Look like I'll probably be moving to Anchorage in the next couple weeks :thumbsdow

I guess it won't be that bad and I'll be able to relocate in a couple years if I want. So I've been doing some research and of course it's cold and it snows there, but it looks like the main city roads are kept clear the majority of the time. I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should go with snow tires or studded tires. Here are a couple points:


I have driven on studs and I know how they perform. I have never driven on snow tires so I'm not sure if they will be up to the task.
Tire Rack doesn't have studded tires listed for the stock size. The only option I can come up with are 215/60R16. Ugly and small, although I will save a couple hundred with a black steel wheel / tire package vs stock size snow tires.
I plan on buying 20's for summer driving and dropping it aggressively, most likely Eibach's. So I could keep the stock rims for winter, or sell them to re-coupe costs if I go with 16's.


What do you guys think I should do? I'm leaning towards the 16's cuz it will be cheaper and will probably work better with a drop. But I'm wondering if it might be overkill. Maybe I should go with stock size snow tires. They will look better and drive easier, but they will be more expensive and might not be able to handle the ice. All your thoughts, positive and negative are truly appreciated.

i went for some michelin x-ice 215/60r-16 s on steel wheels for my exl v6 sedan last winter - we had something of tough winter in s. ontario last year - and the car was unstoppable on both plowed and unplowed roads (i drive across niagara peninsula to and from work each day - and see a mix of urban and country roads) - probably the biggest thing that i had to watch out for was ground clearance on those unplowed or deeply snow rutted roads - but the snow tires were more than adequate...

and the 16 inchers have more sidewall height to them - less worried about potholes and curbs and everything else...

I have to move from Fort Worth TX to Buffalo I have the same issue... I hear they get a little snow there.

Moved to Wheels and Tires forum.

Moved to Wheels and Tires forum.

How come all the questions about HFP wheels and "should I get 20's" or "what do you think of these rims" or "how about these 20's and eibach's" don't get moved? Sorry, but it's really helpful if I could get specific opinions from 8th gen accord owners since I will be lowering the car later.

Because your question, even when taken into account that you may lower your car later, is NOT specific to 8th Gen.

Anyone planning on lowering their car would have to ask themselves this question, regardless which Gen Accord, or any car model for that matter.

Because your question, even when taken into account that you may lower your car later, is NOT specific to 8th Gen.

Anyone planning on lowering their car would have to ask themselves this question, regardless which Gen Accord, or any car model for that matter.

Ok fine I understand your opinion. I don't fully agree. While I value opinions from other vehicle owners, I am most interested in thoughts from 8th gen owners since we have drastically different wheel well clearances than previous gen’s. Maybe an 8th gen owner would think 16’s are way too small and would look silly, whereas a previous gen owner with a smaller wheel well wouldn’t. Or another 8th gen owner (1st gen with stock 18’s) who has been through this before might know how I can find a studded tire for an 18” rim. A 7th gen owner most likely would not have gone through this. It bothers me very much that DA tries to over-organize the topics. The majority of people scan the threads for their specific generation on a regular basis and will contribute to a topic when it catches their curiosity. There aren’t a lot of people that read specific subjects. By doing all the crazy re-shuffling DA has been doing lately it is getting harder to gather ideas and opinions, not easier. I have noticed that the quality of information and input on the 8th gen thread has suffered dramatically in recent months and I believe this is one reason. There are no solid criteria for where a thread should belong and I wish DA would respect the wishes of the OP on where he wants his thread located. If there are overwhelming numbers of people crying that it should be moved, then by all means move it. But a topic such as this is not so clear-cut. I am getting tired of DA practicing forum dictatorship in this regard and I am close to deciding to stop reading and contributing to this forum.

The sub-forums for various aspects such as wheels & tires etc. are set up for a reason, we encourge forum members to follow the forum rules when it comes to posting in the most appropriate sub-forum.

Look at this way, would you prefer that everything remotely related to 8th Gen to be piled into the 8th Gen forum, so that you have to sift through countless postings about hyper-white bulbs, wax, speakers, lubricants etc. to find postings about winter tires? Probably not.

As the site owner has sited in the past, DA is akin to a private club with an open door policy, as such democracy is not necessarily going to be practiced 100% of the time. More specifically, while we do appreciate legitimate inputs from forum members, we are not going to bend rules every time someone feels they should be exempted from the general rules of the DA forum that they should abide by when they signed up.

The sub-forums for various aspects such as wheels & tires etc. are set up for a reason, we encourge forum members to follow the forum rules when it comes to posting in the most appropriate sub-forum.

Look at this way, would you prefer that everything remotely related to 8th Gen to be piled into the 8th Gen forum, so that you have to sift through countless postings about hyper-white bulbs, wax, speakers, lubricants etc. to find postings about winter tires? Probably not.

As the site owner has sited in the past, DA is akin to a private club with an open door policy, as such democracy is not necessarily going to be practiced 100% of the time. More specifically, while we do appreciate legitimate inputs from forum members, we are not going to bend rules every time someone feels they should be exempted from the general rules of the DA forum that they should abide by when they signed up.

First of all, the forum rules linked to your sig do not mention anything about topics. You guys don’t have specific criteria. I understand why the “What's the difference between HID White and Super White LEDs?” thread was moved, but why haven’t you moved the “CA Tint” thread???

