WlcTL

hey guys i live in cleveland ohio. i was driving home late at night after a bit of snow, and i can hardly get any traction at all. i was on the highway going 20mph most of the time behind a plow to keep safe. is it the crappy tires? can some suspension work help here? it is just vey scary driving in snow with is new car of mine. there was a couple of inches and not much plowing cause ohio sucks. do not come to ohio ur life will fade away. any suggestions guys?

Ken1997TL

Its the tires..

Even a tail-happy Porsche can drive in the snow just fine with the right set of shoes.

Benz_05_TSX

iTrader: (1)

I skid and hit my 05 too when i just got it last year in Dec.... snow > stock tires~

afici0nad0

tell me about it.

first winter with this car this year, and during the first snow storm, it was not a good experience. did not feel secure with the stock tires.

i may buy some winters next winter. but, with toronto winters, i might prefer a set that is not too hardcore.

Ellas9

Yep its the tires. With width and the compound, you don't get good traction. I find its okay when I'm moving but bad when I'm starting out. Remember, to get start off traction, use SS mode and pop it into 2nd gear before going for the gas, its slow but much more stable.

Tintin

but is it the snow, or just any car in snow is bad. i dont own a TSX yet, but i know that all cars that i have driven in snow is scary if you do not own winter tires, and even at that you are not invinsible if you got yourself some winter shoes!
Even a 4x4 is no better than a sedan in snow and ice. (well maybe slightly better on snow, but def not better on ice!)

Ken1997TL

Agreed.

Narrower tires definitely help.

sauceman

This thread sucks.

Any car with allweather tires will be dangerous to drive in winter conditions.

Just be smart and get yourself winter tires. If you don't, face getting your genes withdrawn from the gene pool.

dmbfan36_23

I absolutely, 100%, no questions asked DISAGREE with that statement. My 2001 Jetta 1.8T had Sumitomo HTR+ All Seasons and it was great in the snow, I felt very safe.

However, I just got home from my first outing in my 2005 TSX and I feel violated.... there's about an inch of snow and it was just a mess! These tires suck.... worse tires I've ever driven on in the snow.... I shoulda known when I started to hydroplane in the rain the other day... Time to get some snow tires, or at least some good all seasons.....

Vanos

Maybe you should ask an experienced driver how to drive in the snow?

sauceman

You obviously haven't noted the generalisation here. Your Sumitomos are not the OEM tires on your Jetta.

I too have all-weather tires on my TSX: Nokian WR. Some of them, like the Nokians and apparently the Sumitomos are better then average and will hold up great to mountain snow conditions.

Such is not the case in general with OEM all-weather tires on most any car.

Sorry for not being clear enough.

And even then, maybe I will find conditions this winter when my Nokians reach their threshold.

sauceman

dmbfan36_23

ok cool... sorry for jumping the gun... and yes, I agree that you can of course find conditions in which good all seasons don't cut it, but to be honest, I'm not sure I'd want to be out in those conditions with my TSX... and I've been out in some fairly dicey stuff with various all seasons (amoungst them, the Sumitomos)...

Adrena

Hey guys,

I was very disappointed to find out that I had to spend another 1K for winter tires and rims. I honestly thought I could get away with it this year. I got them to drop the size for narrower tires (P205/60R16) which should also help.

I thought at first it was my driving, but the husband agrees - winter tires are a must to actually drive the car in winter (if not, we've have to drive extremely slow and that's just crazy with a car like this!).

I actually find it easier to control with the VSA off when there's snow on the roads. The VSA sometimes jumps in for no reason. Hopefully it won't with the winter rubbers.

BTW - I might get a CSX for a loaner... hope so, beats having a rental from enterprise.

Adrena
2005 GP/Auto/Navi

bgillette

I live in cleveland too.....what I found is that when it snows use SS mode. It is much better in the snow. I have stock tires and the 3 feet of snow we just got can't stop the TSX!!!!

moda_way

The stock tires are the reason I have the Comptech exhaust. Slid off the highway at speed and into the median ditch rear hitting first. Very little damage to my bumper, but bent the OEM exhaust.

It hasn't been said enough I guess, but the STOCK TIRES SUCK!!!!!!!!!

supraken

iTrader: (1)

This should explain it...

moda_way

NICE find. I love it!!!!

excited

I agree good find in finding out the data on the snow traction. I won't receive my TSX for a couple of weeks but when I do get it, I will not see the OEM tires or wheels as the dealer already has my winter set to put on as soon as it arrives.

