Just to let you know - www.tirerack.com now has the RX-8, both auto and manual versions, in their database system and is offering tires, wheels, and winter packages for the RX-8!

Regards,
Gordon

 

Only 1 tire shows up? The Dunlop M3 at 18" ??

Bah.

 

Without doing anything, I found 9.

Selected the car, hit "Tires" (it selects the speed ratings for you), and "Go". returned the nine choices.

RX-8 OEM Tire Link

 

I picked "winter" though. Only 1 for winter and it's 18".

Unless I'm doing something wrong.

I followed your link and there are 2 winters, odd when I picked "winter" as part of my search on the dunlop showed up.

ah well, at least they tried....

 

For winter, pick the 17" option (it offers the choice of 17 or 18). I think they list 3 or 4 17" winter tires, and about 30 wheels!

Regards,
Gordon

 

Ah, I didn't see the "click here for winter packages" Guess I'm blind!

BUT! I'm not sure if those 17" wheels will fit or not, all they do is list them, with no specs on the offset.

If you then click on pick a wheel for my car, and pick the car, it only allows you to pick 18" and 19" wheels.

 

Is anyone concerned about unexpected issues when purchasing aftermarket wheels, such as some of the items (Tire pressure sensore and caliper clearance) identified here:

http://www.yawpower.com/wheels.html

Personal experience with shopping at places like TireRack.com included buying wheels for my '83 RX-7 and found that they did not account for the screws holding on the rear drums....two options were left to remove the screws or drill holes into the wheels.

Just curious if you all expect to just bolt these on, or do you expect some level of effort required after the wheels are received to install them properly.

 

Tire Rack is pretty good about things like offset in their fitments - if they list it for a car, chances are pretty good that they've actually tried it on the car!

If you want to see what the 17s look like, then pick the RX-8 Automatic, and you can select 17s to view on the car. Outside of the winter packages, Tire Rack's program never allows you to select a smaller diameter wheel than what the car originally came with, even if it fits.

If you want to talk to someone, perhaps Trent or Bruce would be helpful - Bruce is their contact at the Miata.net forums ( www.miataforum.com ) Tires and Wheels forum, and lists his direct extension and phone number there.

Regards,
Gordon

 

Caliper clearance is certainly an issue. For us Canadians, Mazda actually did us a favour - our RX-8s do not have the Tire Pressure Monitoring System, so we don't have to worry about pressure sensors at all!

Regards,
Gordon

 

Does anyone else find it odd that Tire Rack only lists tires in a 225 width for the RX-8?

Recommended tire size:
225/40r19
225/45r18
225/50r17
225/55r16

I was hoping to go with a narrower tire for winter use. I wonder if Bruce would be able to make any suggestions.

bruce@tirerack.com
(877) 522-8473 ext 289

P.S. Gord96BRG, thanks for the miata forum tip.

 

Yes, especially since their own winter tire tech articles recommend going with a narrower width!

If we have to go 17s, there are two winter tires in 215/55-17 - the Pirelli W210 SnowSport, and the new Michelin Pilot Alpin Next Generation. Tire Rack lists both those tire models, but not the 215/55-17 size. Other vendors (in Canada) do this that size as available in those models. In 16s, there are a bunch of great choices in 215/60-16 or even 205/60-16. If only we could find out if we can get a 16" wheel that fits!

Regards,
Gordon

 

so does anyone know what we do with the pressure sensor situation???

Would they be included in a Winter Tire Package ??

 

First, a disclaimer. I'm not a computer whiz, and may have missed something. BUT, every time I try the Tire Rack for Mazda, the only choice I get for our car is RX8 automatic. Does that mean the standard auto, with the smaller brakes that go with the 16" wheels? (I happen to have an auto with a package that includes 18" wheels and big brakes.) Monday, I intend to ask a real person at Tire Track what's going on.
Mitch

 

I like the BBS RGRs with Winning Blue Metallic exterior color (black cloth interior). I'd like to be able to run the same width all around in the RGR. The 9-inch wide might fit all around with 255/40-18, but I need to know the offset of the Tire Rack's "optional rear" fitment for BBS RGR. Anyone know? The offset range would need to be 42 to 50 mm...

 

Sounds like some of you are not so pleased with Tire Racks winter tire offerings????

I live in Long Island, N.Y. and am looking for an inexpensive yet effective solution.

It's not that we get that much snow, all that often and therefore I think I need winter tires that do well and wont wear quickly when the pavement is dry.

Would these fit the bill?
http://www.tirerack.com/snow/SnowSel...&autoYear=2004


Also Tire Rack makes mention that they provide alll that is needed for one to change thier own tires in lieu of having a garage do it. Is this true and a viable option?


And how about the tire presssure sensors, can I move those between sets of tires on my own?

I am handy but not an auto mechanic.

Thanks for any feedback.

Claude H.

