I live in an area that gets a good amount of snow. There's no way I'll get through winter without snow tires. The first time I drove in snow I was suprised how bad the car handled, even with only about a 1/2 inch on the ground.

Any recommendations for good snow tires?

Is anyone familiar with Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 studded tires. Someone recommended these, but I'm not familiar with studded tires? Are they worth it? Can/should you drive on them all winter?

Finally, is there hope for an RX8 in Winter, or should I look for a second car for winter driving rather than try snow tires?

 

have you even bothered looking around or searching yet?

 

Try the tire rack web site.
They test tires themselves and have thousands of consumer ratings of different snow tires.

I have 17 inch rims and Blizzak WS 50 tires and can get through anything , but performance suffers.

 

You'll find that 17" winter tires with cheap alloy or steel wheels is the best approach especially if you can swap them yourself.
Recommended tire size is 215-55-17 or 225-50-17

 

Just say no

 

I thought steel wheels weren't recommended on the 8? For 17's, will the calipers clear?

 

https://www.rx8club.com/canada-forum-35/winter-tires-130472/

Dunlop Sport Performance 3D - winter

 

Yes 17 inch rims will clear but 16 will not.
I don't think anyone is using steel rims.

 

I don't use steel but I've seen a couple of RX8s with them and they look

 

I have the same size rims and tires and could not be any happier. They are real cheap too because the WS-50's are being replaced with the WS-60's.

 

I have Pirelli Winter 240 SnowSport on the RX-8 and they're so-so; but I recently got Dunlop Winter Sport M3s on my Neon and boy they're good.

Everyday I see my neighbor shoveling to get out of his parking spot while I just drive away because the M3s just bite thru the snow and ice. I recommend them.

 

I would recommend the Dunlop M3s. I've had them on a GTI and the RX-8. Excellent in the wet, dry, and snow.

Why do so many people come into a thread and just ask people to search. Simply don't enter the thread when you know all you're going to say is search. Too much time on some people's hands, I suppose. Please add value to someone's question.

 

Because searches ARE valuable

Why do so many newbies feel that we are all here to provide free answers for people who are too lazy to look for themselves.
That said I try to help people whenever I can but it is frustrating to read the same newbie questions day after day when the stickies provide the answer; usually about two lines above their post...

 

Thanks to everyone who provided input. I looked around and it sounds like the Dunlop Winter Sport M3's might be the best way to go. I've heard bad things about Blizzak's from a few different people.

Has anyone ever tried studded tires? A tire dealer I know recommended studded tires (Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5), but I kind of think they are overkill. If the M3's can get the RX8 through the winter they are probably more sensible.

 

^ I was told they would be too noisy when driving on the road and it's for areas that get tons of snow... Why not get the newer Dunlops?

 

Studded tires are only an advantage on ice. Unless you have a ton of it to drive on, stick with studless. Good studless tires make this car perform amazingly in snow and pretty well on ice.