Based on research on this site, I went ahead and got snow tires/rims for my new RX-8. Can't lie, I was skeptical going in. Even after reading all the posts.

Well, today I got to test my new tires out as we are supposed to get 6 - 8 inches by the time it's done (I put them on this past week, car has been mostly sitting since I bought it). Right now, the roads are covered pretty good, but nothing really all that bad.

With stock tires, I'm thinking there is no way I would want to be out there let's put it that way.

So, what were my impressions?

Best $1250 I have spent on a vehicle yet. I had no problems whatsoever. In fact, I just drove home from Champaign. The snow had slowed significantly prior to going over, so I figured I would make a trip I had to make. By the time I was done and ready to head home, it had really starting to come down and the roads were covered a decent amount. Nothing insane, but covered.

Trip was about 35 miles door to door, and most of that is interstate. During the interstate portion, I counted 9 cars off the road. 2 were Mustangs that slid into the center, one was a camaro that had a wreck with what looked like a Buick Rendezvous, another wreck involved a van that was on it's side and a sedan of some sort, and the rest were SUVs that were alone that slid off the road. One must have been flying, as he was well off the road and stuck pretty badly as only 2 wheels were on the ground. There was a slight turn left in the interstate, he basically went straight.

That being said, I never felt out of control once. I wasn't going a great deal of speed, but I wasn't going all that slow either. Car seemed quite good on these Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds. Heck, the only time it ever slid was when I purposely made it just to check it out (one in a parking lot, and one turning left onto my road by my house). Just wanted to see how quick it lost traction.

Anyway, I will quit rambling. I just wanted to thank everyone once again for responding directly to my previous threads, or indirectly in the posts that I read.

If someone else is skeptical about getting winter tires on this car, all I can say is based on my small amount of experience, they are well worth the money.

 

Up until this year we have had such mild winters (I'm just west of you in Champoo-Banana) that I just got a set of all-seasons (Falken 512's at that!) for the winters. Yah, talk about wake-up call last February and now this winter. Next set of winter tires will definitely be snows.

Lucky, my wife's Santa Fe has 4wd and a set of good A/T tires.

 

That's part of the reason I was skeptical. Just wasn't sure if I could justify the cost living 3 miles from work. After the storm last February (I had a 4x4 then) and lately around here, I'm glad I got them.

 

i found a really nice deal on a set of barely used blizzak ws-50s mounted on 17" asa rims. best $800 i ever spent. i commute 30 miles to school one way, and with the stock tires i dont think i would have made it more than 5 before getting into a serious wreck.

 

I've been driving my Rx8 in the snow since I bought it. I'm going tomorrow to get all season tires put on it, needless to say.

 

I also am driving in the snow for the first time. Bought some Toyo winter tires.

They work great! Thank god for DSC........

 

Quality snow tires; Bridgestone Blizzaks, etc. make a HUGE difference on any vehicle. Anybody that lives in a place that sees snow and ice in the winter should definitely be using them. I have Blizzaks on my AWD Honda Ridgeline truck and it's truly unbelievable on snow and even glare ice. The people who crash around here, and they're the ones who worry me most, are almost always on all-season tires.

 

Just a quick update. Had the Dunlop Wintersport 3Ds for a month now. We haven't been nailed by a great deal of snow so far, but when I have driven in it or on slippery roads, I've had no issues at all with these tires. In fact, I would say so far the RX8 on these tires have far exceeded my expectations.

 

I have worn stock tires and i'm driving in every weather.
People have to push me to move from my parking spot a work when its snowing but after i start moving i'm good. Drifting all the way home

You guys are talking about +6inches... I'm sliding when there is over 0.5inch :D
Its fun and i don't feel like spending 1k on tires i will use only 4days per year.

 

I recently moved up to the DC area, we have had 2 snow dusting's of about 1-3" and my 8 drives fine in that. I'd imagine anything over 3" would be bad since the car is low, but I must say the DSC works very well and I feel very comfortable driving in the snow with my 8. I'm hoping we get like 6"-12" so I can see if my car will even make it out of the driveway. I also have a pretty low profile set-up with some cheap summer tires and it takes the snow well.

 

talk about snow, i just came back from snowboarding at lake tahoe. i didnt drive my 8 because i have ES100s on my wheels so im not even going to try to attach the snow.

chains were required so doesnt matter what tires you have still need chains, that is part of the reason why i dont buy snow tires. i did have snow tires on my subaru so AWD + snow tires dont have to stop for anything.

 

I have a set of Blizzaks that came with the car. I'm a complete n00b at winter driving and I've never seen anyone drive in winter before (this is my first winter season, and I'm from a tropical country. Moved to the USA for studies).

Anyway, let's just say that the Blizzaks are confidence inspiring. I drive the 8 paying very little attention to the fact that it's a snowstorm outside. In fact, I intentionally head out to the nearest parking lot when it snows for practice.