Rim thread (Winter size)
- Thread starter JCEV
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Hello.
I love studded snow tires. We had them on our Civic and had better traction on snow and ice than AWD vehicles on all seasons. Studded tires are second only to chains and can be driven at high speed. We have a Clarity now and still live in a place that gets a lot of snow and that's how I came across this thread.
I put some calculations in a spreadsheet to compare tire sizes to the stock 235/45R18 and I agree with the other people that have mentioned this size that 215/55R17 seems like a great match. Narrower tires help in snow and getting a narrower tire also reduces risk of clearance issues. This is the spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HSnYmUaTGy9DxgmNCE6rfPIt-wgEQNMYekntcYGfzh8/edit?usp=sharing
Next is the offset of the wheels. The Clarity has +50mm offset. This means the mounting surface of the wheels is moved 50 mm outward from the center of the wheels. Installing wheels with different offset results in a different scrub radius and can adversely affect handling. So wheels with a smaller positive offset are not very suitable.
Someone in this thread mentioned Accord wheels and I found these wheels from a 2016 Accord:
https://www.wheelership.com/new-17-replacement-wheel-for-honda-accord-2016-2017-rim-64080.html
The link given is for inexpensive replicas of the OE wheels. I just ordered them and I hope they're as strong as OE. The seller claims JWL certification. Here's something on this Japanese standard:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWL_standard
These wheels have an offset of 55mm and with 5 mm spacers they will match the Clarity's offset. Their appearance is somewhat similar to Clarity wheels. They are more than an inch less wide than the Clarity wheels, which are on the wide side for their tires. This will make the wheels a good match for the 215 width tires.
Tirerack has three different studdable snow tires in 215/55R17. I like these:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...55SR7WF2&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
I like them because they have reviews, and they're very positive. I've had very good luck going by Tirerack's ratings in the past and I prefer this over choosing by known brand names. Tirerack has a studding service that you can select on checkout.
If you want to get studded tires, do check what your local laws are. Not all states allow studded tires, because they are destructive to the road. Here in WA, studded tires are legal November 1 through March 31st. This spring, probably due to weather, the take-off date was moved forward a bit.
What I haven't figured out yet is how to get the TPMS to work. Perhaps it's not essential, but it'd be nice if that worked. I saw online that many vehicles have the sensors at the base of the tire valves. I wrote to hondapartsnow.com to ask for part numbers of valves with TPMS sensors. Their response was as follows:
On your 18 clarity plug in hybrid, the tpms is on your wheel speed sensors. You would not need to replace those as long as wheels are in specs. If out of specs you will have to contact whoever you bought the wheels from. Now you do want to put new valves on your wheels if not equip.
The part number is 42753-SB8-661.
I looked up that part number and that's just a regular rubber schrader valve.
So how do we get the right wheel speed sensors? What is the part number? Are they strapped to the inside of the wheel?
Thank you,
Michiel van Wessem
I love studded snow tires. We had them on our Civic and had better traction on snow and ice than AWD vehicles on all seasons. Studded tires are second only to chains and can be driven at high speed. We have a Clarity now and still live in a place that gets a lot of snow and that's how I came across this thread.
I put some calculations in a spreadsheet to compare tire sizes to the stock 235/45R18 and I agree with the other people that have mentioned this size that 215/55R17 seems like a great match. Narrower tires help in snow and getting a narrower tire also reduces risk of clearance issues. This is the spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HSnYmUaTGy9DxgmNCE6rfPIt-wgEQNMYekntcYGfzh8/edit?usp=sharing
Next is the offset of the wheels. The Clarity has +50mm offset. This means the mounting surface of the wheels is moved 50 mm outward from the center of the wheels. Installing wheels with different offset results in a different scrub radius and can adversely affect handling. So wheels with a smaller positive offset are not very suitable.
Someone in this thread mentioned Accord wheels and I found these wheels from a 2016 Accord:
https://www.wheelership.com/new-17-replacement-wheel-for-honda-accord-2016-2017-rim-64080.html
The link given is for inexpensive replicas of the OE wheels. I just ordered them and I hope they're as strong as OE. The seller claims JWL certification. Here's something on this Japanese standard:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWL_standard
These wheels have an offset of 55mm and with 5 mm spacers they will match the Clarity's offset. Their appearance is somewhat similar to Clarity wheels. They are more than an inch less wide than the Clarity wheels, which are on the wide side for their tires. This will make the wheels a good match for the 215 width tires.
Tirerack has three different studdable snow tires in 215/55R17. I like these:
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...55SR7WF2&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
I like them because they have reviews, and they're very positive. I've had very good luck going by Tirerack's ratings in the past and I prefer this over choosing by known brand names. Tirerack has a studding service that you can select on checkout.
If you want to get studded tires, do check what your local laws are. Not all states allow studded tires, because they are destructive to the road. Here in WA, studded tires are legal November 1 through March 31st. This spring, probably due to weather, the take-off date was moved forward a bit.
What I haven't figured out yet is how to get the TPMS to work. Perhaps it's not essential, but it'd be nice if that worked. I saw online that many vehicles have the sensors at the base of the tire valves. I wrote to hondapartsnow.com to ask for part numbers of valves with TPMS sensors. Their response was as follows:
On your 18 clarity plug in hybrid, the tpms is on your wheel speed sensors. You would not need to replace those as long as wheels are in specs. If out of specs you will have to contact whoever you bought the wheels from. Now you do want to put new valves on your wheels if not equip.
The part number is 42753-SB8-661.
I looked up that part number and that's just a regular rubber schrader valve.
So how do we get the right wheel speed sensors? What is the part number? Are they strapped to the inside of the wheel?
