[DaleB]

Sounds good, but is it true?

How does simple LEGAL LIABILITY "translate" to more regulations???

Let's split a hair: why would tirerack have no responsibility if they sell an unsafe size, yet a company that sells AND INSTALLS the tire has liability? My belief is that both have liability unless you clearly waive your right to expect a safe configuration.

Make sure you put all the details in writing with any mail order tire company: sizes, weight, etc.

Ard

Installation is the key in the example cited. I am not saying there would not be a lawyer out there WILLING to sue, I am saying they should have no responsibility with regards to what you do with the tire unless there was strong evidence you did it as part of their recommendation.

Legal action was not extended to distributors or dealers of Firestone tires for selling unsafe tires.

Regulation could be enacted to MAKE dealers liable if tires are not mounted on the correct rims, even if they are only selling not installing tires, driving them out of business, essentially.

Home Depot is not responsible for people using ladders incorrectly. If use of the ladder does result in injury the manufacturer could be held liable , plus if the ladder does not have all the warning stickers on it, they have also violated a federal statute.

Product liability lies mostly with manufacturers not distributors, unless negligence on their part can be demonstrated in speciific instances.

 

[joelusa]

why not install a larger wheel like 19"w/ 255/50/19.
..and for the snow chain.. forget it try enjoying your 4x4 and carry a cell phone, if you get stuck(which I doubt).

 

[JimH]

MDX Moto mentioned keeping the MDX in VTM in bad snow conditions as a possibility. I believe VTM is only used in Drive 1 & 2 gears and only up to 18 MPH. As for chains, there are times when they are needed for the mountain passes when a major storm is on-going, and they are required in Calif. and Oregon at times over the passes--even for 4WD vehicles. That is obviously not a good time to be on the road, but I would not want to be without chains if they are required.

 

[MDX Moto]

Well, I figured I'd get some interesting responses to my post. Thats why I enjoy this site so much. Anyway, I guess I'm glad I've never had to deal with winter travel in California or Oregon. I don't know whether Utah or Colorado are more lax in their requirements,.. or maybe they don't mind scraping people off the road or digging them out from snow banks as much as the CHP and Oregon Highway troopers do.
The point of my post was not to belittle any one who carried chains in their car or prove that I know winter travel better than the highway patrol/state legislators....I'm just saying that the MDX and most four wheel drive vehicles out there are quite capable in snow...with good snow tires. Chains seem like overkill. And while they are effective, they are not a magic bullet that converts your car into a snowmobile. Chains can also seriously rip up your car, and thats not something thats acceptable to me and my MDX . Obvioulsy if the state requires them, you have to have them. But I still think that proper winter driving techniques and some forethought/travel planning can keep you out of most bad situations.
By the way for those you that carry chains...do you carry all four or just two? And if you carry just two, which wheels would you put them on?

 

[Allen Cichanski]

oversize tires

When I was younger and more stupid, I wanted to put on bigger tires because it looked so "cool". The tires were Dunlop radials that were a couple of sizes larger (if I remember right, 205s vs the stock 185s) and they should have had wheels at least 1/2" wider than stock. What an f.....g disaster. Steering was really odd. The ride became unacceptably harsh over the tiniest bump. I've never had a car the "tramlined" or followed any groove or ridge the way these tires did. The would hydroplane at moderate speed over any puddle. They felt really squirrely in the rain. Don't even think of driving them in snow or ice. Step on the gas, go sideways, touch the brakes, go sideways. I ended up spending a lot of extra money on wheel alignments and new shocks but what I should have been is less stupid for buying the tires for looks alone. I sold the car with those fat (but very cool looking!) tires as soon as I could.

I know that this may be hard to believe, but I'm pretty sure that the Honda/Acura engineers actually know more than the average car owner when it comes to specifiying tire types and sizes. Stick with stock tires sizes!!!

 

[ardvarkus]

By the way for those you that carry chains...do you carry all four or just two? And if you carry just two, which wheels would you put them on?

