Thanks all for your input on when to swap to winter tires. Based on what everybody's said, I'll probably put them on in early November, which should be cold enough, unless there's an earlier forecast for snow. I've got the stock all seasons which aren't too bad around freezing, so I should be OK as long as it doesn't snow .

 

I have a USDM GD1 that I've brought to Europe and I'm looking to buy some winter steelies for it. Would these fit?

"5½ x 15 4 x 100.00 x 56.00 ET: 45.00"

I assume that 45 is the offset.... maybe 56 is the hub diameter?

 

The ET45 is the offset and that is going to be good. I am not sure on the 56.00 though.

 

If I buy 195/60R15 winter tires will there be problems rubbing? I also want to know, if I buy from tire rack is there a way to have specifically the US made continental extreme winter contact to save duties over the border?

Thank you

 

If this would work...

But you can have tires shipped to a US installer, drive there and have them installed and drive back...

 

Thanks Jim.

This might be a silly question... Do you have a reasonable cost shipping method for getting wheels and/or tires to Switzerland? The marketplace here for this stuff just sucks...

 

The 56 is as you suspect the hub bore and its not sufficent (need 64 mm). But you can make do just fine by using 1/4" or 6 mm spacers. That will get the wheel disc inner surface outside the hub ring on the hub.Good luck. Can't say if the spacers are readily available to you but should be. You'll need to use 175 section tires but for winter thats ideal anyway. Just make sure the tire diameter is close to or a smidgen taller than stock tires.
PS a smidgen is not more than 1/4 inch - 6 mm.

 

With 45 mm offset but wheels mounted flush on hub you shouldn't have rubbing with 195/60x15 tires unless you drop the suspension. You are better off with 175/65x15 winter tires anyway. narrow tire 'plows' easier thru snow and has more tread contact pressure for better traction on snow or ice. (that doesn't mean you don't have to be careful)
If you use spacers your offset is now 39 mm and the narrow section tire is mandatory.

 

Thank you, I asked because the selection of tires for the 195/60 was bigger. It would still be cheaper than buying locally though.

I don't think duties are that expensive but I'm poor so I try to save money when I can.

 

I Googled a bit yesterday and everything I've read said that our hub bore is 56.

 

Not sure if this is the best place for this question but had anyone used a viper smartstart for those cold winter mornings? How are they?

 

Honda hub bore is 56.1mm.

Toyota hub bore is 54.1mm. I think I saw someone looking at OEM Toyota (Yaris/Echo) rims a few pages back. They will not fit.

--------

Can anyone confirm that OEM 15" steel rims off a 2000-2005 era Civic will fit (or won't fit) a GE8?

I assume they are +45.

I don't see why they wouldn't fit, unless there are caliper clearance issues or something like that.

My Aunt just bought a GE8 and is looking for snow tires. Kijiji is full of great deals on older Civic setups (185/65R15 on 15" Honda rims).

 

I'm researching rims here in Europe. I keep finding all of these 15x5.5 and 15x6.0 wheels with 35 to 45mm offsets. Will they work with a stock (195/55) tire size? I think the OEM wheels are 55mm offset...

 

I have 15x6 wheels with a 45 mm offset, with 195/60 tires on them, and I don't foresee any issues. It does look like the clearance is a bit close on the front wheels, so I don't know if I'd go with an offset any less than 45 mm.

 

I've had 195/55x15 tires on wheels with 45 mm offset with no problems at all. Looked better too.

 

Wow, 195/60 is very oversize! How does it drive/ride? Have pics?

 

Nevermind, I just realized that you have a 2nd gen... I guess 195/60 isn't really oversized after all...

 

FYI, I have a 2010 Fit Sport and just picked up a set for 2004 Honda Civic steelies with 185-70 R14 Blizzacks...fit is perfect. Overally diameter is extremely close, width is exact...to the Fit Sport's stock tire. Certainly not the coolest looking but should do the trick for winter.

 

Paint them to match and an old set of Civic center caps works for me.

 

ooohhh...I like the civic center caps, the search is on .