 

I have been asking around, at Tire Rack, a local installer they recommended, and my Mazda dealer. Here's some of what I found.
The Tire Rack recommended setup you showed is a loser in a couple of ways. The wheels have no provision for the tire pressure sensors, so you would lose that capacity. Besides, the tires are really made for snow, and would not only wear to the point of self-destruction in your area (and mine, Washington, DC) but not be good handlers or quiet. Bridgestone has a much more expensive snow tire that is more of a compromise, and rated for RX8 type speeds; LM22, I think.
What I (and you too, IMO) need are all-season tires for the months where the stock ones must go. (I called Bridgestone, and they said the 040s should not be used in winter.) But nobody makes them in the RX8 18" wheel/tire size. The best 18" 225/45 tire deal I've found is V-rated winter Dunlops at $154 (plus shipping) at Tire Rack.
But what about mounting? Tire Rack says there is a state of the art Hunter machine that will not mess up alloy rims, and one guy in my area has it. When I called him, he wanted to sell me tires himself; if I bought from Tire Rack, he would charge $50 a wheel to install on his fancy machine. My dealer says he has last year's Hunter (a $7,000 rig) and it works OK. He said he installs/balances -- but that Ford/Mazda is now big in the tire business, and he would call back with a quote. Haven't heard from him yet.
I don't want to pull tires on and off every year indefinitely, because of the cost and possible harm to tires and rims. Tire Rack says the only rims with tire pressure monitor holders are $375 apiece. I'm hoping that by next year lower priced rims will be available. Then I can put the Dunlops on them, and when the D's wear out, get the all-season performance tires that should also be on the market by then.
Bottom line: Mazda did us dirt by not working with a tire company to put out all-season tires in our size, and wheel companies, so we could avoid the first-year bad choices. (The lack of all-season alternatives may have something to do with the choice of Bridgestone as OE suppliers. Because they want to sell the LM-22s they already make, they would not be anxious to design an all-season competitor in 225/45.) As for buying another set of the stock wheels, I like their looks but they are heavy (20 lbs), and I haven't priced them.
Mitch
P.S. Anyone with more info, please reply.

 

OE 18" wheels cost $364. Considering that they weight 20 lbs., and the $375 competitors weight 13.6 and are not bad looking, I would not buy extra OE wheels for winter use. People in areas where there is a fair amount of snow and ice probably would prefer 17" wheels anyway (providing clearance is OK, and some of the Canadian RX8 people seem to have found wheels that fit), so they can get a somewhat narrower tire that does better in snow. I didn't mention the Canadian scene before because they don't have tire pressure sensors.
Mitch

 

Running without the TPM Sensors isn't as much of a pain as I thought it would be. The light doesn't even light until about 15 minutes into a trip. Guess it waits that long to make sure they really aren't there. Must be a very long period between updates. Even when the light goes off there is no tone as would be the case with incorrect tire pressure.

Also, a small piece of black electrical tape totally obscures the light and since the audible warning doesn't sound for this condition you never even know it happened.

My recommended solution.

For Solo II you don't even need to do that since it's rare that the car will run for more than 15 minutes at a time.

 

Who knew this would be so difficult?

I wish there was a clear solution here.

1) 17" rims with provisions for sensors under $150/each
2) Narrow snow tires that would last even on dry pavement
3) I should be able to swap the rim/tires myself each winter. Everything s/b all balanced and ready to go.

Pardon me for the silly question: Is there anything special to be done when switching tires/rims that prevents me from doing this myself, isn't it like switching a flat tire?

I realize that I would have to keep track of which corner each tire comes from/belongs to, But other than that, can't I do this myself each year?

UPDATE: I just called tire rack and spoke with someone there who promises to look into this further and contact me with his findings and recommendations. I alerted him that some RX8's have the tire pressure sensors, which he did not know about (Which model or package included this option is unknown to me). I also told him that my needs called for a 17" Winter or all season tire that would allow me to drive on those occasional snow days here in Long Island and be able to last when driven on dry pavement. He mentioned that he would also look into the cost of extra sensors as they would deliver the tires/rims with sensors installed, fully balanced and ready for use, allowing me to swap rims/tires myslef, twive a year, from the comfort of my own garage .

He still felt that the blizzaks LM22 where the ideal here.

I will post back his recommendations and see what you all think.

Thanks,

Claude H.

 

For anyone who cares to comment, here is what I got back from Tire Rack:
___________________________________
Mr. Haussmann,
Thanks again for talking with me about your RX-8. I have put together a quote for you, #Q066061. Quote includes Blizzak LM-22 tires and Kazera KZ-R wheels. Total delivered price is $1252.64, which includes mounting and balancing. Here are a few photos of the wheels we have in 17" that will accept the Mazda tire pressure sensors.
____________________________________
The price includes shipping BUT not the cost of the sensors which I will have to supply as Tire Rack sais they will not have those available for a few months yet.

I happen to like the look of the alloy wheels listed above as well as the other, similarly priced ones on their site.

Questions:

1) Would the LM22 be a good choice for occasional snow and much dry pavement conditions that we experience here in Long Island?

2) What is the big deal if I elect not to have sensors put in, will this work against me when I put the original tire/rims (with the sensors) back? Will this harm the cars system in any way?