Yes, I would like to see threads that are related (even loosely) to the 8th gen in the 8th gen forum. That’s where the majority of members congregate. There are other members who feel the same. I know that I am not the first one to complain to DA about this.

And 3rd, if you have an open door policy then why are you not specifically addressing my claims that this is more of an 8th gen topic than a general wheel/tire topic? And if it is so “open door” then why wouldn’t you just leave it where it is until members complain that it’s misplaced? I am not asking you to bend rules for me (such rules don’t exist anyway), but I am asking you to re-consider where this thread should be placed.

Would it help if I re-write my OP???

Look like I'll probably be moving to Anchorage in the next couple weeks :thumbsdow

I guess it won't be that bad and I'll be able to relocate in a couple years if I want. So I've been doing some research and of course it's cold and it snows there, but it looks like the main city roads are kept clear the majority of the time. I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should go with snow tires or studded tires. Here are a couple points:


I have driven on studs and I know how they perform. I have never driven on snow tires so I'm not sure if they will be up to the task.
Tire Rack doesn't have studded tires listed for the stock size. The only option I can come up with are 215/60R16. Ugly and small, although I will save a couple hundred with a black steel wheel / tire package vs stock size snow tires.
I plan on buying 20's for summer driving and dropping it aggressively, most likely Eibach's. So I could keep the stock rims for winter, or sell them to re-coupe costs if I go with 16's.


What do you guys think I should do? I'm leaning towards the 16's cuz it will be cheaper and will probably work better with a drop. But I'm wondering if it might be overkill. Maybe I should go with stock size snow tires. They will look better and drive easier, but they will be more expensive and might not be able to handle the ice. All your thoughts, positive and negative are truly appreciated.

Back to the original question at hand here....

Many cars equipped with lowering springs and winter tires on steel rims operate fine in the winter time. I don't have any experience with the 8th gens as far as how well they run with such a combination, especially if you are going to drop it "aggressively" (depends on how much is "aggressive").

I think you should go with 16" steel rims and a good set of winter tires this winter. The extra sidewall will ensure good ride quality. The other problem is, there just isn't a real good 17" or 18" winter tire out there. I don't think you absolutely need to go with studded tires as many of the non-studded ones perform as well these days. If you opt to go with studded tires, you should also check state and municipal laws to ensure that studded tires are allowed.

The following website offers some pretty good information on winter tires. http://www.consumersearch.com/www/automotive/snow-tires/review.html

I would go with the "minus" sizing on steel wheels.

Narrow tires go better in the snow.

The taller side wall is more forgiving of potholes and ruts.

You'll save the alloy wheels from winter damage.

Cheaper to purchase.

A separate set of wheels will pay for themselves in a year or two because you won't have to have the tires mounted and rebalanced every fall and spring. You can even swap them yourself and save a tire rotation fee.

My home town in the Great Lakes region would get pummeled by snow and ice. I'm a firm believer in studs for heavy snow and ice conditions. They'll out last the studless ice tires by years.

Well I don't want to lug new tires and rims with me so I guess I will wait till I get up to Buffalo then see possible about getting new rims and tires for the winter.

Also do you have to get the rims from a dealer or is there a better place to get them?

Well I don't want to lug new tires and rims with me so I guess I will wait till I get up to Buffalo then see possible about getting new rims and tires for the winter.

Just be careful when you are driving at the higher elevation points. Weather can change very very quickly.

Why not have a set of winter tires installed on your car now, and then have the movers pack your stock wheels and rims in the moving truck?

Also do you have to get the rims from a dealer or is there a better place to get them?

I got my rims from my dealer, and bought the tires from a tire shop.

Thanks for all the help guys! I have decided to go with a set of studded 16's on steelies. I guess that finding studded 18's isn't going to happen. Besides, 16's will probably work better with a drop and I can sell the stock wheels and put the money towards my summer wheels. Seems like the majority of drivers in Anchorage use studs from Oct through Apr. With all the wheel well clearance that the 8th gen has I bet its going to look like garbage though.

Thanks for all the help guys! I have decided to go with a set of studded 16's on steelies. I guess that finding studded 18's isn't going to happen. Besides, 16's will probably work better with a drop and I can sell the stock wheels and put the money towards my summer wheels. Seems like the majority of drivers in Anchorage use studs from Oct through Apr. With all the wheel well clearance that the 8th gen has I bet its going to look like garbage though.

Wheel well clearance shouldn't look any worse. If the correct "minus size" is used, the overall circumference of the tires should stay the same. :yes:

First of all, the forum rules linked to your sig do not mention anything about topics. You guys don’t have specific criteria. I understand why the “What's the difference between HID White and Super White LEDs?” thread was moved, but why haven’t you moved the “CA Tint” thread???



CA Tint thread moved to Accessories subforum.

Please remember that the Mods here are voluntary positions, we don't get paid for this responsibility, and don't necessarily have the time to scrutinize every thread, we act on the thread as we come across them, and at times threads in the wrong forum will be missed.

Look at this way, are you going to argue with a cop who pulled you over for speeding by proclaiming that "What about all these other people speeding out there? You don't catch every one of them so you shouldn't give me a traffic citation!", I can guarantee you won't go far with that line of reasoning.

You are right there were no specific "rules" about where postings should go, however that should be common sense as the subforums were started a few years ago for a reason to keep things organized, just because you don't want to follow that spirit doesn't mean it's OK, as there are plenty of other forum members who happily abide by that "general" philosophy without any complaints.