My other vehicle has 4x4 traction and great all weather tires, (Crosss Terrains) but I still switch to winter tires. True winter tires are simply that much more superior.



Excited

hammer098

ahhh yet another reason to have the MT. More control....and I'm from ohio originally, some cars are just weighted differently and that has a lot to do with snow traction. Plus it helps to learn how to handle a car in the snow...each one is different. Once learned, any car can be safe in it.

loulinjai

dont play with the suspension, its the tires. you definitely need snow tires...it hurts the bank at first but remember, one more scrape and you may pay even more. i have 205/60/16 on steelies and it works great. you have abs, vsa and tcs to help you, it certainly helps but dont expect it to bail you out everytime.

CCColtsicehockey

yeah that basically sums it up they suck in the snow and I got winter tires for my tsx. however I may sell them since I plan to store the car every winter from now on.

kboosman00

Wow, makes me realize how lovely the weather is here in Las Vegas sometimes!?!?!!?

TXXXX

4X4 will let you take off faster and drive through the snow better. But all vehicle stops the same, it will slide if you are going to fast when you try to brake fast.

My winter vehicle is Cadillac Deville FWD.

WlcTL

well i have a 6mt so its kinda weird starting off in second

virtualbong

The tires do suck, but I didn't have that bad of a time driving in the snow today.

excited

I agree. My 4x4 has excellent forward traction in the snow and that is the danger if you are not smart. Excellent forward traction can mean more speed which becomes a danger when braking or going around curves.



Excited

afici0nad0

i think it's just the stock tires on the tsx.

i've driven my parents' corolla and caravan for a long time, both have all-season's, and both feel sturdy in snow and slush...

maybe it could also be that i have a 6mt? i don't know...

afici0nad0

the yokohama avid v4s don't look bad at all...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....Model=AVID+V4S

dP-

In case you didn't see my earlier thread, a good deal on them in the GTA - $149/tire...wish my OEM's were more worn out.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26256

mg7726

i'm ordering a set of blizzak lm-22s from tirerack tomorrow, my summers are going to be retired for the next few months

dj Dozhe

Ok, so until this car I will nevr have had two sets of tires for a car. I live in an apartment so no garage to do the wheel changes myself. How much should I expect to spend on snowtires, and how much should I expect to spend each year having them switched?

curls

Buy used (or new, if you want) snow tires, and new OEM steel wheels.

Mounting + balancing is usually about $65 CDN / $50 USD. Then, the yearly switchover just involves a jack (even the OEM spare jack in the trunk) and a decent 1/2" drive ratchet.

Otherwise you're looking at about $25 to swap the winters for the summers, twice a year.

FYI: I got used winter tires for $120 CDN and new OEM steelies from a Honda dealer for $220, + install, = a total of about $400 out the door including the tires.

A new set of tires and new steelies will run you probably closer to $750 - $1000, but obviously the new tires will last a few seasons longer than the used ones.

afici0nad0

oh ya.

i replied to the thread too, i forgot about that.

good looking out...

bramalea tire...cool.

patrick_RENAMED

4 - 16" Civic Si wheels: $160 shipped
4 Dunlop Winter Sport M3 215/55 16: $400 installed
Tire place swaps them for me for free every year.

And I get just that much more life out of my $185 tires. So in the end, I figure I save money and I am safer.

This is the first vehicle I've ever had snow tires for and I will never live without them again.

Plus now, I get to put some summer only tires on when the OE's wear out. :-)

afici0nad0

given your situation, maybe a set of good all-seasons would be more convenient for you...

bryhogan

One thing to keep in mind about the cost of winter tires....

When your winter tires are on, you're saving tread-life on your All Seasons. Thus, if you keep your car long enough, you're really not spending that much (if any) extra money. (Granted, if you buy an extra set of cheap wheels to go along with the tires, that will run you a little more. Of course, the cost of 16" Blizzak tires are significantly less than 17" OEM replacements.)

dj Dozhe

Can't I just buy the tires?

patrick_RENAMED

You are better off buying dedicated wheels too. Then you can go 16" and you also don't have to pay to have tires mounted and balanced twice a year.

curls

If you want to spend $50+ every swapover (2 times a year) to do it? Sure...

But keep in mind that $100/year will only be good for you for 2 years, then it'd have been cheaper to buy separate steelies anyhow.

Plus, snow/salt/ice can harm your alloys, so keep 'em looking good by using steelies in the winter.