Accessories
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Aftermarket/Homebrew
(1) Digital compass; (2) cell phone holder; (3) GPS w/remote antenna; (4) Ham/CB/FRS holder; (5) digital inside/outside thermometer; (6) RoadyXT XM receiver on a Bracketron HON-201-03 bracket; (7) Door beep silencer; (8) ScanGaugeII OBDII computer; (9) Modified steering wheel; (10) 3-outlet power tap; (11) Fire extinguisher; (12) Dead pedal; (13) Heel rest; (14) Clutter Catcher Model 542 console (modified) |
 Rear window fresnel lens |
 Hercules Blind-spot mirrors |
 Clutter Catcher Model 542 center console (modified) |
 Fresnel type stoplight viewer |
 Three-outlet power tap |
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 Driver's overhead spot |
 Under-hood light (wired) |
 Under-hood spot |
Above: A bit of window tint film dims the brights-on
indicator, and rubylith tape blocks the cruise control indicator.
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 Case Logic sphincter-style trash bag. Riveting the straps as shown makes it lie nicely against the door. |
 Dead pedal. It makes even short trips more pleasant. |
 Door-edge guards |
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| Left: Scotchlite rear reflectors. Middle: modified Tempur-Pedic lumbar support cushion, HoMedics Model SQ-CR1 micro-bead headrest cushion. Right: Seat-back organizer | ||||
Tires
Summer
Current: Nokian Hakkapeliitta SUV, 225/70-16. Former snow tires, now in warm-weather service.
Previous: Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S G051, 225/70-16. Worked great, wore out.
Winter
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R, 215/70-16 (stock size).
The Hakkapelitta Rs are a new product this season (fall 2008), and Nokian now makes the Hakkas in the Element's stock size. The Rs are strictly studless, and with their new tread pattern promise to be best on ice of any of Nokian's designs to date. Purchased from a local dealer for $138 each, including mounting, balance, stems, and installation.
The snows are mounted on stock Honda steel rims. They were "takeoffs," stock items from a DX or LX that an owner left with the dealer when trading up to alloy wheels. Purchased from a local Honda dealer for $107 for four, including plastic center caps. The Honda steelies take a different lug nut, which has a built-in plastic washer to secure the center cap. The steel-wheel nut works fine on the alloy wheel. Part No. 90381-SV1-981, 16 for $34 from a local Honda dealer. (I only needed 16, rather than 20, because my EX came with a set of four Honda locking lug nuts.)
The Geolandars were a big improvement over the stock GY Wranglers and reasonably priced, but although they're an all-season tire, they're a little slippery on snow for my taste. Purchased from Tire Rack, four for $343 delivered, plus mounting and balancing. I don't know whether I'll buy another set or switch to Nokian WR SUVs, which are very highly regarded but much more expensive.
The Hakkapeliitta SUVs were great in snow. I got four seasons out of them runing pretty much December through March, then put them to work as summer tires to replace my worn-out Geolandars. Purchased from Tire Factory, four for $555 delivered, plus mounting and balancing.
Hakka SUVs are available with or without studs. My previous experience with studs was that they're great maybe 2% of the time, but the rest of the time they're just noisy, and a little jittery in the wet. And when the roads are really glazed, they make interesting patterns in the ice when you spin around.
The stock 215/70-16 size was somewhat unusual, with few tire choices available, when I purchased the Element in 2004. Because 225/70-16 is only 2% larger in diameter and 10mm wider than stock, there are no clearance or speedometer headaches. Chart of tire sizes here. Exhaustive discussion of tire options at Element Owners Club.
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