Rep Power: 292

so i'm looking to get winter tires for my DX and was wondering if i should get the same size as stock (185 70R14) and the dude at the tire shop said i should go for a 175 because it would offer better traction in the snow?

I'm not really sure what to think. Last winter, I rode on 175 65r14's I had on my old VW Golf (same bolt pattern as on my Civic) and realized they were like 5% smaller than stock tires.

what would you do?

 
Rep Power: 309

thinner tires will get more traction in snow due the the smaller contact/surface area.
See what a 175/70/14 will be in comparison with stock..

I personally would not but smaller (overall diameter) tires on, due to the increase on the odometer. You might not care as much.

I also would (NOT *edit*) worry about buying new tires for snow... if your old ones are worn, then replace them with all season tires. Stock tire size handles great in the snow, IMO.

 
Rep Power: 292

yea trust me dude..i need winter tires for up here.

anyway, i still have my old stock steelies to put winter tires on.

I have my 15"s for the summer

 
Rep Power: 425

Thinner tires have an easier time going through snow because they don't have as wide of a path to clear. The thing is that you're not going to want a smaller than stock size because it will raise your gearing and you stand more of a chance to slip. Stock tires are thin enough that there shouldn't be a problem anyways, I'd just go for the stock size.

 
Rep Power: 309

Sorry didn't see you was from up der eh...

sorry couldn't resist

just punched up some numbers on the good old tire calc

175/80/14 = 3.25% fast
175/75/14 = 0.32% slow

Either one will work , personally i'd go for the fast one, but the 75 are a closer match.

 
Rep Power: 335

wait... i dont get how the 75 series would alter the odometer SLOWER while the fatter tire would alter the odometer so it reads faster =\

 
Rep Power: 309

It doesn't depend on the thickness of the tire it depend on the height, in the tire sizing specs i.e. 175/75/14 The Height of the tire (75) is a percent of the width (175mm)

Your odometer and Speedometer count the revolutions of your wheels to guage you speed. The guages will always asume the perimeter of your tire is 6.3513 feet .. so if your guages count 1,000,000 revolutions of your tire in an hour it says you are traveling 12 mph.

So if you Change the size of your tire, (Which changes the overall Perimeter of the Tire) Your guages will no longer be counting the correct distance per revolution. This can really add up over long distances.

Play with the tire calc, you'll get it

http://www.7thgencivic.com/index.php?page=tirecalc