I appreciate that everyone has different needs and likes when it comes to winter tires and rims. I am just looking to get the correct solution for the "right" price.

Your feedback is appreciated.

Claude H.

 

The person you spoke with at Tire Rack gave you a list of 17" tires that would fit the RX8 and would accept the tire sensors. I spoke with someone named Bernie at Tire Rack (ext. 202) and he was much more cautious. He mentioned the Tire Rack procedure of actually testing new cars with various tires/wheels, and said that would be done some time with the RX8 -- not done yet. So I would want specific assurance that a wheel would clear the big front brakes.
As for wheels accepting sensors, Bernie mentioned only one, a $375 SS 17" wheel, and said that would work only if Mazda were using a particular sensor brand, Beru. He went on to explain more than I bothered to follow (I'm not getting wheels right now) about close clearances etc. Another expert posted earlier on the RX8 forum to explain that you might be able to stick sensors on lots of wheels, but if they weren't specifically designed for the sensors it would probably be a disaster. They weigh only a few ounces, but at high speed would be like ten pound weights unless properly supported. The poster actually makes wheels, and will be producing forged wheels with provision for sensors -- doubtless excellent, and expensive
LM22s would have been my choice, but Bernie told me about a sale on Dunlop WS M3s for $154. I compared the ratings they got from Tire Rack users with those for the LM22, and went with the Dunlops. Note that there is a very tiny sampe of M3 users, but the Dunlop M2s had been tested for many miles and also got high ratings, so I am less worried that the M3 ratings might be a fluke.
The main loss from driving without the sensors is losing a warning that might help to catch an incipient tire problem before it turns into tire failure. This may happen only rarely, but having a flat in the RX8 would be really bad news, especially for those of us who don't want to give up $395 and trunk space to get a spare. Note that, even if you can pump the tire up with the kit, the tire is destroyed. Tires with punctures so small the kit will work would probably be savable with plugs otherwise. So I want all the help I can get to avoid tire failure.
I don't think there is any other harm in running during winter without sensors. If you check the info in your manual about how to reactivate a sensor after you have had, for example, a Mazda spare (which doesn't have a sensor) on the car, you will see that no permanent harm is done. As for running without sensors, a preceding post on this thread explains that it's no problem that a piece of black tape can't cover.
Mitch
I went with the Dunlops, which my dealer will attach with last year's Hunter equipment for $15 tire, balanced. Next season I'll look again to see if cheap wheels with properly designed sensor housings have come on the market. Because I have to buy the Dunlops in 18" size, and won't want to ditch them after one season, I will not be able to look at 17s. That's a shame, but I think it's the lesser of the evils that we all have to choose from. Looking further into the future, when the Dunlops do wear out I will look for something else not available now, 18" 225/45 all-season performance tires, which will be fine for mild Washington, DC winters.
M.

 

umm... how would the tire rack NOT know that the RX8 has wheel sensors - ALL 2004 VEHICLES IN THE US HAVE THEM!!

 

Thanks for the info. What a pain in the butt.

I do not have my 8 yet. Due in Oct/Nov. I will still look for 17" rims. I liked the look of the ones Tire rack suggested.

Alloys are OK I hope? The price seemd right for me

No sensors for the winter it seems to me for this year at least.

LM22 or Dunlops M3 if the latter comes in 17" by the time I make a decision.

Are the RX8 stock wheels no good in cold weather or just no good in snow?

I appreciate the input guys.

Thanks,

Claude H.

 

prOber: All US cars will have wheel sensors in 2005 or 2006, I forget which. This year they can avoid sensors by just reporting if a wheel is turning at a different speed (an indication it's not as fully inflated). That information can come from the antilock brake system; no on-wheel sensor needed.
claude4: It's the stock tires, not wheels, that are ng in cold weather. When I called Bridgestone, I explained that I live in Washington, DC, where temperatures never get really low, and said I just wouldn't use the car on our few snow/ice days if it would be OK otherwise. They said no. Although I didn't ask them why, the usual answer is that tires designed only for warm weather lose traction in the cold.
Mitch

 

Thanks Mitch,

I figured as much about the tires. I almost bought a Vovo V70r for my better half. I noted that the tires they use, very soft & sticky, have a rated life of about 20K miles and cost about $400 each. I know that is OT but what a surprise for me at least. I hope the RX8 stock tires last longer.

Since I have to get winter tires as a result, cause my 8 is going to be my daily commute, I want 17" tires and therefore I need rims.

Since I can use winter tire & rims without sensors without any damage to the system, I am leaning toward the solution suggested by tire rack. The 17" Alloy wheels looked good to me, didn't cost that much and it seems many are recommending the LM22's as a good all around tire for the winter and durable on dry pavement. I will also consider the Dunlops, if available in 17".

This seems to me, so far, as a workable solution, one where I can change my own wheeels each season. What choice do I have: How would I get 4 pairs of wheels to a garage to have them swaped out twice each year, throw them all in the back seat

Claude H.