I live in Utah, and you're right. Driving in the snow--with anything other than "the best"--snow tires SUCKS in the RX8! Once any hint of snow exists, you just can't drive with your regular tires rated for this car. For the winter, I have 225-50-R17s... (special rims) w/ snow tires I switch over before the 1st snowfall. I'm a fan of studded snow tires, but it's impossible to put them on an RX8 (I'm told), so I'm very excited to hear about the Toyo Garits!!