bhjazz

Considering a TSX. We don't get much snow around here, but how does your tsx do in the snow or ice? In the next year I need a vehicle that cannot fail me - in any weather. PERIOD!

Thanks!

Dan Martin

You'll be fine in Seattle.

If were from an area that got more snow I would recommend snow tires but it would be overkill for your area.

bhjazz

Anyone drive theirs in the snow? How did it do? Just curious!

phirenze

drove it through an entire winter (snow on roads everyday) with no poblem. Still handles great- took a few days to adjust to dropping the clutch at lower rps but it was fine. Many times I drove right passed old ladies in their RWD bmws stuck on the side of the road. Usually they had a funny and curious look on their faces.

ClutchPerformer

The car's great in snow. I drove it daily last winter in Wisconsin. It'd be even better with some winter tires.

No car in the world is good on ice. Unless you have studded tires or something...

You'll be fine in Seattle.

Snowflake

Is it better to run the tires on a lower pressure when there is snow/ice?

sveet

I drove it all last winter. Plenty of Snow.

It was great. It is actually pretty fun to intentionally oversteer, etc... to make the VSA system come to life. It is pretty amazing how it pulls the car back in line. (of course I only do this on closed circuit courses).

Tires are probably marginal. Ultimate performance could be had with some Artic Alpins / Blizzak's, etc... I'm sticking with the all seasons and being careful.

Nick250

No, just the opposite, you want higher pressure on snow and ice. You want your tire to be "stiffer" with a smaller footprint to dig into the snow and ice. Ever watch the rally cars on the speed channel on TV? Very narrow tires in the snow and ice, big fat low preasure tires on hardtop.

jcg878

VSA is fun to activate in the snow. The car itself is otherwise decent but not exceptional IMO. I just drove like a non-maniac last winter (which wasn't very snowy here except for maybe 2-3 storms) and was fine.

Fooman

I had the car when I lived in Erie, PA. In case you dont' know, it's 1 hour from Buffalo so you know we also get a crap load of snow. Being a smaller city, they didn't clear the snow all that often either and I had no trouble driving through it. The only trouble I did have were times when I was on a hill maybe and starting from a slow start. Winter tires should fix it.

Jason

The car handles like a champ in the snow.

lailum

i got stuck in the snow b4 when i was up in whistler... haha... but then again... the snow was like abit more then ankle depth... and i thought i could do donuts in the snow like my wrx pals... haha...

phan

Did anyone purchase snow tires last winter? If so which ones and did you go to a smaller size wheel like 16 inches? I've been using Gislaved tires for my Volvo XC. Both Volvo and a tire person I often used recommend going from 16 inches on my Volvo to 15 inches. I've used the same brand when I owned a 1989 Accord. In both cases Gislaveds were outstanding. When I used a generic tire store brand on the Accord, I didn't get much better performance than all season radials.

Any thoughts out there on brands of snow tires for TSX and size of wheels to use for best traction in winter?

jcg878

bob shiftright did... I think he had 16's, but I don't know the tire brand

VeniceBeachTSX

A 205/60-16 would theoretically be better in snow. In practice, it's probably better primarily because you'll have a better selection of snow tires.

I'd look for a set of Honda Accord 16" rims to put them on, or something similar. The clearance around our front calipers is tight, so don't buy anything that you're not certain will fit.

For absolute best snow handling (among major brands, anyway) I favor the Blizzak WS-50. However, this tire will be pretty poor in anything besides snow and the special rubber compound it uses doesn't last long. A couple of seasons at best. It is one of the few non-studded tires which is marginally good on icy as well as snowy roads, but that soft rubber compound is expensive to run if you don't really need it.

For more of an "all around" snow tire I'd go for the Dunlop M3, but there are others out there that are similar, including the other Blizzak (LM-22, I think?), as well as tires from Pirelli and Michelin.

