Snow tires for PHEV touring

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zbartrout

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Hi-
While loving our Clarity, snowy, hilly Upstate NY is a bit of a challenge for any 2WD sedan without snow tires. I have talked to Honda about steel wheels I can mount some snow tires on, but service tells me there are not any after market wheels out there yet. Anyone have any suggestions? Everyone recommends making sure any wheel has TPMS added.


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I thought the Clarity has no 'real' TPMS, it uses some kind of sensor to measure the shape of the tires, that's why you need to drive a certain number of miles when doing the calibration, is that not so?
 
Check Discount Tire Direct. They are the first out of the gate to test fit and sell Clarity wheels and tires. TireRack current only has tires.
For Winter tires, I've gotten quotes for the following brands in size 235/45R18:
  • Michelin X-Ice Xi3
  • Nokian Hakkapelitta R2
  • Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
  • Gislaved Nordforst 200

Here’s a summary of the wheel sizes based on the models they confirm compatible:

18"
  • 18x8 35, 45 offset
  • 18x8.5 35 offset
  • 18x9 38, 40 offset

19"
  • 19x8 40 offset
  • 19x8.5 30, 35, 40, 42, 45 offset
  • 19x9.5 40 offset
 
iluvscuba said:
I thought the Clarity has no 'real' TPMS, it uses some kind of sensor to measure the shape of the tires, that's why you need to drive a certain number of miles when doing the calibration, is that not so?
Click to expand...

I just checked and the Clarity has indirect TPMS. Here's brief description of the difference:

http://www.collegehillshonda.com/bl...nd-indirect-tire-pressure-monitoring-systems/

Honda indirect TPMS does not have air pressure sensors inside the tires. Rather, they detect a low tire by comparing relative wheel speeds via the anti-lock brake system (ABS) wheel speed sensors.
 
Hobbesgsr said:
Check Discount Tire Direct. They are the first out of the gate to test fit and sell Clarity wheels and tires. TireRack current only has tires.
For Winter tires, I've gotten quotes for the following brands in size 235/45R18:
  • Michelin X-Ice Xi3
  • Nokian Hakkapelitta R2
  • Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
  • Gislaved Nordforst 200

Here’s a summary of the wheel sizes based on the models they confirm compatible:

18"
  • 18x8 35, 45 offset
  • 18x8.5 35 offset
  • 18x9 38, 40 offset

19"
  • 19x8 40 offset
  • 19x8.5 30, 35, 40, 42, 45 offset
  • 19x9.5 40 offset
Click to expand...

Thanks. This is super helpful. Have you purchased any of these?


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Hobbesgsr said:
I just checked and the Clarity has indirect TPMS. Here's brief description of the difference:

http://www.collegehillshonda.com/bl...nd-indirect-tire-pressure-monitoring-systems/

Honda indirect TPMS does not have air pressure sensors inside the tires. Rather, they detect a low tire by comparing relative wheel speeds via the anti-lock brake system (ABS) wheel speed sensors.
Click to expand...

Ironically, we started getting a tire pressure message today. I stopped and all tires were at 36 psi. I ended up recalibrating via the vehicle settings, but pretty frustrating with all tires at spec and no changes. Why after 4 months without issue?


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robodog1 said:
What about 17" rims? Has anyone purchased those? Thanks
Click to expand...
I did what the Owners Manual says on page 507:
Select the size and load ranges that are the same as the original tires.
I have same-sized snow tires on the OEM rims and bought the more attractive Clarity accessory wheels for OEM tires. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta snow tires are very loud, which definitely takes away from the quiet EV ride of our Clarity, but the magic sound deadeners in the $1200 OEM wheels makes them slightly quieter. Not.
 
It has been posted that you can use 17" rims/tires on the Clarity. It is the way I am going to go, it saves about $350 in my case. To keep everything in sync such as your speedometer you do need to keep the same size, I interpret this as the same circumference. You want a tire that has the same rotations per mile as the original 18's. 215/55R17 is the stated replacement size, with the benefit of being slightly narrower which I have found aids when there is a decent amount of snow to get thru. Discount tire has a large selection of wheels that they call out as fitting the Clarity.
 
Saving money is good. Because I was determined to get the accessory wheels it made sense to use the original rims for the snow tires. The car was unstoppable with its 4,000-lb weight. After an 8-inch snowfall, I was trying to follow our Clarity in my 1,850-lb Insight. My car was bouncing left and right due to the ruts made by other cars, but my wife in the Clarity steamed through the rutted snow without any effect whatsoever.
 
I just mounted Michelin X-Ice winter tires on my PHEV Touring in the OEM size. I've had experience with that tire on other cars and know it is outstanding in winter conditions. On the 10 mile drive home on varied roads, the X-Ice and handled and rode nicely, didn't slap rough pavement as hard as the OEM Energy Saver, but were slightly louder with a low-speed hum. Not objectionable at all, but noticeable at low speeds.
 
Sandroad said:
I just mounted Michelin X-Ice winter tires on my PHEV Touring in the OEM size. I've had experience with that tire on other cars and know it is outstanding in winter conditions. On the 10 mile drive home on varied roads, the X-Ice and handled and rode nicely, didn't slap rough pavement as hard as the OEM Energy Saver, but were slightly louder with a low-speed hum. Not objectionable at all, but noticeable at low speeds.
Click to expand...

Thanks Sandroad - that's exactly what I want to use for the winter. Can you post any details about the rims you had them mounted on, or any links to them? Or did you just use the OEM rims?
 
Our Canadian snow tire recommendations from Honda posted on another thread said to put 215/55/17. You can do either, but if you want to save some money and cut through snow and put more weight on the contact patch go with the smaller tire. I will be putting mine on in a week .
 
Swapped over with oem sized tires on stock wheels.
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Ray B said:
Thanks Sandroad - that's exactly what I want to use for the winter. Can you post any details about the rims you had them mounted on, or any links to them? Or did you just use the OEM rims?
Click to expand...

I just used the OEM rims. I do wonder if snow/ice will build up in the plastic decorations on the wheels. If it does, I can just remove the plastic for the winter. Costco only charges $40 for a winter/summer changeover. The place I bought the tires will do it for free twice a year, but they don't take appointments and I've had some loooong waits there for mounting/balancing. I would have bought rims in the 18" size for the winter tires, but my wife and I couldn't agree on which ones :rolleyes:

I see some folks are going narrower with the tread on winter tires. For me, the snow is plowed really well in our area so I don't have to worry about cutting through deep snow. The primary reason I use (and like) winter tires is for the icy stuff that builds as re-freeze on roads, ice at intersections, and black ice on the highways. For that purpose, the OEM width is fine and winter tires in general are "the sh&t", to quote my daughter-in-law.
 
I moved the OEM Michelins onto the Clarity accessory wheels and put Nokian Hakkapelitta R2 tires (same size as OEMs) on the OEM wheels for winter duty (demonstrating my lack of love for the OEM design). Unfortunately, the OEM wheels' noise-reduction technology cannot overcome the whine of the Hakkapelittas but I've come to trust those tires over the last two decades on my lightweight Insight.
 
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