'02 EX Firestones = bad handling in rain
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From: So Cali
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'02 EX Firestones = bad handling in rain
I'm just curious to know if the Firestone tires that come standard on the '02 EX's are lousy for wet weather driving. I live in Southern Cali and today during the afternoon it started raining hard. I had to drive several miles in this rain on the freeway and I noticed that my car felt like it was going to lose control when going over parts of the freeway where very small amounts of water had built up. I was going well below the speed limit, yet it still felt unstable. I guess its just a combination of the car's size and the design of these Firestones. Does this happen to other EX drivers with the stock 15" Firestone tires?
Oh yeah, if you live in South Cali (southern Riverside County/San Diego County) drive safely if you go out on the wet roads/freeway. While I was on the freeway this evening a guy in a 3rd gen Accord passed me and then spun out about 60-70 yards ahead of me. I slowed down while I watched his car spin sideways then overcorrect and spin in circles several times. I was two lanes over and he ended up facing the wrong way in my lane. I had to quickly change lanes to avoid hitting him head on. A tractor trailer behind me had to swerve too to avoid hitting this stopped car facing the wrong way right in the middle of the I-15 freeway. Miraculously, no one hit him and he turned around and proceeded on the freeway like nothing had happened. Please just use common sense and don't be aggressive. Its not worth risking your life or the life of others on the road.
Oh yeah, if you live in South Cali (southern Riverside County/San Diego County) drive safely if you go out on the wet roads/freeway. While I was on the freeway this evening a guy in a 3rd gen Accord passed me and then spun out about 60-70 yards ahead of me. I slowed down while I watched his car spin sideways then overcorrect and spin in circles several times. I was two lanes over and he ended up facing the wrong way in my lane. I had to quickly change lanes to avoid hitting him head on. A tractor trailer behind me had to swerve too to avoid hitting this stopped car facing the wrong way right in the middle of the I-15 freeway. Miraculously, no one hit him and he turned around and proceeded on the freeway like nothing had happened. Please just use common sense and don't be aggressive. Its not worth risking your life or the life of others on the road.
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From: St. Pete Beach, FL, Florida, US
Rep Power: 0 I live in Florida and it rains like mad in the summer, I've had no problems with my Firestones in the rain, and I drive I-75 between Tampa and Miami a lot. No tire is going to perform very well with more than a inch of rain on the road, (I agree that some are better than others in the rain). I have never liked the idea of Firestones on my car, and what really bugs me about those tires is the road noise.
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From: 4o8, California
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Yup same experience here with the crappy, loud road noise Firestones. It scared the crap outa me the first time I hit some standing water doing a little over the speed limit. These tires dont channel water out very well.
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From: Richmond, Other, ZEBRA
Rep Power: 0 Except for the stereo, the only other "mod" to my car was replacing the Firestones with Michelins after 9 months or so. This improved just about every aspect of driving, and I would highly recommend that anyone consider getting rid of the Firestones no matter what kind of driver you are.
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From: Los Angeles (Downey), California, US
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dude... everybody knows that our stock Firestone tires are POS
Save some $$ and upgrade!
They may well save your life some day.
Save some $$ and upgrade!
They may well save your life some day.
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From: Medford, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 0 I replaced my Firestones because of the wet traction problem. I didn't replace them with anything too exciting (Yokohama Avid Touring) but the new tires that I do have perform much much better in wet conditions. I still can't figure out why Honda puts such lousy tires on an otherwise very safe car. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]
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From: I405 Stuck in traffic.
Rep Power: 0 Jeebus 
What was honda thinking when they went with thoes tires. They were crap! I kept sliding around everywhere with thoes and it rains alot up here in Washington. I picked up a pair of Toyo FZ4's for my 17's and they are waaaay better Handles far better in the rain and does not slip even remotely as much as the stock tires.
What was honda thinking when they went with thoes tires. They were crap! I kept sliding around everywhere with thoes and it rains alot up here in Washington. I picked up a pair of Toyo FZ4's for my 17's and they are waaaay better Handles far better in the rain and does not slip even remotely as much as the stock tires. 
