Wow. Let me just tell you that if there was one reason not to but an rx8 has to be its handling in the snow (but you should still buy one). I made the 10 mile trip back to home and knew where I was going to get stuck. Believe it or not, it was my own block about 10 houses from my own. I tried to get her going from second gear but she didn't want to budge. It took some salt and some friends to get her back in the driveway.
I keep reading about snow tires. Anyone have a rough price on these? I wonder if I should invest the money in them since I would use them very rarely. Thanks. Careful driving.

 

Sigh....try searching first. This topic has been covered MANY, MANY times before.

The stock tires are TERRIBLE in the snow. You need all-seasons (bare minimum) or snow tires (recommended). What did you expect from summer performance tires??

The 8's handling in the snow is definitely not a problem at all, it's simply the tires.

 

Did you notice this thread on here? The RX-8 can be TONS of fun in the snow with the right tires (either ultra high performance all seasons, or pure snows).

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/theres-no-rx-8-like-snow-rx-8-like-no-rx-8-we-know-50489/

 

Hehe. Yeah I noticed and I was very jealous of your fun. I am only a college student though...so the car payment alone taps my pay. The prospect of snow tires seems very dim considering it would cost me about $800. Hey...how much can it snow in Jersey this year? <Foot in Mouth.>

 

understand the pain ... well ... there's always the bus.

 

Again?! We've only said this about 1,000 times:

Stock tires + snow = dead RX-8

Snow tires + snow = one of the best handling snow cars you'll ever drive

You've got balanced weight distribution, low torque and a super-responsive throttle and gearbox to maintain whatever vehicle attitude the conditions require. What more do you need?




TRACTION!

 

Its not just snow.....how cold does it get in your area? The problem with summer performance tires is that the rubbber compound does not react well to cold....they harden up and give you no traction even if there isn't any snow on the ground.



With the proper tires the RX8 is a great RWD car for the winter....if you have DSC, its great for nornal driving...turn it off and you have a nicely balanced car for drifting fun in the snow.

 

If you're in north Jersey there is no doubt. Get snow tires!!!!!!!!!! I did and they're great. I got wheel and tire combo from tire rack. The only problem I had was some issues with the tpms sensors leaking air, especially when cold. But that seems to be fixed for the moment.

 

Or a quality set of All Seasons ... I swear by the Pirelli PZero Nero M+S tires ... they rock, all around!

Stew

 

I'm sorry for bringing up a dead issue. New to the forum. But thanks for all the feedback. I got a friend who has an in at Just Tires...so we'll see. Until then I guess it's either hoofing it or my other (less spectacular) wheels.

 

I bought winter tires because the car came with summer tires, I figure I would go all out.

This car is by far the best I have ever driven in the snow WITH snow tires.

If you have stock...forget it.

 

I live in DC and recently purchased 4 Dunlop Graspic DS-2's which are winter tires- 245/40/18- from tirerack.com; cost me $600 delivered to my home and paid $120 to the local tire place to have them put on and my summer tires removed; I store my summer tires in the attic and will swap them back out in a few months; it snowed here today and I could not be happier with my decision- the 8 handled like a champ in the white stuff!

 

4 new tires, snow or otherwise, ain't cheap. I got some and then was faced with looking at godawful black steel rims for the rest of the winter. So add in a set of alloy rims (on sale) and I'm broke. But happy.

 

that is really blown out of proportion on this forum - i had my potenza's on on a 15 degree F day and had about 9/10th the grip i normally had

my car worked fine with my Dunlop Wintersport M3's today

 

I learned the hard way today.

I've got the stock dunlop summer tires and I was by far the least capable car on the road. I didn't even make it home with only 2" of snow on the ground!

This has gotten me to think of buying winter or all-season tires. If what I am reading on this board is true, I never knew sooooo much could depend on the type of tire. It boggles my mind.