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I have always known my MDX Hybrid was special, but I never realized just how "special" it was until the Tire Rack told me this afternoon that they do not sell aftermarket wheels for my MDX. I have been researching my purchase of a winter tire and wheel package for the car. Since it was purchased in April, 2018, this will be my first winter with the car. And now, no wheel and tire packages are available.
Anyone else suffering this same disappointment? What are my options? Just purchasing the winter tires and doing a cross-over twice a year is a pain and actually punishes the wheels from my previous experience with my other cars. Looking for some insight from the collective here.
What Tire Rack is doing is using pull down menus to find your make/model/year. Probably no one loaded the Hybrid into their data base because of the limited production. I think the wheel and tire on the 2017 Hybrid Advance is the very same wheel and tire on the MDX Advance. Same for the Tech. You could also look in your Hybrid owners manual to confirm the wheel specifications...
The regular MDX and the hybrid variant share the same wheels. I believe the tech and advance are the same size. You're looking for a 20x8 wheel, 5 lug, 120mm bolt pattern, with a 55mm offset.
I have a 2019 MDX SH-AWD Advanced, that comes with 20x8.5J wheels - 265/45/20 tires.
I purchased the wheels for the Base 2019 MDX, which are 18x8J, TPMS sensors, and the aluminum center wheel cap for each one.
I am mounting a set of 245/60/18 Nokian Hakkas R3 SUV winter tires on them.
The only difference between the Sport Hybrid and the regular SH-AWD is the size of the front disk brake.
Sport Hybrid: 13.0-in front / 13.0-in rear.
Regular SH-AWD: 12.6-in front / 13.0-in rear.
It should not be a problem using the 18in wheels though.
Thank you all. By switching to a non-hybrid model, I was able to choose from a large selection of wheel and tire packages. Perhaps too large. Too many choices.
But, the "minus 1" or "minus 2" concept intrigues me. At first I was concentrating on a 20" wheel package to match the original sizes. But, I also priced a 19" package and an 18" package. The savings are about $100 an inch, i.e. 19" are $100 less than the 20" and 18" are $200 less.
With previous vehicles I always matched the original sizes. Should I consider a minus size this time? I'd be interested in hearing your war stories on which sizes you purchased and why.
For winter tires, the rule is to try to go thinner with a higher sidewall. I have always gone down to 17in-18in, for winter tires. The wider the tire and the shorter the sidewall, the worse it will perform on snow and wintery conditions in general.
I also always choose OEM wheels, because the fitment is spot on. No need for spacers, or hub rings, and I believe they are also stronger.
I am no expert, just speaking from my own experience of using winter tires for the last 15 years.
Attached is a pic of my '17 MDX SH-AWD with 17 inch TL wheels and taller winter tires. I always (as the earlier poster stated) go as small as I can with the rims to increase the sidewall size - saves my bacon with pot holes protecting the wheels from bends, etc :-) I will say the 17 inch wheels just BARELY fit in a standard SH-AWD MDX, so for the sport hybrid I'd at least go to 18" wheels - but I can't say for sure they'd fit over the larger front disks. The 19 inch wheel option would be a decent compromise from the 20 inch stock but leaving enough room. You'd hate to order a tire/wheel package and have it come and not fit....
As an earlier poster stated, I also run Nokian snow tires - although I run the Nordman series of snows on my SUV's, and the Hakka R2/R3's on my sedans. The jury is out with my local Nokian dealer as to whether the R2/R3 SUV variants hold up as well as the older design Nordman series. Plus Nordman's are cheaper :-) Needed to save the cash to pay for the wife's R3's I just had mounted to her 17" wheels yesterday..... The TL SH-AWD w/17" nokians is unstoppable in the winter!!
Following this post. Live in Minnesota with a new 2018 MDX hybrid. I need a winter wheel/tire package. I too was stumped at tire rack with nothing being offered. I assumed that was due to the slightly bigger front disk.
I mount winters myself - only takes 30 minutes or so with floor jack and my impact wrench.
We have a few days a year in MN that are beyond bad - pays to have winters. Helps your other wheels/tires last longer.
Also, has anyone found non OEM wheels that fit without adapters, centering rings, etc..? That always conerns me - something to lose is the off season etc...
I don't believe there is a difference between the Sport Hybrid and the Regular gas model, concerning the wheels or hubs.
I believe the 2018 Sport Hybrid Advanced, and the 2018 SH-AWD Advanced gas model have the same exact wheels.......
The dealer seemed to indicate a different offset for the hybrid. We were looking at wheels from Costco before that but nobody could give us a clear answer until we called the dealer.
I believe the offset for the Sport Hybrid and the regular gas MDX is 55, and the lug pattern is 120 x 5.
I also believe that the lug pattern changed in 2017, but the offset was always the same 55 (for the gas model, since there wasn't a Sport Hybrid until 2017)
I started to shop for winter tires.. I usually get steel rim, looks like tirerack does not have steel rim option with package.. so Ill probably unmount my all season and put winter on.. I need to go out to the car to see what size rims I got.. lol never look at them
10-08-2018, 01:59 PM
