Honda Car Forum

Howdy, just wondering on my recently purchased 2000 Civic 4 dry sedan 77,000
miles, dealer put new Dunlop SP20FE P185 65R14 tires on it. They seem a bit
thin so I was wondering if the rims will take a larger/wider tire, not low
profile ones? Also, I'm assuming there is a hidden antennae with an
amplifier as the radio reception is quite good? Oh, another thing, I
noticed that it's fairly easy to spin the tires from a stop, my concern is
how this car will do in the snow? Seems fairly light.

Thanks...

That's 4 door sedan

"Forest" <forest@myhome.com> wrote in message
news:QXqrb.18070$Oo4.16483@newsread1.news.atl.eart hlink.net...
> Howdy, just wondering on my recently purchased 2000 Civic 4 dry sedan
77,000
> miles, dealer put new Dunlop SP20FE P185 65R14 tires on it. They seem a
bit
> thin so I was wondering if the rims will take a larger/wider tire, not low
> profile ones? Also, I'm assuming there is a hidden antennae with an
> amplifier as the radio reception is quite good? Oh, another thing, I
> noticed that it's fairly easy to spin the tires from a stop, my concern is
> how this car will do in the snow? Seems fairly light.
>
> Thanks...
>
>

On a Civic, if should be difficult to spin the tire from stop. Unless,
u've got a standard tranny and you're willing to burn some clutch. That
fact that you can easily peel rubber off the lights, would indicated
that the tires have poor dry weather traction. Considering the poor
tracking, emergency braking would be a hellish undertaking.

A tires abilities in the good weather does not reflect it's abilities in
the bad weather. That being said, I have noticed anything good about the
SP20FE both in good weather and bad.

Pars

Forest wrote:
>
> Howdy, just wondering on my recently purchased 2000 Civic 4 dry sedan 77,000
> miles, dealer put new Dunlop SP20FE P185 65R14 tires on it. They seem a bit
> thin so I was wondering if the rims will take a larger/wider tire, not low
> profile ones? Also, I'm assuming there is a hidden antennae with an
> amplifier as the radio reception is quite good? Oh, another thing, I
> noticed that it's fairly easy to spin the tires from a stop, my concern is
> how this car will do in the snow? Seems fairly light.
>
> Thanks...

That is one of the inherent problems of FWD vehicles, as the
weight shifts to the rear they can easily lose traction. Even
the puniest of 4 cy engines can induce front wheel spin. While
FWD is great in unplowed snow or mud, it is a weakness that
becomes apparent if one starts too quickly or when climbing a
steep grade on a wet or icy roadway. Many a time I've had RWD
vehicles easily go past me in winter on mountain roads while
driving a FWD vehicle with the wheels slipping trying to make the
grade


mike hunt



pars wrote:
>
> On a Civic, if should be difficult to spin the tire from stop. Unless,
> u've got a standard tranny and you're willing to burn some clutch. That
> fact that you can easily peel rubber off the lights, would indicated
> that the tires have poor dry weather traction. Considering the poor
> tracking, emergency braking would be a hellish undertaking.
>
> A tires abilities in the good weather does not reflect it's abilities in
> the bad weather. That being said, I have noticed anything good about the
> SP20FE both in good weather and bad.
>
> Pars
>
> Forest wrote:
> >
> > Howdy, just wondering on my recently purchased 2000 Civic 4 dry sedan 77,000
> > miles, dealer put new Dunlop SP20FE P185 65R14 tires on it. They seem a bit
> > thin so I was wondering if the rims will take a larger/wider tire, not low
> > profile ones? Also, I'm assuming there is a hidden antennae with an
> > amplifier as the radio reception is quite good? Oh, another thing, I
> > noticed that it's fairly easy to spin the tires from a stop, my concern is
> > how this car will do in the snow? Seems fairly light.
> >
> > Thanks...

Thanks all...

<MelvinGibson@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:3FAFA9A5.9B9BDF3A@mailcity.com...
> That is one of the inherent problems of FWD vehicles, as the
> weight shifts to the rear they can easily lose traction. Even
> the puniest of 4 cy engines can induce front wheel spin. While
> FWD is great in unplowed snow or mud, it is a weakness that
> becomes apparent if one starts too quickly or when climbing a
> steep grade on a wet or icy roadway. Many a time I've had RWD
> vehicles easily go past me in winter on mountain roads while
> driving a FWD vehicle with the wheels slipping trying to make the
> grade
>
>
> mike hunt
>
>
>
> pars wrote:
> >
> > On a Civic, if should be difficult to spin the tire from stop. Unless,
> > u've got a standard tranny and you're willing to burn some clutch. That
> > fact that you can easily peel rubber off the lights, would indicated
> > that the tires have poor dry weather traction. Considering the poor
> > tracking, emergency braking would be a hellish undertaking.
> >
> > A tires abilities in the good weather does not reflect it's abilities in
> > the bad weather. That being said, I have noticed anything good about the
> > SP20FE both in good weather and bad.
> >
> > Pars
> >
> > Forest wrote:
> > >
> > > Howdy, just wondering on my recently purchased 2000 Civic 4 dry sedan
77,000
> > > miles, dealer put new Dunlop SP20FE P185 65R14 tires on it. They seem
a bit
> > > thin so I was wondering if the rims will take a larger/wider tire, not
low
> > > profile ones? Also, I'm assuming there is a hidden antennae with an
> > > amplifier as the radio reception is quite good? Oh, another thing, I
> > > noticed that it's fairly easy to spin the tires from a stop, my
concern is
> > > how this car will do in the snow? Seems fairly light.
> > >
> > > Thanks...

