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: Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S G051, 225/70-16
Winter: Nokian Hakkapeliitta SUV, 225/70-16
The Geolandars are 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. Tire Rack, four for $343 delivered, plus mounting and balancing.
The Hakkapeliittas are great in snow, but pricy. I hope to get as many seasons out of them as possible, so only run them December to March. Tire Factory, four for $555 delivered, plus mounting and balancing.
The Hakkas 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 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. Four for $107, with center caps, from a local Honda dealer. 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 stock 215/70-16 tire size is unusual, with few tire options. 225/70-16 is only 2% larger in diameter and 10mm wider than stock, so 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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