I'm very interested in buying a G8, but haven't really driven a RWD vehicle in the winter. However, I probably would end up buying winter tires.

Anyone have any input on how good/bad it may be?

I asked the same question many months ago. Several people responded that my G8 with snow tires will do as well in the snow as my 2004 Grand Prix with all-season tires. However, my friend who drives a BMW 335Ci says that rear wheel drive with snow tires still remains challenging. He says that Cavaliers and G5s will be speeding past me on the freeway on snowy days.

I have no idea what the truth is. I will find out one day in November when I take the G8 out on a snowy day!

Cheaper solution than new winter tires - buy a used SUV! In Nov. they may pay you to take one....

RRM

I asked the same question many months ago. Several people responded that my G8 with snow tires will do as well in the snow as my 2004 Grand Prix with all-season tires. However, my friend who drives a BMW 335Ci says that rear wheel drive with snow tires still remains challenging. He says that Cavaliers and G5s will be speeding past me on the freeway on snowy days.

I have no idea what the truth is. I will find out one day in November when I take the G8 out on a snowy day!

Driving a RWD car in the snow (with or without snow tires) is completely different then driving a FWD vehicle, just like driving a 4WD in the snow is different as well. They all require a different style of driving. I've driven all of them in the snow extensively, and with the proper tires, they'll both get around (FWD and RWD).

You can let the FWD cars blow past you in the snow, because when it comes down to it, we all have 4 wheel braking, and they'll be the ones crashing into ****.

Cheaper solution than new winter tires - buy a used SUV! In Nov. they may pay you to take one....

RRM

Even easier then that. If there is so much snow on the ground that you can't drive a NON-4WD vehicle, you shouldn't be out in the snow unless its an emergency. Stay home.

Traction/Stability control will help.

Traction/Stability control will help.

Ditto snow tires on rear.

Remember up until the 1970s almost all cars were RWD. With no stability or traction control. And people got around fine. We've been sold a bill of goods to get us to buy 4WD.

Ditto snow tires on rear.

Remember up until the 1970s almost all cars were RWD. With no stability or traction control. And people got around fine. We've been sold a bill of goods to get us to buy 4WD.

I agree. I actually prefer rear-wheel-drive over AWD/4WD and/or FWD. in the snow. Once you get used to it, it's a bit like having four-wheel-steering. If you know what you're doing, one can perform a u-turn in very little space! :D

I agree. I actually prefer rear-wheel-drive over AWD/4WD and/or FWD. in the snow. Once you get used to it, it's a bit like having four-wheel-steering. If you know what you're doing, one can perform a u-turn in very little space! :D

It also makes it a lot more fun, going out at night, when its snowing, and no one else is on the roads. Full drifter circuit in the middle of the city :)

RWD in the winter is extremely FUN!!!, the rear slip differential will help maintain stability as well as T/S Control...
i find it 10 times easier to control RWD in the winter than FWD...

It definitely sounds like you can have fun driving a G8 in the snow. However, there are potential G8 buyers reading this thread thinking that it would not be a responsibile choice to buy a G8 because they could end up in a ditch one snowy morning on the side of the freeway while their co-workers are driving past them laughing.

Also, I hear that rear wheel drive cars do not make it up snowy inclines very well. For people with steep drives, that is a concern.

Also, I hear that rear wheel drive cars do not make it up snowy inclines very well. For people with steep drives, that is a concern.

Its all the same. You just need a good set of tires.

Also, I hear that rear wheel drive cars do not make it up snowy inclines very well. For people with steep drives, that is a concern.

Just remember: Momentum is your friend.
Also, the G8 is very heavy on it's rear wheels, unlike most RW drivers...

So for my snow tires, should I step down from my 19 inch to 18 inch? How much of a difference will it make?

Ditto snow tires on rear.

Remember up until the 1970s almost all cars were RWD. With no stability or traction control. And people got around fine. We've been sold a bill of goods to get us to buy 4WD.

And fwd, for that matter.

So for my snow tires, should I step down from my 19 inch to 18 inch? How much of a difference will it make?

Tis why I bought my car with 18's, those will get the winters, I'll buy a new set of wheels in the spring. I doubt my stock tires will live beyond fall anyway :)

I'd go with an 18 wtih snows, but you CAN use your 19's if you want.

I plan on getting the 19's for summer, and get 17"-18"(which ever fits) set of steelies with X-ICE (100% best winter tire there is)

Hell, I might even keep my Bonneville for the winter, since I got a winter set for it already, and I have just as much control over it in snow/ice/slush as I for on dry pavement:driving::wink2: besides, it's payied for and is WAY cheaper on insurance..

X-ICE (100% best winter tire there is)

I disagree. Blizzaks are far superior. I've driven with both (on the same car), and the blizzaks were a world better.

My plan is not to let it see the snow.....My wife will be back in her ZX3 Focus for winter, and I'll be back in my SVT Focus......The G8? Safe and warm in the garage keeping the HD Street Glide from being lonely ;)

Ditto snow tires on rear.

Never put just two snow tires on a car. Always do all four.

I'm sure the G8 will do fine. I've been driving my CTS for 4 winters, and my 2000 Z28 for 4 winters before that. The CTS had to have snow tires, as it was almost undriveable in all-seasons. The Z28 was actually okay with all seasons because of its TorSen rear diff. But if I get a G8, it will be getting snows all around.

My biggest fear with the G8 in snow is the front scrapping and hitting drifts. The nose on this thing is so damn low. I dont plan on letting my car see the white stuff. Gonna be looking for a junker to drive around come this winter.

My biggest fear with the G8 in snow is the front scrapping and hitting drifts. The nose on this thing is so damn low. I dont plan on letting my car see the white stuff. Gonna be looking for a junker to drive around come this winter.

Its a plow :)

we just have to drive backward!.. Just need to deal with mirrors!!:driving:

I got some 245/45r/18 Michelin Alpine PA3's for mine. Very confidence inspiring tire.

I was on the road for a couple of our snowstorms(GTA) and tracked really well. The T/C and S/C are really good, not too intrusive. Car does ride heavy in the back so getting away from the lights was usually not a problem. T/C interferes sometimes in initial traction, but not often. I did go through one or two intersections at 45 degrees though.:wink2:

For what it's worth, the reason I got the PA3's instead of the X-Ice2/Blizzaks is because they have a much stiffer sidewall as a result of having a higher speed rating. They're actually rated the same as the standard 18's and are a WAY better tire. It's 2 or 3 speed ratings down for the others and it was suggested to me that it might be unsafe to run that much softer tires.

Oh and they don't make steelies in an 18/245:whine:... that I know of...

Beside that, driving this car in the white stuff can be ridiculous amounts of fun.

I bought my G8 GT in October and had four winter tires installed at the time. I also live on a non paved road (mile long) and have to say, I was extremely impressed with the winter handling and the stability track system. You get on the snow packet road and mat it a bit, the stability track system takes over and brings the baby right back into line. After driving rear wheel drives when I was younger, any concerns of driving a rear wheel drive car in the winter are gone.