Be very careful w/ the xk8 in snow or icy conditions. They do NOT like these conditions. I couldn't even get up my driveway with a little snow on it. Snow tires will help, obviously, but don't think it'll give you super-sticky-grip in winter conditions. I would still be very very cautious until you can test it's limits in a parking lot or in areas with nothing around. Test braking, turns, accelleration, inclines, declines etc.

 

My wife and I have had our 99xk8 since November 2004. My wife is the primary driver and she has driven it every day since in the snow, rain and in the sun. We presently have over 100,000+mi on it. I asked her how it drives in the snow and she says it drives and handles just fine. From my point of view it all depends on the tires and if the road system is clear enough for a non-4wd vehicle to drive on. I have driven it in the snow and ice and in my opinion it does well. Good Luck and use your best judgement!

Gus

 

...my tires were on their last leg though, hardly any tread remaining when I traversed the drive; perhaps has alot to do with it. Great in the rain though.

 

I think it depends a lot on the tires. Mine are about 3/4 gone and it is as h20boy says - slippery and hard to handle. New tires with greater tread depth would help, and probably cure, the problem.

I have the 18 inch rims - I'll bet snow tires are hard to find, if available at all, in the proper size. The best you'll likely get is all weather tires (which really means all temperature since the term refers to the rubber compound composition not the tread pattern...)

Unlike my Corvette, the XK8 has sufficient road clearance and is high enough at the beltline to missmost of the slush kicked up on the highway. Traction control and ABS are standard, so the modern traction basics are covered.

My girlfriend just called a few minutes ago from her first winter drive in it and said "It's Okay, but the ABS kicks on easily...the STS was better". Granted, but her STS was 6 years newer with more technology...and not nearly as cool or paid for!