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From: San Diego, California, US
Rep Power: 0 Those Firestones a real hazard in wet weather, and an absolute death-trap in snow and ice (I used to live in Canada). I replaced them with Michelins and there was a huge difference in ride and handling.
And ya, the weather was kinda bad yesterday on the way home from work here in San Diego... well, bad for Southern Cal I should say [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]
And ya, the weather was kinda bad yesterday on the way home from work here in San Diego... well, bad for Southern Cal I should say [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]
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From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 0 Seriously, I live in Ottawa Canada ... winter here now and its a bitch ... they got no grip on "black ice" even the slightest bit at an intersection and the car doesn't want to stop even with abs ... like no grip ... while I roll through the intersection (and I drive modestly, not like a maniac). Also, when you got a couple of inches of snow on the ground ... and starting up (althought I got a standard) the tires spin out ... pretty scary ...
I have to use a more defensive driving style now cause you seriously cant judge how the tire is gonna react on ice and snow. I had a '99 accord, maybe due to it being heavier, but I never experienced these problems with ice and snow.
l8tr
I have to use a more defensive driving style now cause you seriously cant judge how the tire is gonna react on ice and snow. I had a '99 accord, maybe due to it being heavier, but I never experienced these problems with ice and snow.
l8tr
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From: Port St. Lucie, Florida, US
Rep Power: 0 I live in Florida and the stock tires suck ***.......... Tires spin even
when I accelerate slowly and I have to go like 10 around turns
not to spin out
Edit: in rain that is [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]
when I accelerate slowly and I have to go like 10 around turns
not to spin out
Edit: in rain that is [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]
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From: Arcadia, California, US
Rep Power: 0 my worst experience with our stockies was when it was raining and i took a left turn @ 10-15 mph accelerating from a stoplight. I ended up hydroplaning/drifting the turn (my first time "drifting"). scared the **** outta me cause i did it right in front of a cop car...luckily the cop wasn't in the car.
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From: boston, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 0 You guys are crazy to complain about the firestones in the wet.
Sure they are not ideal, but I've driven A LOT worse, try almost any set of General Tires (owned by uniroyal I believe) or Goodyear RSA's if you want to hydroplane...BFG's Comp T/A's Radial T/A's Touring T/A's are about tied with the firestones in my experience, and I had a set of Dunlop's once that were mediocre.
I actually find the firestones to be reasonable in the wet (I use snows in the winter - Kumho I'Zens) and comfortable cruzing down the highway at 70-75 in the pouring rain.
The best tires I have found to date are pirrellis. I have 2 sets of Kumhos, I like the snow tires, and the ECSTA Supra 712's are ok, but the bands seterated on my set... I think the kumho's do pretty good in the rain for the type of tire they are...
-m
Sure they are not ideal, but I've driven A LOT worse, try almost any set of General Tires (owned by uniroyal I believe) or Goodyear RSA's if you want to hydroplane...BFG's Comp T/A's Radial T/A's Touring T/A's are about tied with the firestones in my experience, and I had a set of Dunlop's once that were mediocre.
I actually find the firestones to be reasonable in the wet (I use snows in the winter - Kumho I'Zens) and comfortable cruzing down the highway at 70-75 in the pouring rain.
The best tires I have found to date are pirrellis. I have 2 sets of Kumhos, I like the snow tires, and the ECSTA Supra 712's are ok, but the bands seterated on my set... I think the kumho's do pretty good in the rain for the type of tire they are...
