Today is a good day. I finally got my new RX-8. Got a Velocity Red Touring 6M. Definetly going to like this car. Now isn't the best time weather wise, but I think I did quite good on price.

But anyway, that's for another thread.

I live in the Champaign, IL area and this will be my daily car. I live 3 miles from my job and turn right 4 times and left once.. Reading several threads, I think it's in my best interest to get a winter tire/rim set. I'm just clueless on what to order sizewise, etc. Worried I'll order something that doesn't fit.

So, what would be the best for my area to get? Based on research on here, I'm thinking 17" rims.

My questions are this:

Should I get the 225/50-17 tires that are recommended or the 215/55-17 alternate?

In the 225 size, I was thinking Blizzak WS-50 or WS-60. In the 215 size, I was thinking either of those 2 or The Dunlop Winter Sport M3.

Based on my area, what is the best for me to get?

As far as rims go, I'm thinking the lower end of price. There are a couple of MSWs availablle, but the ones I am leaning towards are the:

Kazera KZ-T. Size is 17x7.5. Will any of those tires fit that rim?

I searched through threads, but I just get confused. I've never ordered tires/rims like this and am kind of lost. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

 

www.tirerack.com has some guidelines for you.

I run 17" x 7" cheap alloys with 225-50-17 Ice Bears

Try to get 215-55-17 because in winter the narrower tires are better.

 

Thanks. I'm going to order them through Tirerack.com. Just trying to ensure I'm getting the right things.

One other thing, is $220 for the TPMS worth it?

 

Canadian RX8s don't have TPMS so I'll let someone else answer that one....

 

I ordered the following from tire rack.

4 225/50QR-17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50

Order Total Including Shipping: $663.12

 

How do you like them for snow, etc., and then when there isn't snow on the ground?

 

that's a question you'll have to ask yourself. you can find an inexpensive used set on here for around $100-125 a set but you also run the risk of one of them not working since they are somewhat fickle (found that out the hard way).

it all depends on why you like to have TPMS. i'm a fan because i like to know that if i'm driving and picked up an unexpected nail, i'll know that i really need to address it before i hear the thump, thump, thump.

if it's just because of the annoying light/beep that shows you don't have it, there is a DIY to disable that (or just use black electrical tape).

 

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

 

Would the Kosei 17" rims be a good choice in Lt. Grey or Silver on velocity red? Didn't know if that lightweight of a wheel was a good idea for snow.

 

I ordered them Last Monday and I am still waiting for them to get here.

Grrrrrr.

 

Got another question. Tirerack sends the lugs for the rims. What the heck size socket and torque wrench am I going to need to put these on correctly>

 

Very good question.

I need to know exactly how many ft/lb to torque the lug nuts also.

 

108 ft-lb.
see http://www.finishlineperformance.com...2-04-1301b.pdf

Dialn24, if tirerack's set of lug nuts are the same as OEM, then 21 mm will work fine. As for the WS-50's, I've had them on three of our cars over the years. Sure they're decade old tire tech, the road feel is mushy, they are loud, and the multicell compound wears out after half the tread. However, they will plow through snow like [insert your own metaphor]. They get me from point A to point B without drama, which I think should be the priority for winter driving in our geography. The LM22's, which we have on our other car, is a better performing tire, especially on dry ground, by lacks the ice-biting edge the WS-50 has.

 

You said pretty much exactly what took me many hours to find out after reading counless reviews online. lol

 

The TSB addressed a specific problem with the Mazda rims. The original torque spec was 78 ft-lb. I use 80 ft-lbs on my lugs (17" winter wheels) with no problems. I don't think that there's any need to over torque if you don't have the snapping sound issue.

 

Thanks. We sometimes get nailed with snow here (I think it was 17 or 18" around Valentine's Day last year), but I think most of the time I will be driving around on dry pavement, but it will be cold. Granted, we could get hit multiple times, but it doesn't seem to have happened in recent years. I just don't want to be driving around on the stock tires with the temps and the chance of snow that is there.

With that being said, I guess I just am having a hard time figuring out which tire is the best choice out of the:

WS -50
WS -60
Dunlop Sport M3
Dunlop Sport 3D.

 

You pretty much have them ranked from worst to best. lol

The Dunlop 3D's are killer!!!

 

Glad I asked then, as that is the order I was thinking about getting them. LOL!

Heck, I keep reading, I just get more confused.

 

True enough. I forgot he was asking about non-OEM rims.

 

Just wanted to thank everyone for responding. I called Conner at Tirerack and based on my area, he recommended the 225 size as I will probably be on dry pavement most of the time. So, I went with that size. As far as tires go, I went with the Dunlop 3Ds and choose the least expensive option for rims that would fit and available. They were enkei's. Not exactly the style I had hoped for, but they should be fine. Thanks agian