Snow Tires & Rims

Discussion in 'Clarity' started by aapitten, Jan 25, 2018.

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  1. aapitten

    aapitten Active Member

    Does anyone have any suggestions on where to get rims for the clarity? Snow tires are easy, but I want rims AND tires.

    I found the specs in a Honda install guide for the 'upgraded' rims, but I can't find anyone who will sell me a set. Tirerack says they won't sell them to me based on specs - they have to measure it for themselves which won't be till late spring, my local tire shop says his distributors can't get any info to order them, and the dealer where I bought it wants $4k :eek: for a set of OEM rims with winter tires mounted on them!
     
  2. Tiralc

    Tiralc Active Member

    I put Pirelli P7s on my stock rims, not winter tires, but far better winter performance. Initially, I was going to sell the OEM Michelins and use the P7s all year. I'm not crazy about the P7s, and they are noisier than the Michelins. However, I have been grateful to have them in some pretty rough winter conditions (the worst of which, ironically, was going back and forth to my tire place after several problems with bad tires, but TireRack did make good on the entire set of problems, and I believe they are a good company with good customer support, so I will continue to buy from them).

    My plan is to buy the upgraded Alloy wheels and have my tire shop (very good folks) put the original OEM Michelins on the upgraded Honda rims, then use the P7s with the original steel rims for winter. The best price so far is this Honda dealer in Md (I plan to ask my local dealer parts dept if they will match the price):
    http://www.collegehillshonda.com/product/08W18-TRT-100.html
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018
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  3. loomis2

    loomis2 Well-Known Member

    Those do look pretty sweet. I doubt I could talk the wife into that $1300 upgrade, though. I didn't even know wheel upgrades existed for this car. I thought it had the special aerodynamic hubcaps that came with it and that was it.
     
  4. West1

    West1 Member

    Check with a large Honda dealership for "take offs" a base model Accord that was upgraded and the customer traded in the OEM wheels with the dealership.
    Second option is to get a set of Accord rims from a salvage or ebay. I would assume the Accord has the same bolt pattern and offset.
     
  5. Tiralc

    Tiralc Active Member

    Interesting wheel specs here: wheel-size.com - use "search for wheels" upper right hand corner
    (Just from a google, no idea if they are any good or accurate, but it certainly looks like lots of detailed info.)
    Screen Shot 2018-01-26 at 7.32.25 PM.png
    from the Honda alloy wheel installation pdf (the OP mentioned this):
    Screen Shot 2018-01-26 at 7.38.58 PM.png
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018
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  6. aapitten

    aapitten Active Member

    Tiralc, those are the specs I was taking about. I was in a hurry when I posted and was having a hard time finding that pdf again thanks!

    West1, I quickly did look into using some accord rims, but as I recall something (the offset maybe) was slightly different. I'm not sure if it's enough to matter though...
     
  7. bfd

    bfd Active Member

    Don't know about snow tires, but I had to sign something on a separate sheet at delivery that said I wouldn't put chains on the backā€¦ or maybe it was the front. LOL, Seems like the front would be the only place to put them!
     
  8. Rajiv Vaidyanathan

    Rajiv Vaidyanathan Active Member

    Discount Tire locally did not even have the Clarity in their system, but they're mounting my Michelin X-ice snow tires on 18" Accord-compatible rims. Scheduled to install on Wednesday. Is that a problem? Now I'm worried.
     
  9. aapitten

    aapitten Active Member

    Rajiv, sorry for the delayed reply!! How did things work out with the Accord rims? My guess is that everything would be fine, but I just didn't want to put that kind of money into it without knowing for sure.
     
  10. Rajiv Vaidyanathan

    Rajiv Vaidyanathan Active Member

    It has worked out great. They actually assured me that they would be carefully verifying the fit and space before installing all of them. They came over and reassured me that it fits and has enough clearance.

    The snow tires are excellent and almost essential here in Duluth, MN. The rims I purchased from them (new) ran only $108 a piece for a total of $432 before tax and a $30 rebate. That makes switching the tires seasonally a cinch (they will even do it for me for free if I take it in).

