imported_mikepasini

hey guys, wondering if you could help me out here. i have a 96 civic dx and i have two questions about my winter set-up cause i am concerned about skidding out or something like that. I have 195/50/15s right now... i need to buy winters but am thinking maybe 205s for winter tires cause it would give me more surface contact.... and what i am thinking, even better traction? hopefully stability in dry conditions? i am looking at these kumhos and i found them for 102.99 or something a piece... any suggestions on something in the 300-400 range for a good grippy set up?


also, suspension questions. i am running kyb agxs and am dropped roughly 1.8-2.0"... guy at the shop said i should be ok for winter cause i don't have a skirt or lips or anything. the shocks are adjustable 1-4 in the front and 1-8 int he back. right now i have it 3 front and 6 back... nice and stiff... well, winter is coming so i wont be cornering too hard or anything so maaybe a 1-1 or 1-2 setup? any suggestions? is softer suspension or firmer suspension better for winter driving?

sorry for all the writing, i just saw so many accidents yesterday and i have summer rain tires and i am in desperate need for winter tires cause winter is coming faster than expected. Thanks.

electronblue

iTrader: (1)

I run a skinnier width, higher sidewall for winter, I also run the tire with more pressure in the winter months. 32-33 Psi in summer...34-35 Psi in winter.

Tire is only part of the equation in winter driving conditions. If you are buying a winter set that is a good start, but the way you handle your car in the conditions will also be a large factor.

Things like acceleration, braking and cornering all affect the slippage that you will have, because tires are not performing at 100% in all those motions. What you need to make sure of in winter conditions is that you leave plenty of space to stop (avoid hard braking), accelerate at a fair rate, and corner at a slower consistent speed, CONSISTENT is very important.

As far as suspension goes, if you are comfortable with the 3-6 setup, continue to run it. If you make changes your car is going to feel and behave different for you, that also could cause problems.

rjngo

for tires...u should downsize from ur OEM size, u don't have to have a wider tire to get a good grip of the road! downsize to like 185 and it'll be skinnier. the skinnier the tire the better it'll go through snow!!!

suspension...u will be fine! when i had my old car, i used to run with koni red in the winter and it was adjustable too. i just left it the way it is both in the winter and summer(1.7 front & 2.3 rear)

imported_alwaysoverkill

yup, skinner is better for going through snow. winter tires are a great investment and worth every penny.

i'm running 195/55/15 (stock size) right now, when they wear out i'll be going alittle narrower, 185

for suspension, you can always try softer settings and see how it behaves, softer would be what i'd run in winter probable 1/4 or 2/4

snow coming faster then expected, damn man, its towards the end on Nov. saw crazy accidents too yesturday, winters will definately help there

imported_mikepasini

welll, i have 15 inch rims right now and they are nothing special so i don't care about using them int he winter... according to the books, a 195-50-R15 is the appropriate size and the circumference of the tire is the same as the stock 175-70-R13 tire... could i run say a 195-55-R15 or 195-60-R15 or maybe a 185-50/55/60-R15? Thanks.

imported_alwaysoverkill

stock size in CX/LX/DX is 185/65/14 so you want 185/60/15 which is same overall diametre (23.5" for stock and 23.75 for 15")

its narrower the 195 which is what you want, and the 185/60/15 should still give lots of tire options

oh, and 195/50/15 is 22.70" which stock 185/65/14 is 23.5" so 195/55/15 is 23.5" and is actually the right size summer, but you can get away with 195/50/15 no prob. I use 205/50/15 when my stock is 195/55/15 (1.6EL)

szuberi

the narrower the width...the better you will drive through the snow and slush. IMO...dont go with 205...stick with your stock size.

imported_mikepasini

where are u getting the measurements from? i was trying to do that, but they vary from tire style depending ont he depth, so thats how i know its not an accurate way to measure... i don't know, or is it? also, wouldn't wider tires be better to getting traction cause there is more to grip and for stopping there is more surface contact? or is a wider tire on my weight of car going to cause a floating effect? also, stock size on a cx and dx is 175/70/13... look it up a bit more... its all the same on hatches... its a 14" on the SI... and a 15" on the SIR... for sure...

imported_alwaysoverkill

if its 175/70/13 then then 185/55/15 will work as 175/70/13 is shown as 22.65 overall diametre, and 185/55/15 is 22.28.


take you stock size, and then type in various tire sized at the site below, you want within +/- 4%


http://www.net-comber.com/tirecalc.html

imported_mikepasini

nice, thanks...