I am considering getting a snow tire and wheel package for my 8 - but not sure and had some questions- first- i live in the DC Metro area and we probalby get 1 or 2 'legit' snowings a winter- so is it even worth the 1400 or so bucks? Secondly- I love the look of the 8 with its 18 inch rims- does it matter what wheel I get, or just simply the tire? (I do plan to get new wheels for winter, but not sure if I should go down an inch)..anyone been thru a winter with advice?
Thanks

 

if there is even a 1/2" of snow that falls, you absolutely positively NEED to have snow tires on your car. The stock performance tires do aboslutely **** in even the smallest snow. Read the many many many threads on this forum that talk about people who think they can drive jsut fine with their stock rubber, and the trouble they get into. My car got stuck in a dusting...that's how bad it is.

So yes, there is no question that it is worth it. Unless you don't consider your $30,000 car worth the extra grand to keep it in one piece.

 

I live in the DC metro area and would not have dared to drive my car last winter without snow tires.

Even if there's nothing on the ground, the summer tires get stiff when the temperature drops.

And forget about driving the summer tires on snow - I did not bother trying after reading what other people experienced.

I have Dunlop Winter Sport M3s mounted on stock 18" wheels.

rx8cited

 

thanks guys- yeah, i plan on getting snow tires for sure, its absolutely worth it- my main question is whether the rubber is all i need to change (or the wheel size) (i plan to get new wheels, but curious as there is an advantage to stayin 18, or do i need to go down to 17...

thanks!

 

Get the wheels too. After a few years in the snow and salt the 8's wheels will be ruined.

 

I swapped the tires out last season without any problems or damage to the rim. I can change them out for $60 a season. Some people will rationalize that it pays for itself to just buy separate rims...since changing my tires twice a year is $120 x 4 years (the life of my lease) = $480, it is still cheaper than buysing the rims, since I was able to buy a set of 4 snow tires last year for $400 from Tire Rack.

So, $880 is cheaper than the $1100+ prices that most are paying for a new set of rims and tires. But, to each his own....

 

there are a few definite advantages to a 17" snow tire over an 18" snow tire.

1) The 17" tire will have a taller sidewall which gives the tire more flexibility and time to respond on snow.
2) Due to the taller side wall you will have more insulation and protection against impacts on potholes and debris in the road which can bend your wheels.
3) The cost of replacing a 17' snow tire is less than the replacement cost of an 18" snow tire.

The 18" tires and wheels do look better on the car, but in the winter time the 17" is definitely the way to go.