On the MDX, front of course!

You get most of the braking, all the steering, and most of the driving torque (the torque is shifted to the rear when the front starts to slip)

Ard

 

[ardvarkus]

Re: oversize tires

I know that this may be hard to believe, but I'm pretty sure that the Honda/Acura engineers actually know more than the average car owner when it comes to specifiying tire types and sizes. Stick with stock tires sizes!!!

In keeping with my suspicious nature, I'd not be at all surprised if Acura, Goodyear and Michelein got together on this wierd size tire to create a niche for their products- virtually no choices on this size!

Ard

 

[Allen Cichanski]

The rumour that I heard is that the same people who killed JFK flew from their headquarters near Roswell, NM in their secret black helicopters to the Honda headquarters and forced the Honda engineers to use the 235/65-17 tires by Michelin and Goodyear on the MDX or else they would have their aliens in flying saucers take them away and have sex with them!!!!

I don't suppose there is a chance in Hell that the tire size that the MDX uses optimizes performance in most situations.

 

[XchiKo]

Re: Just Don't Go Skiing

I guess its not a big deal living in Florida or Houston, TX, but for those of you who ski or snowboard regularly, or enjoy winter camping or backpacking, or just need to go over snow covered passes from time to time;

Recognize that the stock rim and tire barely allow enough clearance for cable chains. I measure about a 1/4" cable to strut clearance on mine. Adding an additional 10 mm to the strut side of the wheel combination is likely to eliminate the necessary clearance.

I would consider that before you tell your extended family or friends that, "No, I can't take the MDX to the mountains because my snow cables won't fit," and that your wife and kids will have to split up and ride in someone else's Ford Explorer or Dodge Caravan. Maybe its not a bad idea if you need a break from all the fighting, kicking, screaming, yelling and hair-pulling with the spouse - I mean, the kids.

TheyCallMeBruce,

Do you have a pic of the whole car with these tire.

I was thinking of get wider tires for my 2004 mdx
245/60/17.

thanks

 

[DavDawChr]

Wider tires on 2003 Acura Mdx

I have recently put wider tires on the stock 17"x6.5" wheels for my MDX. The size I have used is 255/60-17. The MDX not only looks better with the wider wheels but also drives better. I have used the Continental brand tire, model 4x4 Contact. I purchased them from Tirerack for $62 a piece. The rating in the tire is Traction A and Temperature A. The tread pattern is decent also. The MDX handles better with the Continentals compared to the stock Goodyear Integrity. I am not suer how the performance would be if compared to the Michelins which go on the Touring. I guess for the price at $62 a piece these tires are well worth the money. I have also come to find out that the Continental 4x4 Contact size 255/60-17 which I have used are also the OEM tire and size which is now on the new Mercedes ML350.

I know it has been years since you made the post about installing 255/60-17 tires on your stock 17"X6.5" wheels. I am just wondering (if you are still active on this site)...how did those tires work out for you. I am considering a smaller size than the 255's you used, but larger than the original 235'. Thanks

 

[ardvarkus]

10 years. OMG.

Any tire size that has a spec that includes that rim width should be fine. Plenty of clearance IMO


(BTW- never around, but still get the odd email notice when someone posts in an old thread. )

 

[nsxtasy]

Any tire size that has a spec that includes that rim width should be fine.

That's correct. As this statement implies, it's a really really REALLY bad idea to mount tires on wheels that are too wide or too narrow. Most 255/60-17 tires are only approved for mounting on wheels 7.0-9.0" wide, and should NOT be mounted on the stock 17x6.5 wheels. When you mount tires on wheels that are wider or narrower than specified, there's a good chance that excessive stress can occur in the sidewalls, leading to overheating and possible tire failure. DON'T DO IT!!! If you feel you must get these wider tires (which have no significant advantages whatsoever), then get wider wheels to mount them on, ones whose width is approved for the tire size.