Thank you,
Michiel van Wessem
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OK. Just read the earlier posts in this thread about the tire speed sensors. Sounds like that's no issue.
I found some concerns with using the Accord wheels. I found 5mm hubcentric spacers on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M6239P8
I measured the lip on the Clarity hub to be 5.6mm. This means that with the spacers installed, there is only .6mm left to center the wheel on. The wheels have a chamfered hole and .6 mm is not much of a shoulder to center the wheel precisely. And 5.6 mm makes a lip on the 5mm spacers impossible.
Another concern is if the lug nuts will have enough thread to hold on to.
It might be better to use 4mm or 3mm spacers, even if that gives a slightly different wheel offset.
I found some concerns with using the Accord wheels. I found 5mm hubcentric spacers on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M6239P8
I measured the lip on the Clarity hub to be 5.6mm. This means that with the spacers installed, there is only .6mm left to center the wheel on. The wheels have a chamfered hole and .6 mm is not much of a shoulder to center the wheel precisely. And 5.6 mm makes a lip on the 5mm spacers impossible.
Another concern is if the lug nuts will have enough thread to hold on to.
It might be better to use 4mm or 3mm spacers, even if that gives a slightly different wheel offset.
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rickyrsx
Active Member
So is it not recommend to use the recommended wheel suggestions from tire retailers?
Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
Richard Kelly
Member
To retain the Scrub angle, the wheel Offset would change if the width of the wheel changes. As the Wheel gets narrower I believe the the offset needs to be reduced. Look at the calculated offset at this site. https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?wh...-17X6.5ET50&fcl=2in&wcl=1.25in&scl=2in&sr=0in
I have steel wheels 17x6.5 with 50mm offsets. I had no problem -- the design of the wheel is important since they curve out where the brake calipers are located.
Vezz66
Member
From my research, both are relative to the center or the wheel, so modifying the wheel width while keeping the offset identical leaves the scrub radius unchanged.
Here is a good explanation of various measurements related to wheels
https://static.summitracing.com/global/images/instructions/crw-35-580547500.pdf
More complicated for those who increase wheel width, where you have to modify the offset to avoid touching the suspension or other parts of the body.
So I learned more about suspensions today!
I forgot to mention that I cancelled my order for the Accord wheels because I didn't want to deal with potential scrub radius or hubcentric centering issues with a +45mm wheel. I didn't want to replace the wheel mounting studs or leave them and worry either. Instead, I've ordered a single Enkei aftermarket wheel to verify it will fit over the front calipers. This is a 50mm offset wheel and it just needs a ring to adapt the bore hole size so that it will center on the hub. If this wheel fits over the calipers, I'll order 3 more and update here.
I prefer the look of Honda wheels, even their steel wheels look great (pretty hubcaps). And steel wheels have certain benefits: they're inexpensive (except the ones from Honda) and they can bend without breaking on impact. I think police cars often have steel wheels for that reason.
I prefer the look of Honda wheels, even their steel wheels look great (pretty hubcaps). And steel wheels have certain benefits: they're inexpensive (except the ones from Honda) and they can bend without breaking on impact. I think police cars often have steel wheels for that reason.
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Richard Kelly
Member
Discovered I had put the wrong data into the tool on Wheel-size.com site. Here is the corrected wheel/tire for the Honda Accord replacement wheel and snow tire. https://www.wheel-size.com/calc/?wh...-17X6.5ET55&fcl=2in&wcl=1.25in&scl=2in&sr=0in
The offset is slightly off from center of the brake caliper, but well within recommended tolerence, and the scrub is almost identical to factory.
The offset is slightly off from center of the brake caliper, but well within recommended tolerence, and the scrub is almost identical to factory.
I really like the visualization on that page. So if the total diameter of wheel with tire remains the same and the offset remains the same, the scrub radius remains the same. Any change in offset alone is identical to the change in scrub radius. If the total diameter is larger or smaller it can changes the scrub radius and a different offset may be needed.
I saw somewhere that a scrub radius change of 5mm can affect handling. I don't know if it's significant. If you car pushes (wants to go straight) you'll know.
Sandroad
Well-Known Member
I’m sure they won’t. 4 tires of about the same size just barely fit into the cargo area of my Outback. And, the pass-through area in the Clarity may not help. You’ll likely need the back seat too.
They do not. I don't think I even got 3 in there before realizing I had to fold the rear seats.
Vezz66
Member
Pretty much decided on getting 17” wheels, just agonizing over a couple of details
Just wondering if wheels should be 6.5 or 7 inches wide (wheel-size suggests 6, which I think is beyond the tire minimum spec).
Also if I should get steel or alloy
These wheels fit Honda spec perfectly, actually sold as OEM replacement for Honda. Same offset and bore size.
http://www.rtxwheels.com/en/wheels/rtxwheels-nagano-silver
Just wondering if wheels should be 6.5 or 7 inches wide (wheel-size suggests 6, which I think is beyond the tire minimum spec).
Also if I should get steel or alloy
These wheels fit Honda spec perfectly, actually sold as OEM replacement for Honda. Same offset and bore size.
http://www.rtxwheels.com/en/wheels/rtxwheels-nagano-silver
Richard Kelly
Member
Of course it depends upon which tires you are putting on. If you are using the 215 55 R17 snows that have been discussed, think either 6.5 or 7 would be fine. For the blizzaks in that size, 6" was the minimum size rim width. You should consult the tire manufacturer or your dealer to be sure though.
Interesting that the description of the RTX Nagano wheels say a 5 spoke design, but the picture shows 7 spokes.
Interesting that the description of the RTX Nagano wheels say a 5 spoke design, but the picture shows 7 spokes.