Your TSX in Snow...How did it do?
#1
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Your TSX in Snow...How did it do?
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!
Thanks!
#4
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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.
#5
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.
No car in the world is good on ice. Unless you have studded tires or something...
You'll be fine in Seattle.
#7
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.
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.
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#8
Originally Posted by Snowflake
Is it better to run the tires on a lower pressure when there is snow/ice?
#9
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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.
#10
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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.
#12
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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...
#13
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Snow tires
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?
Any thoughts out there on brands of snow tires for TSX and size of wheels to use for best traction in winter?
#14
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Originally Posted by 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?
Any thoughts out there on brands of snow tires for TSX and size of wheels to use for best traction in winter?
#15
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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.
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.
#16
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Originally Posted by VeniceBeachTSX
... including the other Blizzak (LM-22, I think?), as well as tires from Pirelli and Michelin.
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.
#17
Originally Posted by jcg878
bob shiftright did... I think he had 16's, but I don't know the tire brand
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.
#18
Race Director
Originally Posted by phirenze
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.
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.
#20
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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.
#21
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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!
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!
#24
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.
#29
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Originally Posted by ClutchPerformer
Actually it is a FWD vehicle...
Okay, I said FWD thinking Four Wheel Drive.
You said FWD...Front wheel.........
Acronyms suck.
#37
Photography Nerd
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.
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.
#38
Senior Moderator
Just in case thats too complicated
FWD = Front Wheel Drive
The front wheels make the car move
RWD = Rear Wheel Drive
The back wheels make the car move
AWD = All Wheel Drive
All 4 wheels make the car move
FWD = Front Wheel Drive
The front wheels make the car move
RWD = Rear Wheel Drive
The back wheels make the car move
AWD = All Wheel Drive
All 4 wheels make the car move
#39
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Originally Posted by 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.
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.