DGH

I have the LM-22 on my Civic Si. Note that it does NOT have the multi-cell compound of the WS-50. It is touted as a "European style performance winter tire" by Bridgestone. I would rate them as "OK", but not as good as previous Blizzaks that I had on other vehicles in severe conditions such as black ice or deep snow.

In any case, the LM-22s are not sold in the commonly-quoted winter size of 205/60/R16 NOR the stock 215/50/R17, so the point is probably moot.

Tireguy seems to know what he is talking about, and I am considering his recommendation of Nokians for next winter on the TSX I plan to buy in the spring. These are available at Grismer's tire, a chain store that has a branch where I live.

Lots of discussion on this in previous threads. A search may be helpful.

bob shiftright

I have a set of four 205/60-16 Dunlop Winter Sport M2s on 16" steel wheels from the Accord LX V6. 15" wheels won't clear the larger brakes on the TSX and Accord V6 6m coupe.

I like steel wheels for snow tires because I'm more likely to bend a rim in the snow since I can't tell what's underneath. Also, it avoids damaging the rims as much since there's no annual changeover.

I also have a set of Michelin Arctic Alpins on 15" steel wheels for my Volvo (down from the 16" summer tires). Where you want a tire that's wide and short for a dry road, you want one that's tall and narrow for the snow to avoid the tire "floating" on the snow. But about the same outside diameter to minimize speedometer error. The TSX summer tire is the same Michelin that comes on some models of the Volvo XC90, and Volvo owners do not seem to like the tire in the snow. Think Volvo should know something about snow, it snows a lot in Sweden!

I like the Arctic Alpins better than the Winter Sports, unfortunately the Michelins weren't available in the correct Accord-TSX size last year. I drove the TSX up to Boston in that first big snowstorm last year and the ABS, traction control and VSA were kicking in a lot!

The Dunlops are very good on dry roads, however.

biker

We can look forward to a whole bunch of comments like this all winter.

A little early for the snow tire/FWD in snow threads to show up but I guess tis the season. Considering that nothing has changed from last winter, I'd suggest browsing the several threads dedicated to this subject - all points made last winter will still be valid.

ClutchPerformer

hondaboy_tsx

Terrible in the snow. I live in Southwestern PA, so I'm surrounded by hills everywhere I go. I just couldn't go anywhere. Car wouldn't go up slippery hills. I imagine if I lived somewhere flatter, it'd be fine.

bhjazz

Wow, great thread! So it looks like mostly good. Good news.
Biker: I don't actually have a TSX yet, but am considering one. I was just curious.
hondaboy_tsx: it doesn't get too cold in Seattle, but there are tons of hills. I hear ya!

I know the TSX is no AWD or FWD vehicle, but just wanted a general consensus.

Thanks all!

ClutchPerformer

Actually it is a FWD vehicle...

Dan Martin

not if you only drive in reverse.

osubuckeye98

Car handles well in wet stuff as mentioned, especially with VSA and Traction Control. Stock Michellins hold well in the straights in the wet stuff, but handle poorly when cornering.

captainjack

My TSX can write its name in the snow.

mg7726

all you folks posting positive experiences w/handling on the white stuff ...are you using the crappy oem tires???

DEI99662

It is FWD.

DEI99662

Very true indeed.

bhjazz

Okay, I said FWD thinking Four Wheel Drive.
You said FWD...Front wheel.........



Acronyms suck.

ClutchPerformer

Yes.

Panda_TSX

what is front wheel drive?

Dan Martin

The opposite of rear wheel drive?

Stokeless_TSX

lol

Panda_TSX

what is rear wheel drive then?

dom

Are you serious?

DEI99662

Dan Martin

Assuming he is serious, here's a quick summary:

FWD = Front Wheel Drive
The engine power is routed to the front wheels.

RWD = Rear Wheel Drive
The engine power is routed to the rear wheels.

AWD = All Wheel Drive
The engine power is split between the front and rear wheels.

dom

Just in case thats too complicated

bigwilliestyle

You forgot 4-wheel drive!

DEI99662

Four Wheel Drive = 4WD.