MelvinGibson@mailcity.com wrote:
>
> That is one of the inherent problems of FWD vehicles, as the
> weight shifts to the rear they can easily lose traction. Even
> the puniest of 4 cy engines can induce front wheel spin. While
> FWD is great in unplowed snow or mud, it is a weakness that
> becomes apparent if one starts too quickly or when climbing a
> steep grade on a wet or icy roadway.

Perhaps, but the same would apply when coming down a mountain slope. The
front drive would have the advantage since more weight would be focused
on the font wheels (driving wheels).

I was able to prove this last winter in Sunnybrook Park which has an
extremely steep decline and about 1/2 foot of snow. I was being chased
by a Blazer SUV (However, unlike most SUV driver this one happened to be
very competent with 4 wheel driving). Anyways, he wasn't even close to
keeping up with me on the way down (My Civic was running Nokia
Hakkapolita 1).

Pars

Many a time I've had RWD
> vehicles easily go past me in winter on mountain roads while
> driving a FWD vehicle with the wheels slipping trying to make the
> grade
>
> mike hunt
>
> pars wrote:
> >
> > On a Civic, if should be difficult to spin the tire from stop. Unless,
> > u've got a standard tranny and you're willing to burn some clutch. That
> > fact that you can easily peel rubber off the lights, would indicated
> > that the tires have poor dry weather traction. Considering the poor
> > tracking, emergency braking would be a hellish undertaking.
> >
> > A tires abilities in the good weather does not reflect it's abilities in
> > the bad weather. That being said, I have noticed anything good about the
> > SP20FE both in good weather and bad.
> >
> > Pars
> >
> > Forest wrote:
> > >
> > > Howdy, just wondering on my recently purchased 2000 Civic 4 dry sedan 77,000
> > > miles, dealer put new Dunlop SP20FE P185 65R14 tires on it. They seem a bit
> > > thin so I was wondering if the rims will take a larger/wider tire, not low
> > > profile ones? Also, I'm assuming there is a hidden antennae with an
> > > amplifier as the radio reception is quite good? Oh, another thing, I
> > > noticed that it's fairly easy to spin the tires from a stop, my concern is
> > > how this car will do in the snow? Seems fairly light.
> > >
> > > Thanks...

> keeping up with me on the way down (My Civic was running Nokia
> Hakkapolita 1).

They make some great winter tires. If someone wants to search for them,
but the company name is Nokian (not Nokia) and the correct spelling is
hakkapeliitta.

<MelvinGibson@mailcity.com>
news:3FAFA9A5.9B9BDF3A@mailcity.com...
> That is one of the inherent problems of FWD vehicles, as the
> weight shifts to the rear they can easily lose traction. Even
> the puniest of 4 cy engines can induce front wheel spin. While
> FWD is great in unplowed snow or mud, it is a weakness that
> becomes apparent if one starts too quickly or when climbing a
> steep grade on a wet or icy roadway. Many a time I've had RWD
> vehicles easily go past me in winter on mountain roads while
> driving a FWD vehicle with the wheels slipping trying to make the
> grade
>
>
> mike hunt
>

This is BS. All FWD cars drive better in snow than RWDs. There is little
weight on the drive wheels of a RWD car (actually a FR car) while there is
the engine sitting on top of the drive wheels of a FWD (actually FF) car.

Weight transfer from the front to the rear wheels due to a fast start on
snow or ice, I don't think so.

Bye,
Leon

My Post wasn't meant to promote the HAKKAPELIITTA 1, but you're right,
they are great tires. This will be the 4th winter for my Hakka 1. My
only complaint, regarding the Hakka, is that they tend to return bad gas
mileage when driven on the dry pavement. But, gas mileage is descent
when driven on snow.

Pars

Randolph wrote:
>
> > keeping up with me on the way down (My Civic was running Nokia
> > Hakkapolita 1).
>
> They make some great winter tires. If someone wants to search for them,
> but the company name is Nokian (not Nokia) and the correct spelling is
> hakkapeliitta.

I suppose you missed the part about FWD being great in unplowed
snow, and the a wet or icy roadway part, but you are entitled to
your opinion. Even the opinions of amateur drives are welcomed in
the NG's

mike hunt





Leon wrote:
>
> <MelvinGibson@mailcity.com>
> news:3FAFA9A5.9B9BDF3A@mailcity.com...
> > That is one of the inherent problems of FWD vehicles, as the
> > weight shifts to the rear they can easily lose traction. Even
> > the puniest of 4 cy engines can induce front wheel spin. While
> > FWD is great in unplowed snow or mud, it is a weakness that
> > becomes apparent if one starts too quickly or when climbing a
> > steep grade on a wet or icy roadway. Many a time I've had RWD
> > vehicles easily go past me in winter on mountain roads while
> > driving a FWD vehicle with the wheels slipping trying to make the
> > grade
> >
> >
> > mike hunt
> >
>
> This is BS. All FWD cars drive better in snow than RWDs. There is little
> weight on the drive wheels of a RWD car (actually a FR car) while there is
> the engine sitting on top of the drive wheels of a FWD (actually FF) car.
>
> Weight transfer from the front to the rear wheels due to a fast start on
> snow or ice, I don't think so.
>
> Bye,
> Leon