    Have driven about 700 miles on the rims and I can't tell a difference in "feel" or noise.
     
  11. aapitten

    aapitten Active Member

    Cool, thanks for the updates! Do you happen to know what model year they referenced for the Accord rims? AKA are they for a 2017, 2018, etc?
     
  12. Rajiv Vaidyanathan

    Rajiv Vaidyanathan Active Member

    Based on the SKU on my invoice, THESE are the wheels installed.

    The Accord seems to have 17" wheels (or 19" on the touring). So, he probably took my specs from this thread that I gave him at the store.
     
  13. Fidzio

    Fidzio Member

    Hi Rajiv, your link didn't work for me, and I'm also interested in getting winters for my Clarity although I'd prefer 17" diameter wheels. Do you have any details of the wheel make, model and diameter and maybe a photo?
     
  14. Rajiv Vaidyanathan

    Rajiv Vaidyanathan Active Member

    That's strange. It just worked for me. Anyway, here is the full link for you to cut and paste:
    https://www.discounttire.com/buy-wheels/vision-cross-ii/p/20750

    And a screenshot of the wheels:
    VisionWheel.jpg
     
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  15. Richard Kelly

    Richard Kelly Member

    Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I just got my Clarity last month and got the snows for the upcoming Minnesota Winter. Wheel take-offs from an older Accord and 215 55 r17 Blizzaks WS80 at the Discount Tire Labor Day sale. Package about $650 all in.
     

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  16. I love Blizzaks!!
    I've been using them since they came out. Imho, awesome snow tire - just replace them before they get more than ~1/2 worn down. After that, the "amazing ice stopping" thread gives way to regular snow tread.

    Btw, there are supposedly even better snow tires. But, from a cost perspective, I still see Blizzaks as cheaper. Plus, the deep thread is an important factor in a snow tire. So, imho, any snow tire should be replaced after it's 1/2 worn, or sooner.
     
  17. For what it's worth, I double checked, the tires that many Canadians, Swedish, and luxury cars owners like are the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2.

    An article by car and driver (imho, which means little, since I see them as biased in many ways)
    https://www.caranddriver.com/features/winter-tire-test-six-top-brands-tested-compared-feature
    https://www.caranddriver.com/features/winter-tire-test-six-top-brands-tested-compared-feature-final-scoring-and-performance-data-page-3


    Imho, either the Blizzak, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2, or Michelin X-Ice Xi3 snow tires are good snow tires.

    I've used Blizzaks for many years. I live in New England. In most of New England, during the winter, the daily high is above 32F and the daily low is below 32F. So, on local roads, especially in the morning, there's a tendency to have ice on the roads and at the stop signs/stop light.

    I know that Blizzaks work when I have to stop on an icy patch. They've been great for me. They always rate very high in any ice test done by anyone.
    So, for me, I'll stay with Blizzaks. :)

    Also, tire rack doesn't sell Nokian tires. Therefore, they don't test against them.
    Tire Rack winter tire test:
    https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=193

    I'm not sure why tire rack doesn't sell Nokian tires.
    I often buy my tires from tire rack, and the tires shipped directly to my local mechanic. I either drop off my car, or the rims.
     
  18. insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    I've been a Hakkapelitta fan for years. They worked perfectly on our Clarity PHEV last winter, but they're noisy, like all snow tires. I had our dealer mount them before we took delivery in December. That was a good decision because the season's first snowstorm, a big one, hit the day we drove our new car home.

    While my wife drove her new Clarity, I followed in my Hakkapelitta-clad 1850-lb Honda Insight. My car was bouncing left and right in the ruts created by other cars while the 2-ton Clarity cruised serenely through the rutted street in a straight line.

    Last spring I bought the more attractive (though resonator-less) and much, much less expensive Clarity accessory wheels for the OEM tires and we could finally enjoy the quiet ride we knew this car could provide.
     
  19. Jubei

    Jubei New Member

    are you referring to the wheel Tiralc posted? https://www.collegehillshonda.com/product/08W18-TRT-100.html
     
  20. insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

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