parkerdt

It won't be all that long - the weather wil turn and the hardtop will go on as the temperatures drop. I'm going to need winter tires. 2006 with stock rims and RE050s will not cut it.

Everyone I've talked to recommends dropping down to 16" rims for the winter. Jim at the Tire Rack has recommended the Dunlop Winter Sport M3s in 205/55-16 front and 225/50-16 back. He has a decent price on Kazera KZ-S wheels, 16x7 front and rear.

I would be willing to spring for a pair of stock AP1 wheels; obviously the widths are different - I suspect I'd need a 245/50-16 in the rear?

In any case, I'd appreciate comments/suggestions/advice from those who use their S as a winter daily driver; this is my first winter coming up. I was OK the last 5 winters with my '01 Accord EXv6 with the standard Michelin MVX4 all-seasons except for a day or two each year...

thanks,
Dave

xviper

Jim's recommendations still stand with the stock AP1 rims because you are dealing with winter tires, which are normally down sized for better bite in the snow and ice. 205 and 225 for winters are just fine.
I have had great success with the Bridgestone Blizzak line. Unfortunately, my old MZ-01 are no longer made and have been replaced by the WS-50. My daughter uses the REVO 1 series and they work very well also.
I am currently using the Michelin Arctic Alpin series and they are quite adequate but not as grippy in the deep snow as my old Blizzaks. You will always have some sort of compromise between aggressive deep snow grip and high speed stability on dry winter roads. With one, you get a little less of the other.
I've heard the Dunlops are pretty good winter tires as well.

parkerdt

Thanks, XViper,

Do you think there would be any appreciable difference in going with the 7" wheels all around vs stock AP1 rims with those size tires?

Dave

xviper

My first set of winter tires (MZ-01) were mounted on 16" X 7" ADR rims, 44mm offset. This required the rears to sport a little less air pressure due to the bead being pulled in slightly. This made for a bit of a "squirmy" ride when negotiating moderate to high speed curves in the dry.
Winters tires are generally of a softer rubber compound (when cold) and a softer sidewall, so they feel a bit loose at speed anyway. Putting them on stock width rims seem to reduce this squirm considerably. If you don't anticipate having to drive in that fashion during the winter months, it's really not a big deal. For nearly 4 winters, I just accepted the fact that I wasn't going to have the same kind of performance as if I had better rims and I just slowed down on those types of roads.

parkerdt

Thanks again, XViper. I think I will go with the 7" wheels all around this first winter since a set of AP1 rims is still relatively more expensive. I do not try to do spirited driving in snow; just need to get to work and back over sometimes snowy interstate highways.

Dave