-m
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From: Columbus, Ohio, US
Rep Power: 0 I had a set of brand new RS-A's on my old Grand Am GT, and you're right about the hydroplaning. However, on dry pavement and in the snow, the RS-A's rock these stupid Firestones. If I had the money to replace mine right now, I would. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/IMG]
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Rep Power: 0 yea i found out the hard way what a piece of **** the firestones are...
i live in southern cali, and i was driving today morning on the 210, it was raining pretty hard, i was going about 75 when i started hydroplaning. i lost control, crashed into the center divider, blocking the carpool lane, and another car hit me from the side. surprising i'm fine, but my car is totally ****ed up. i have full coverage but its still going to be a bitch waiting for a few weeks to get my car back.
first thing to do when i get my car back: new tires
i live in southern cali, and i was driving today morning on the 210, it was raining pretty hard, i was going about 75 when i started hydroplaning. i lost control, crashed into the center divider, blocking the carpool lane, and another car hit me from the side. surprising i'm fine, but my car is totally ****ed up. i have full coverage but its still going to be a bitch waiting for a few weeks to get my car back.
first thing to do when i get my car back: new tires
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From: Lost Angels
Rep Power: 301 The FIRST thing I did with my 02 civic was to change the tires to 16" Michelins. They aren't the best, but WAYYYYYY better than the stock firestones.
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From: Dallas, TX
Rep Power: 0 I agree that the Firestones are horrible. I couldn't figure out why the ride was so crappy -- then I checked out tirerack.com and, lo and behold, our Firestones were dead last in the customer surveys.
Like astr033, I replaced mine with a set of Yokohama Avid Touring, am I'm very happy with them.
Like astr033, I replaced mine with a set of Yokohama Avid Touring, am I'm very happy with them.
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Rep Power: 322 mattskav - have you DRIVEN a civic in bad weather with the stock Firestone tires?
Those tires are the worst I have ever experienced. I have an 01 Coupe and replaced them with Michelin MV4+ in January and it handles MUCH better.
My stocks were Firestone FR690's
Those tires are the worst I have ever experienced. I have an 01 Coupe and replaced them with Michelin MV4+ in January and it handles MUCH better.
My stocks were Firestone FR690's
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From: Between the woods and mountains
Rep Power: 0 The tires are OK. A lot depends on how you drive though. My car has about 30K and lthe tires ook like there's 10K left to go. I haven't had any serious problems, except for 2 flots that were quickly repaired.
Make sure you rotate the tires every 5K.
If you drive 75mph in pouring rain, then you are risking it. I know people in CA drive fast, but they are not used to the rain.
Make sure you rotate the tires every 5K.
If you drive 75mph in pouring rain, then you are risking it. I know people in CA drive fast, but they are not used to the rain.
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From: , Other, ZEBRA
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by TMQ
The tires are OK. A lot depends on how you drive though. My car has about 30K and lthe tires ook like there's 10K left to go. I haven't had any serious problems, except for 2 flots that were quickly repaired.
Make sure you rotate the tires every 5K.
If you drive 75mph in pouring rain, then you are risking it. I know people in CA drive fast, but they are not used to the rain.
The tires are OK. A lot depends on how you drive though. My car has about 30K and lthe tires ook like there's 10K left to go. I haven't had any serious problems, except for 2 flots that were quickly repaired.
Make sure you rotate the tires every 5K.
If you drive 75mph in pouring rain, then you are risking it. I know people in CA drive fast, but they are not used to the rain.
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From: Vista, San Diego, CA
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by lazyaznguy
yea i found out the hard way what a piece of **** the firestones are...
i live in southern cali, and i was driving today morning on the 210, it was raining pretty hard, i was going about 75 when i started hydroplaning. i lost control, crashed into the center divider, blocking the carpool lane, and another car hit me from the side. surprising i'm fine, but my car is totally ****ed up. i have full coverage but its still going to be a bitch waiting for a few weeks to get my car back.
first thing to do when i get my car back: new tires
yea i found out the hard way what a piece of **** the firestones are...
i live in southern cali, and i was driving today morning on the 210, it was raining pretty hard, i was going about 75 when i started hydroplaning. i lost control, crashed into the center divider, blocking the carpool lane, and another car hit me from the side. surprising i'm fine, but my car is totally ****ed up. i have full coverage but its still going to be a bitch waiting for a few weeks to get my car back.
first thing to do when i get my car back: new tires
P.S. I drive an 02 EX and these tires do suck. Just accelerating from a stop sign I can't help but spin. I gotta get me some new tires.
