OT: Honda needs

[911pcars]

I'm looking for a set of snow tires and wheels for my daughter's '97 Honda Accord LX. She has a job in NY for a few months which includes their infamous winters with rain, ice, snow, sleet and all that nasty cold stuff. Would rather not invest a whole lot for just a few months use, thus used, but good condition items are preferred. She'll move on to a better climate afterwards.

Approx. sizes:
Snow tire size in the range of 175-185x15.
Wheel size: 15 x 5, 4 lug hole x 114.3mm bolt diameter.

Would appreciate if anyone has any leads for a complete bolt-on set or perhaps separate wheels and tires. Some Toyota/Nissan, etc. wheels might work as well (same bolt circle), but I can't confirm (oftset, etc.) at this point in time.

Also need a plastic front splash shield. It's the first item to go when kids first learn to drive ("What's a parking berm?).

Thanks,
Sherwood

[TimT]

Where in NY? it is a big state..

You really don't need a set of dedicated snow tires for NY winters... unless you're in the Adirondacks, Southern Tier, or some areas of the Catskills.

I have lived in the northeast for my whole life, and have never had dedicated snow tires.. and I have a second home in Vermont.. which has some pretty snowy winters

Good all-seasons will be more than adequate.

[911pcars]

Albany, NY. Does this help?

Thanks for your comments. Do you think all-seasons will be adequate here?

S

[TimT]

Albany can have some really nasty winter weather...Not as bad as Watertown, Syracuse or Buffalo.

Good all-seasons should be fine... Again.. I have gotten by using all-season tires my whole life... but I learned to drive in ice,snow and rain...

Also many people in the snow belts only put snow tires on the drive wheels... so you really only need a pair of snows..

Maybe for your peace of mind get the snows..

I don't have any leads for used....

[911pcars]

Okay. Will consider your suggestions.

Sherwood

[Christien]

I've also driven my whole life on all-seasons, never winter tires. However, many people have said that the difference is remarkable. The province of Quebec (borders upstate NY) has made winter tires mandatory by law, and Ontario is expected to do so sooner or later. So that tells you something.

[Porschephile944]

I ran snow tires on my DD mazda6 for the first time last winter. The difference between a good set of snow tires and a good set of all seasons (not bald, snow and mud rated) was pretty remarkable imo. Its almost comparable to the difference between a good set of summer tires and the RA-1's i use for autocross. Are snow tires on a front wheel drive car necessary in this part of the country (I live outside Boston), I don't think so. There were probably less than 6 days last winter that it even really occurred to me that i had them, and some of those days were only in the driveway as the roads were clear by the time i was driving on them. Having some experience and knowledge of how to drive in the snow is far far more important in my experience, and can be much tougher to acquire.

[red-beard]

#1. How much do you want to spend?

#2. How much do you love your daughter.

My on/off girlfriend had a 2000 honda civic. I always ran real snow tires on all four corners for 5-6 months of the year. While visiting her, I bought her a set of blizzaks because she was more important to me than the $300 or so the tires cost.

I lived on/off in the Albany/Schenectady/Western Mass area from 1973-2001. All season are OK, but they really don't work that well in the snow/slush you get in that area. If you do go the all season route, you want BRAND NEW ones when she arrives. They'll work for one, maybe two seasons, and that's it.

[tcar]

Blizzaks.

[Aufenbahn]

My wifes Accord with Dunlop Graspic on all four wheels is like having AWD in the snow. Totally settles the car down and gives me the impression that I could get thru anything. Don't just put snowies on the front - it messes up the handling majorly.