I searched through 8th Gen Forum and could not locate posting about steel rims (for mounting snow tires) for the 08 Accord.

Please share your experience.

My wife is trading her 03 EX-L (4 Cyl) to 08 EX-L (4 Cyl) next week; in Eastern Ontario, we always have 4 snow tires (on steel rims) during winter for the icy (not just snow) road condition.

On the 03, OEM size is 205/60R15; and we use 195/65R15 snow tires and will be keeping the snow tires set.

Even though the bolt pattern btw 03 and 08 is identical, I doubt "minus 2" will fit the 08 (225/50R17). The trouble is 08 EX-L also has TPM, and the dealer told me steel rim with TPM sensor is not available in Canada yet.

TireRack seems to offer Snow/Alloy Wheel Pkg (17") with or without TPM Sensors, or Snow/Steel Wheel Pkg (16") with or without TPM Sensors.

What are your opinion on wheel size, and if TPM Sensor is really necessary?

I understand that if the Snow Tire on Steel or Alloy does not have TPM sensor, the TPM Light will stay permanent ON, and can be ignored.

P.S. typically I do "-1" or keep constant when switching from OEM to Snow tires.

I searched through 8th Gen Forum and could not locate posting about steel rims (for mounting snow tires) for the 08 Accord.

Please share your experience.

My wife is trading her 03 EX-L (4 Cyl) to 08 EX-L (4 Cyl) next week; in Eastern Ontario, we always have 4 snow tires (on steel rims) during winter for the icy (not just snow) road condition.

On the 03, OEM size is 205/60R15; and we use 195/65R15 snow tires and will be keeping the snow tires set.

Even though the bolt pattern btw 03 and 08 is identical, I doubt "minus 2" will fit the 08 (225/50R17). The trouble is 08 EX-L also has TPM, and the dealer told me steel rim with TPM sensor is not available in Canada yet.

TireRack seems to offer Snow/Alloy Wheel Pkg (17") with or without TPM Sensors, or Snow/Steel Wheel Pkg (16") with or without TPM Sensors.

What are your opinion on wheel size, and if TPM Sensor is really necessary?

I understand that if the Snow Tire on Steel or Alloy does not have TPM sensor, the TPM Light will stay permanent ON, and can be ignored.

P.S. typically I do "-1" or keep constant when switching from OEM to Snow tires.
So overall, a 205-65R15 tire is within .4 inches diameter of the new stock 17" tire size, so looks like Honda didnt' do much to the overall size. When I do snow tires, and if I'm going to change the width to a bit narrower, I try to do a "plus zero" to keep the diameter the same, if not close. So, as long as you don't mind the TPMS light on all the time, you could use the steel wheels you've got, and perhaps upgrade a size for the snows themselves.

But the real issue will be this - did they change the brakes on the '08 so that a 15" wheel will fit over the calipers? Easy way to check is to jack up the front and take one of the wheels off and try to put your 15" wheel on and see if it clears the caliper or not. The center hole and offset should be OK - so a little check in the garage could tell the tale here.

The winter set I have on the '05 is a set of LX 15" wheels with 205-65R15 Nokian Hakka 2 studded snows. I just got a Tire Rack winter package for the wife's 07 Ford Freestyle - and the interesting thing is that the wheels they send will fit the Accord. They're the Sport Edition D5 17" alloys - +50 offset, 5x114.3 pattern - I'm semi-tempted to try them on the Pilot since the overall diameter is close - but the wife would rather have the Blizzak WS-60's on her Freestyle. :biggrin:

andy

Yes, I will try my 15" wheel to see if it fit the 08 this Sunday after picking up the car. However, my 15" wheel has Yokohama IG10 195/65R15, which is 30mm smaller in width. I have concerns about the load factor, if it fits.

I am considering a set of alloy 17" or 16" since it can fit both my 07 Si or 08 Accord.

Andy, you mentioned your 17" alloys - +50 offset, 5x114.3 pattern will fit on the Accord as well. I am curious if you or other folks know the existing alloy wheel size (i.e. 17" DIA, ?? Wheel Width, ?? +??mm offset).

I searched through tire rack for wheels and the one with correct pattern has offset range from +40mm to +50mm. I would like to get the closest / identical offset if possible.

Yes, I will try my 15" wheel to see if it fit the 08 this Sunday after picking up the car. However, my 15" wheel has Yokohama IG10 195/65R15, which is 30mm smaller in width. I have concerns about the load factor, if it fits.

I am considering a set of alloy 17" or 16" since it can fit both my 07 Si or 08 Accord.

Andy, you mentioned your 17" alloys - +50 offset, 5x114.3 pattern will fit on the Accord as well. I am curious if you or other folks know the existing alloy wheel size (i.e. 17" DIA, ?? Wheel Width, ?? +??mm offset).

I searched through tire rack for wheels and the one with correct pattern has offset range from +40mm to +50mm. I would like to get the closest / identical offset if possible.
Last year, the stock wheel had an offset of +55mm for a 6.5" wheel, and a center bore of 64.1mm. A 7" wheel with a 50mm offset would likely be the correct one, and with aftermarket, most provide a hub centering ring to take up the space betwen the aftermarket hole size and the Honda center hub size. Others have tried to run wheels with offsets down to 40 or even 35, and they do tend to stick out just a bit, so 50-55 is a good number - that's why I was surprised with the closeness of the fit for the Sport Edition D5 that Tire Rack offers. (an interesting aside - the sport edition is made by Kosei in Japan - and I had a set of Kosel Laufer's on my 96 Isuzu Oasis, aka Honda Odyssey, and they were great wheels).

My point with the wheels is if they did fit, you could just put a new set of slightly larger tires on the existing 15" steel wheels, and have more room between the rim and the road with rubber to absorb the typical pot holes and other obstacles during the winter. I had to go with 17" on the Freestyle since that's the min size to fit over the calipers :paranoid: . If the 15's don't fit, then i'd go with a 16" as it gives you a decent variety of sizes for snows with enough rubber on the wheel to protect them in the winter.

andy

Andy, Thanks! I believe I will go with 16" Steel Rims, it is more economical for cost of snow tires.

My wife & I are looking forward to pick-up the Accord this Saturday. Even our daughter noticed the slight extra room in the rear seats.