rx-great

Yeah, I had a great time Thursday in Buffalo. Stock tires with snow on the road made a lot of people behind me angry when I tried to get going after a stop. I ended up leaving my car in a parking lot until things melted. Lets just say buying winter tires is on the top of my to do list.

Razz1

If your going to get in an accident, don't aim for the snow bank. hit the car instead. Snow banks get packed and turn to ice inside which become Cement walls.
Cement walls don't give like another car will.

Also slow down way before the stop signs/stop lights. Ice builds up thereand you can easily find yourself sliding into an accident.

Eagle64

I'm from Kansas originally so I know full well the meaning of icy roads and black ice. Wind chill can be quite the bitch during the winter.

Anyway, I'm in located in southern AL for at least another year. I'm considering driving home for the holidays. I doubt I would get snow tires as that would be pretty much the only occassion for which I would need them. I'm rolling on 25k miles and about ready for new tires anyway.

Should I even attempt driving in adverse conditions w/ anything other than all weather type of tire? I've driven both FWD (94 grand am) and RWD (73 Cutlass, 81 Escort) so I feel pretty comfortable in slick conditions. Does the 8 do anything significantly different from another RWD vehicle?

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Right. Because the combined inertia of two moving vehicles doesn't amount to much.

SmokeyTheBalrog

I guess the idea is you rather hit a movable object (car on same slippery road) as opposed to a immovable object (a block of ice)

Note: this only makes sense if the snow has had a chance to thaw and refreeze multiple times. (Or course with ll the crap dumped in the snow it might thaw even if it is above freezing and then refreeze during the night when it gets even colder.)

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

It never makes sense.
If you hit a solid block of ice at 10 MPH, you hit it at 10 MPH.
If you hit an on-coming car that is also doing 10 MPH, its like hitting that block of ice at 20 MPH.
Twice the speed = 4x the energy.

1145climber

true, but i think he meant a stationary car in front of you or something, not swerving into on-coming traffic...

SmokeyTheBalrog

Yeah, I also interpreted a car moving in the same direction or facing in the same direction but stationary.

Rems31

But by aiming at another car you can cause more cars into an accident. Depending on how fast you're going you can injure the people in the car in front of you...

1145climber

yeah, i'd probably just go for the snow banks... but its definitely something to think about that they can be hard as a rock

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

If you are sliding out of control "going" for any choice of impact is ludicrous.

ken-x8

When sliding on ice, what makes anyone think they have a choice about what they're going to hit?

Ken

deamicls

iTrader: (1)

I bought my set from www.tirerack.com Go through their winter wheel and tire package and get the 17 inch option (215/55/17) under the Build your Own package. You'll get larger sidewall, more narrow tread which is exactly what you want for winter driving.

Then, I matched the tires with the cheapest wheels that were to my licking (Kazera wheels for 129 each). Shipping was 65 bucks. So maybe I lied about being 1000 dollars. It was more like 1050.

I haven't tried them yet but i can already tell that i won't be needing an extra pair of undies from driving in the snow.

Hope this helps. Let me know, I'll be glad to help.

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

Snow banks will not present your *** with a lawsuit like the driver of the other car will...

deamicls

iTrader: (1)

My suggestion is.....DON'T DO IT unless you get some kind of winter/all weather tire. I tried driving in the snow and it was a disaster.

Just to give you an idea of how it is:

It snowed at work and the parking lot was covered. Our maintenance guy plowed all the lots and there was only about 1/8 inch of snow left on the parking lot and I couldn't even get out of our main lot. Also, the tires were the OE Bridgestones and I only had 10k miles on them.

So, I can't imagine going down the road at 20mph in this car when the car can't even handle 2 mph.

SmokeyTheBalrog

People in front drive cars?

Note I wasn't saying this was my opinion just trying to explain what the person was trying to say. I agree if you're sliding especially in a rear wheel drive car you are just a long for the ride.

If it's low speed and you have a little traction in a FWD car you can "use the force" to guide it a little.

Winfree

If you are in a state where they are legal, get studded tires, especially good for black ice and sleet. An old carpet can also help you get out of bad places like when you park on the street and the next day there is 2 feet of wet stuff. Watch the weather - if it looks like it is going to turn bad - try to bug out early, before the front hits. Sleet is evil! Avoid if possible!
Have a portable battery recharger and keep it charged - cold weather sucks juice. Use highest test Gas it will start easier. Find the antifreeze stuff that you add to windshield wipers. Carry in car food, a blanket, snow scaper, extra hat, gloves - whatever you would need if you get stuck in traffic or end up off road to stay warm and alive. Beware of the first few days of snow of the year - the guys that can't handle snow will be killing themselves off and any car near by - If you can afford it, get a rat car to drive on really bad days - one that is so bad you won't feel pain if it gets hurt. Early mornings bad for black ice, night really bad for sleet turning to ice. Plan vacations for worst time of year if possible and just get out of there!

ProfDean

I bought a set of Bridgestone RE960as Pole Position tires this summer as all-season tires. They are top-rated for wet or snow-covered roads. This will be my first winter with them on my 8 so I'll let you know how they work out. Does anyone else run with a set of these tires?

Krankor

I continue to think that people *grossly* overestimate the difference between front wheel drive and rear wheel drive. I've had *plenty* of fwd experiences on slippery stuff where I had zero control over what or where I was going to hit (not that I actually hit anything every time).

SmokeyTheBalrog

I only meant that even if one has a little traction, not enough to keep the tires from spinning but still a little, one can still steer a little as long as one is going slow enough and/or has enough space.

If you have no traction and/or are going to fast doesn't matter what one is driving.

New Yorker

"Those who have to deal with slippery driving conditions will benefit from the RX-8's perfect 50/50 weight balance and available traction/stability control system. Throw a set of Bridgestone Blizzaks on this baby and you should be able to handle most anything winter throws your way."

Winfree

Tire Studs are not that expensive - but they really really work! I lived on top of a hill when I was going to school in Nashville - we had ice storms and sleet and staying home was not an option - had only one day when I had to park my car at the bottom and walk. They can be added to almost any tire and they also protect against tread wear. Chain can also help for deep snow but they are a pain to get on and off - wimps and grannys can get them done for a reasonable charge at many garages - good to know which ones do them in your area - both near home and near work. Get membership in AAA you may need it.

TomAssBender

Thank you for that, I was beginning to think maybe I shouldn't have gotten an RX-8 for my daily driver here in NJ/PA so thats at least a little reassuring

regarding tirerack, is that really the cheapest place to get wheels/tires, or just the most convenient? for instance, can I go to discount tire or something and get a wheel/tire package for cheaper?

deamicls

iTrader: (1)

I think that with tirerack you get the best of both worlds. Best prices most of the time and the convenience of fast shipping and free mounting.

Krankor

I'll agree with all of that, as far as it goes. But there seems to be an implication that, with the fwd, if you aren't going fast you'll be ok. That's just not true. I've had fwd's completely lose front traction and go where they will at slow speeds.

My point is not to dispute anyone, just to disabuse people of the notion that fwd is somehow a snow panacea. It is not. You still have to drive very carefully, and unfortunate things can still happen. Which means that the converse is also true: by driving a rwd car like the 8 in the snow, you're not giving up that much. Again, what you need is a good set of snow tires and some good caution and common sense.