dtm8

I own an '06 SI and put 2 front wheel Bridgestone Blizzacks on them last winter. However, when the Honda shop took them off they ripped a small section of the beads on one of them.

Taking snow tires off and on the wheels is not the best way to go given damage possibility so I'm wondering how any of you have dealt with snow tires in the past.

I've done some research and it seems like there are only 3 options:

Buy 16" steel rims and 16" tires

Buy a new set of original wheels and tires, one set for winter, one for summer.

Leave as is and gamble with putting snow on and off


Please help!!

Thanks!
-Dan

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

yeah usually people have two sets of rims, some nice summer alloys and some trashy winter steelies. they leave the snows mounted and just swap the rims over. and you can do that in your garage. unless it snows alot where you live, i dont even see the need for snow tires. everyone here gets the studded tires in the winter and it drives me crazy because they leave em on for 6 months and we usually get 4 big snowstorms all year and maybe few more light dustings. the roads get cleared so fast that unless you have to drive before the sun comes out, youll never see snow on the road.

dtm8

It does snow a lot here in MA and I've found them to be useful in the past.

So, is it better to get 4 16" steel rims and tires instead of 2 17" tires and alloy wheels?

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

its better to get 4 winter rims and tires yes. but if money is tight, two is better than nothing. i heard on a front wheel drive car, the tires with better traction should go in the rear.

hondajordan6194

no on front wheel drive put the better tires in the front cause all your braking is pretty much in the front

Awjvail

On a front wheel drive car, the better tires should go on the front wheels as that is where the most braking occurs. Your brakes won't do you much good if all they are doing is making the wheel skid into oblivion. You should also place sandbags or something heavy in the trunk to add to the weight which will increase the traction in the rear and reduce fishtailing.

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

hahaha yeah i typed that a bit too fast. thanks for the correction

BHallzy4

I have a 2007 Si Sedan and the 17"s were not too great in the snow. I too live in MA. With that said, I went to Tirerack.com and bought 4 steel 16" rims with 4 Dunlop snows (no studs). I paid about $580 for rims, tires, mounted and balanced. I've used them for 2 winters now and I just put them on this past weekend. Usually they come off in March, depending on the whether.
I strongly suggest paying the extra $200 for steel wheels if you plan to keep the car.

rodneybolton

yeah usually grouping hit two sets of rims, whatever nice summer alloys and whatever trashy winter steelies. they yield the snows mounted and meet swap the rims over. and you can do that in your garage. unless it snows alot where you live, i dont modify wager the requirement for deceive tires. everyone here gets the studded tires in the winter and it drives me disturbed because they yield em on for 6 months and we usually intend 4 big snowstorms all year and maybe some more light dustings. the roads intend cleared so fast that unless you hit to drive before the solarise comes out, youll never wager deceive on the road.



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“Look at life through the windshield, not the rear view mirror and you should learn to upgrade your car mirror parts”

nscivicsi

I just bought a 2010 Si and live in NS , Canada. I plan to buy 4 -16in steel wheels and install 4- 205/55R16 Michelin X-ice Xi2 winter tires. They are about the best winter tire that is out there.

Yugami

Hey guys. I'm from CA and moved to MI this year and I'm starting to feel like I may need snow tires. I've been reading around a lot about snow tires and have read in some places that not only should I have four tires, it is worse to have only two snow tires on.

I'm not a big car guy. I've got a 98 stock everything civic with all season tires. My main concern with buying snow tires is changing them. Can I just do that myself? I'm a lazy sack of ****, so if I'm doing it myself it may be nicer to only have to change two tires...And cheaper doesn't hurt.

I understand that it isn't as beneficial having two snow tires vs four, but it doesn't make sense that it would be worse with two. I'm not sure if putting chains on is comparable to snow tires, but I went skiing a lot in CA and I only put chains on in the front. Worked out great with nothing on my back tires, I was able to drive 50 mph in pretty intense snow and never felt like I was fishtailing.

JillandJon

In a lot of place it is against the laws to put chains on--check it out before you settle on chains. and 4 is ALWAYS better than 2--and most tire shops (or even honda) don't charge to much to change you over to winters.

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

and no you cannot mount tires yourself unless you have all the mounting and balancing equipment in your garage lol