Do snow tires for a rear wheel drive sports car really help? PLEASE HELP?

Question

i have a 2007 mazda rx-8 6 speed manual..last winter i somehow managed not to destroy my car in heavy ice and snow. i was thinking about buying a chep all wheel driver junker car for the winter but have been told to consider snow tires.

my question is, do snow tires really help? considering my car is rear wheel?

do i have any other options?

Answer 1

yes they will help it some,anything that helps it to get better traction has to be a benefit to it,adding a little extra weight to the car will help also.like two bags of sand in the trunk will help a lot,as little as 50 pounds will make a difference in the way it goes in bad weather,good luck with it.

Answer 2

Studded snow tires do make a large difference in the handling and traction. Sports cars although capable of driving in snow are typically better off if left in a nice heated garage for detailing and tinkering for th winter. Of course that is a best case scenario. If you HAVE to drive it through the winter adding some stable weight over the rear axle will improve traction as well as will adjusting your driving style. Provided you get snow tires and weigh the rear end, you still have to be aware of other drivers with plows or those who shouldn't be driving within 100 miles of snow.

You can drop some of the insurance on your summer car if it is stored for the winter season, saving a few bucks also. One of my good friends had a Porche 944S that he stored in the winter and drove a 1994 Caddy STS for the winter months when I lived in Vermont... he also dropped his coverage on the 944S for the winter which some how he managed to come out about $500 ahead on his combined premiums for both cars.... not sure how he did that, but the winter beater can also be an asset in some cases. Hope this helps with whatever you decide is best for your situation.

Answer 3

Get a beater with a heater for the winter.
I had a Miata (Mazda Mx5) when I moved to Cleveland and discovered there is no way to safely drive a sports car in the snow.
Besides being a rear wheel drive the car is just not heavy enough - sand bags in the trunk can only do so much.

People that live with several feet of snow on the ground for the better part of the year don't view it the way others do - we drive to fast relying on the plows and salt to keep us safe.

Salt - yet another reason to keep your sports car put away for the winter. You don't want rust!

Answer 4

I learned to drive in a rear wheel drive car ( that was all we had then).
Yes get you some snow tires for your car they will give you better traction on the snow. Throw a couple of sand bags in the trunk of that little thing too the extra weight is also a good thing.
As for the ice, there isn't a magic answer for that.

Answer 5

Since i live in Northern Alberta where we get many feet of snow i feel particularly qualified to answer this one....LOL Yes. With snows all the way around that car will be no better or worse then any other. I have owned everything from sedans to a 300ZX and the Z gave me only a little more trouble than the sedan just because of the torque the wheels put out. Just be easy on the gas pedal and you should be fine.

Answer 6

Studded tires are good for ice, but since they do more damage to roads than regular tires, they may not be legal where you live.

And your car probably has high performance summer tires, not even all season. Snow tires would probably make a huge difference.

Still, buying an old AWD Subaru would probably be your best bet.

Answer 7

Snow tires help a lot if you put some weight in the back trunk (sand bags work best).

Answer 8

yes it might work but put some tire chains