emailists

I was driving up first Ave. (here in NYC) a few nights ago in about 1/4" of snow. I don't have snow tires (I'm running with the orig factory tires - forget the make- not the Potenza's- about 7K miles)

I was going steadily about 20 mph in 2nd gear (traction on), all straight aways, and there were several times I thought I would literally crash. (I think it was slight declines that caused the problems) The car just started veering right and left. I was able to get control, but this was pretty dismaying.


I don't absolutely have to drive when it snows- but have no place to store snow tires/rims since I live in an apt.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

czr

iTrader: (3)

There's no substitute for good snow tires, how about swap out the stockers for good all-seasons and sell the stock ones?

dag

Pay for storage. I live in an apartment outside Philly and have my tires in storage. If NYC prices are too high - head to a suburb location near a tire store. I used to live in Lyndhurst, NJ and there was a storage facility and a tire shop right across the street from each other. Storage = much cheaper than a new 8/winter beater.

dag

foxman

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/rx-8-snow-bridgestones-tcs-dsc-%3D-48328/

It can be quite dangerous to drive with OEM high performance summer tires. Winter/All seasons tires or no snow driving is a must. My winter tires are a Dodge Dakota.

expo1

Cover two of them at a time with a cloth and make end tables out of them. Or see if work, friends or relatives have some space.

bbbradley

Tire storage is cheaper than the inevitable insurance increase from an at-fault accident. :D Snows can turn most any smartly driven car into a very competent winter vehicle. My wife's AWD A4 is useless on summer tires, but fantastic on the Arctic Alpins.

/bill

emailists

Thanks for the link to the video of the RX8 in snow- it sure look great against the white snow and sounded nice with that exhaust.

As per that thread - would I have been better off with the traction control off?


I'm trying to weight out the costs of snow tires/rims/storage VS. simply taking cabs and not driving the 8 in any kind of snow.

thanks

Calf_12pc

Shoot 1/4" that is nothing. We had 12" here in Indianapolis over X-Mas. Now that made for some tough driving in my 8, especially on stock tires.

rotten42

Running in snow without snow tires....please post the pics of your smashed up car when it happens.


Please do a search on this subject and listen to the experience of people who know better.

khtm

Noooo...traction control (DSC) off is TERRIBLE in the snow. Only try it if you're in an empty parking lot or something. If you're on the road and you make a turn you're likely to just pull a 360.

you need snow tires...

dmp

Are you implying the car comes with high-performance tires? I have the dunlops on my car, and they SUCK. The car can burn out ALL the time - the tires plow and roll and simply aren't impressive. It's likely they are designed for long-life rather than stickiness/handling.

foxman

The car comes with various tires which really doesn't matter.

If you have high performance summer tires OEM or otherwise, avoid the snow. I don't know anything about the Dunlops but cars like the RX-8 generally come with sticky, soft compound, summer only, high performance or ultra high performance tires where treadlife is forgotten along with driving in snow or ice.

BoxerGT2.5

Sell it and get a WRX. ????

Mazdax605

Or a Forester XT.We just got a base model Forester X for my wife a few months ago,and with this latest snow storm I drove it to work in the middle of the night on sunday(height of storm),and that liitel car went places it should not have gone.I even drove by a large dumptruck with a plow that was stuck in the snow spinning tires,and the littel suie just pulled right through.

I so wish I had purchased a XT instead of the RX-8 now that it is in a snowy,icy cocoon in my driveway.Not to be driven for many months

Maybe I can get out of the lease early and get a subie.NOT!!!!!

StewC625

Please read the Pirelli PZero Nero M+S thread in the Wheel & Tire Forum. Great all-around traction, including snow traction, is possible with these killer tires. Don't "pooh-pooh" them as "oh, all season tires are a compromise" until you read the thread. This is a very reasonablly priced upgrade to the car that makes a huge difference in all aspects of the performance of the car. And makes it an all-weather car.

Gord96BRG

Sorry, I'm going to pooh-pooh them. "great snow traction" ???? Please. They're far better in the snow than the OEM summer tires, but they are nowhere near dedicated winter tires. This fanaticism for the Nero M+S is getting a bit silly - they're not magical, you know. I can believe that they're as good as the OEM summer tires on dry and wet pavement, no problem, and much better on colder temperatures than the OEM summer tires on dry pavement. However, even Omicron (the original forum user of the Nero M+S) would never claim they have great snow traction. He has specifically said, on numerous occasions, that they aren't as good as dedicated winter tires, but they get around OK. Especially with the wider 245 size that many people are choosing, the Nero M+S will never be a match in snow for real winter tires.

Yes, they are a great compromise for people who only see occasional snow. There you go - the compromise word. They will never have as good snow traction as a real winter tire, but they eliminate the need for separate tires and/or wheels. Pretty much the definition of compromise, wouldn't you agree?

For people who see a lot of snow, I would definitely recommend a real winter tire rather than an all-season. Once again, there's no magic to the Nero M+S, they're not as good as winter tires on snow/ice. Period. They're OK for occasional snow use, just be sure to take it easy.

Regards,
Gordon

emailists

Thanks for the tip on Nero M+S. I really do very little snow driving so they might be perfect for me.

StewC625

Gordon:

As I said over and over in my contributions to the thread on that, for areas that receive occasional snow, drivers that have small or reasonably small commutes or have other driving options when it's truly bad out, and/or areas that take great care of the roads, these are a terrific option.

What I object to on the "compromise" statement is that the PZero Nero M+S is frequently knocked as not being as good as the OEM or other pure summer tires in DRY and WET. Which is wholly not true. As to snow: There's NO doubt that an all season tire won't be as good as a pure winter tire on snow. I never say that once in the thread, nor said that here. For an all-season tire, these have great snow traction.

Having owned Blizzaks before and currently (on my wife's car), I can heartily agree - there is NO substitute. But for someone (like me, for example) that:

1) Has no commute - I work from home
2) Has other transport options - my wife's minivan which DOES have Blizzaks on it for winter and it truly is amazing in snow as a result)
3) Lives in an area where they take great care of the roads - Chicago area
4) Doesn't want to either blow $1600 on a set of 18" snows, plus $200+ year mounting/unmounitng them or $1300 on a dedicated set of wheels with snows

... then, these are a terrific option. You give up nothing on dry/wet pavement, gain tremendously in snow, gain tremendously in treadwear (at least on a rating - actual practice will bear this out), and especially big gains in noise and ride. Doesn't sound like a compromise to me.

Don't knock it till you try it. I'd drive on these even if I lived in San Diego. They are that good.

Stew

Gord96BRG

Thanks for the clarification - I just get worried when someone raves about the tire as having great snow traction that someone might actually believe that they have great snow traction and can be used instead of winter tires. In winter terms, they definitely are a compromise, but as you point out a good one for certain conditions - and I agree 100% with you. It's just really important to continue to be explicit about those details, for the newbies to tires or RX-8s that haven't read those other threads.

As for summer dry/wet use - I believe you all! I will be seriously considering these tires when my RE040s are worn out (I'll get at least one more summer from them). The Nero M+S sound like the real deal from what you all have posted here, and the ability to get around in light winter conditions can be very useful for the occasional late spring or early fall surprises that Mother Nature throws at us up here! (snow storms in late May are not uncommon)

Regards,
Gordon

StewC625

Honestly, the best surprise was the QUIET ... man, what a difference - where I had tread whine, there is none whatsoever.