Like most original equipment tires, even on cars that cost much more than the Insight, the Dunlops on my 2010 Insight are junk. Today, I had trouble going up a steep parking lot ramp that had just a little moisture on it -- I had to roll back down and come back at it with more momentum while being careful to avoid driving in the wet tracks left by other cars. I've never had a problem going up this ramp in a RWD car or RWD pickup with nothing in the bed, or especially in an Impreza Outback . I know, the Insight is a FWD car, but I still think the problem is with the tires. Yeah, economy and low rolling resistance are fine, but safety is all-important and will save you even more money in the long run, and I just don't think these stock tires have good enough traction in the wet. I've had bad experiences with Dunlops on other cars too; they seem to develop the nasty habit of hydroplaning once they have a little bit of wear on them. I can't wait for these to wear out.
Really? I've driven in some torrential rain in the year I've had the I2 and have never hydroplaned or lost traction at all.
By comparison, in my last vehicle (RWD compact pickup) I dangerously hydroplaned on the freeway during downpours on more than one occasion; and if the streets were at all wet, even on level roads, I could expect some tire spin if I wasn't really easy on the throttle.
I know theses tires can't be the best, and everyone is going to have a little different experience given varying conditions and driving styles, but I just haven't found them to be too bad...
Both sets of Dunlops I've had on both my Hondas were terrible. Hopefully, these will wear as quick of my other set did and I can get Nokians for the I2 as well. Anything other than dry pavement in warm weather will significantly reduce the traction on the Dunlops, regardless of tire pressure.
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2010 Insight Ex w/navi Tango Red
2006 Civic hybrid w/navi Alabaster Silver
I havn't encountered too many rain showers on the highway but when it did the car handled rather well. I've heard mentioned that the tires might wear faster being a more cheaper brand but going on 6 k miles they are looking fine.
What type of Dunlops is the US I2 factory "wearing"?
There can be great differences between different types of the same make...
I had The Dunlop's SP4 on my Nissan and they were just fine after 15K miles
Stock I2 Dunlop tires have undulations on my sidewalls
I saw these the other day. In particular after we put new Michellins on my wifes van, I decided to look very closely at the Dunlops on my I2 more closely and find two undulations about 1.5 inches apart on every tire in the, at least outer facing sidewall. I referenced this site (below) and don't think it is a problem but my car only has about 1, 050 files on it, that is one thousand and fifty miles on it and I have owned it since Sept. of last year. So it sits weeks at a time at times undriven and the tires are exactly at 33lbs all the time, summer (now) and winter past.
So I am ultra dilligent about tire care but the undulations had me worried.
Do others have these on their Dunlops?
Run your finger around your outer sidewall for me and look for what look like two dimples sort of close together, about and inch or two apart from eachother.
Also I looked at what brands might replace the Dunlops and didn't find much in the LRR (low rolling resistance) catagory, from most dealers of tires. Every search for the usual brands, not Japan- far east brands, kept coming back with my very Dunlop tire I have on the car stock when purchased.
See the info here about Undulations being normal(?):
Sidewall indentations (also referred to as sidewall "undulations") are a common characteristic of tire construction on almost all radial tires. ...
I'd believe that you couldnt make it up the hill. If there's any moisture on the road I have to be careful pulling out in traffic cause the tires just wont grip. Hell, even a slightly potholed road will keep them from gripping if you need to pull out quickly.
The stock tires in my US Insight are Dunlop SP31's.
Like most tires, they are adequate in good, dry weather but believe me, they do not have very good grip...And we are a few months from wintertime yet.
When these wear out, I think I'll go with 195/60-15 size tires on the stock alloys. I think that size is just about the same in diameter as 175/65-15, and there is a much wider selection of tires available in 195/60-15, at least according to a really quick search on tirerack.com.
The stock tires in my US Insight are Dunlop SP31's.
Like most tires, they are adequate in good, dry weather but believe me, they do not have very good grip...And we are a few months from wintertime yet.
When these wear out, I think I'll go with 195/60-15 size tires on the stock alloys. I think that size is just about the same in diameter as 175/65-15, and there is a much wider selection of tires available in 195/60-15, at least according to a really quick search on tirerack.com.
You are marginally going to effect fuel economy by going to a wider tire. The rolling resistance will be worse as will aerodynamics. It seems every aspect of the Insight is designed to minimize consumption and the thin tires are part of the equation.
By the way we've never had any traction issues with our Insight on the stock tires.
I agree, the Dunlops are not the best in class tires. However, I felt their behaviors improved by cranking up the pressure. I am at 48psi now.
The problem with replacing them is the size. 175/65R15 is not a common size. I would think it was chosen by Honda for FE reasons. I contacted Goodyear to ask them if they would release the Assurance Fuel Max in that size, and they replied “not yet”. It’s logical. If they have a tire that fits only one car, they will see if the fleet is big enough for them to sell an acceptable amount of tires. In the case of the I2, there is not yet that many on the road, and also, the average drivers will change their tires after 2-3 years, so if Goodyear plan something, it would make sense it’s at that time.
Yokohama just made the Avid (supposedly LRR) in 175/65R15. It could be a good option if proven to be LRR, but there is not a lot of reports yet to confirm if it’s a good LRR or not. Other logical option would be the Goodyear LRR, but n 185/60R15. The thread width is close, but the tire is said to behave better.
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The stock Dunlop tires are a joke.
. I know, the Insight is a FWD car, but I still think the problem is with the tires. Yeah, economy and low rolling resistance are fine, but safety is all-important and will save you even more money in the long run, and I just don't think these stock tires have good enough traction in the wet. I've had bad experiences with Dunlops on other cars too; they seem to develop the nasty habit of hydroplaning once they have a little bit of wear on them. I can't wait for these to wear out.
Stock I2 Dunlop tires have undulations on my sidewalls
