hits 30 degrees. It was just below 40 this morning and the OEM's were bricks for the first 15 mins.

Dunlops, Blizzaks, Snow Sports, any ole snow tire will do.

Some days I think the sand all over the place is worse then the snow. At least snow you know what you're getting into.

Remember that your snow tires will be a bit mushy but it's not as mushy as say sliding into a curb an destroying your stock tire and rims.

-- in NH.

 

I just bought a set of winter tires (Blizzaks) and wheels for a total of 1000 dollars shipped. I think that that is a decent price to pay for my safety and the car's as well. Plus, I'm sure that they will easily last me 4 winters so it's a pretty decent deal in the long run.

 

I wish it would snow in Houston =(

 

dont drive have a party instead. I got winter tires but i still drive an audi around whenever i can with snow.

 

wow poor car looks like a RX8 snow man. I've never seen that much snow in my life!

 

when all the snowing was done it kinda looked like a pontiac aztek

 

 

Yeah!
Some of us got a nice little early winter surprise this morning in upstate NY! Luckily the 8 was in the garage and we took the Subie to work. My schedule for putting the snow tires on the 8 is now moved forward by several weeks, altho' I don't relish the thought of doing it this weekend in an unheated garage.

 

wtf? 1000 shipped? on wheels? no way... gimme some info, i could go for that!

currently, im looking at 1100 installed on OEM rims with free changes for life (or the life of the tires anyway) from a local Direct Tire for the Dunlop M3's.... is this a good deal? the problem with getting them mail ordered is that to change the tires on OEM rims, its $40/corner/season... lotsa money after a few winters...

but, if i can get snows on a separate set of wheels?!? thatd be great if i could get that cheap...


where'd you get that deal?

 

Only one tip for driving an 8 in the snow:

DON'T

 

Pfft! It does fine if you know how to drive in it.

 

Second! I've only driven my 8 once in serious snow, but it did *just fine*. Certainly no worse than any other car I've ever had. Of course, I had heeded all the advice here and gotten a good set of snow tires.