20 Year-Old Modified Honda CRX HF Scores 118 MPG in Fuel Economy Run
 

In the pantheon of very efficient production cars, there are perhaps three Hondas that truly stand out: the first generation Insight hybrid, the lean burn Civic VX, and the CRX HF. Recently, a CRX HF owner further cemented that car’s status on the list by achieving a stunning 118 mpg (US) in a fuel economy rally [...] Related posts:

1. EcoModder Takes Home Four Awards at the AMEC Fuel Economy Run
2. Drive Like a Trucker for Great Fuel Economy
3. New York Auto Show: Honda FCX Clarity Wins World Green Car of the Year Awards

More...

Impressive, i'd like to know the rolling resistance of the tires though. Because snow tires are really soft, and that number is ridiculous.

Despite being winter tires, those are the lowest rolling resistance tires that can be bought.

I've been talking to Chang about the Nokian tires he used and he swears by the Nokian Hakka R (non-studded) and Hakka 5 (studded) for LRR. I don't have any LRR stats to use to compare them to other tires but I remember an LRR tire list being on this site about 6 months ago...thought I bookmarked it but can't find it now...anybody still have it? Being that the tires were winter tires not sure they would be on the list anyway.

I have quite some time before I have to replace my stock Goodyear Integrities (only 9k on them now) but I would consider running the Hakka R when it is time to replace them (or the Hakka 5 studded in the winter if I find my stock Integrities do not perform well this winter...costly though running two sets of tires during the year).

Obviously, Chang had a tremendous amount of mods on his car but I can't imagine the tires didn't contribute to the high mpg he got.

Man this is great info. I'm going to have to find some of these tires.

Major Kudos to Chang for his impressive FE.:thumbup:

Chang sells them :p

Hi Ben,

Thanks for posting this -- I just went downtown to go and introduce myself to Chang, but he had just left. I'm sure I'll catch him at some point.

BTW, my Michelin X-Ice snow tires (that I bought from TireRack.com) are also low rolling resistance -- they are noticeably better than my Yokohama "summer" tires.

Yeah, my yokohama all seasons sucked pretty good.

PS: Darin did the actual article, so he deserves the credit for it!

Is he on here? LOL

I've been thinking about how we could trick him to sign up :p

Hello -

[EDIT: This is not the tire that was used. See post #14 for correct tire]

Here's what I think the Hakka(peliitta) 5 looks like :

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5
http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-cf...tire-north.jpg

CarloSW2

SVOboy -

If he publishes his mods, then maybe we'll buy some if his tires. I'll bet he could design a mean belly pan for a CRX or an HX (or an IRX or a CRXi, heh heh heh).

CarloSW2

That pic is the studded winter tire...he was running the Hakka R non studded

Matt -

Thanks for the correction. Here it is :

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R
http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-cf...okiantires.jpg

CarloSW2

That's the one! And just for statistics sake...he was running the 155/65/14. Maybe Neil Blanchard in Maynard, MA can catch up with him and talk him into joining the site...would be a great resource to have here.

Which year VX is the best and why?
(or does it matter)

All the same

I'd just like to highlight one thing.

Frank -

Maybe the angled tread design is based on Apu's sideburns.

CarloSW2

One difference is California VX's didn't have lean burn. Which is probably the main reason you want a VX!

Hi,

I'll try to get down to his shop next Friday. Maybe I'll get to see the CRX HF and the tires? And, I'll suggest that he join as a member here, too!

edit

thats pretty cool

it looks like mine too

no boattail?

http://ecomodder.com/blog/wp-content...8/dsc_0418.jpg

He says he has plans for a boat tail for next year's competition (if he still has the car).

Thanks. I was gonna call [Citation Needed] on the original claim. The guys at InsightCentral are unaware of any tire that outrolls the Potenza RE92 in P165/65R14. Apparently, even other sizes of the RE92 are a different formulation.

RobertSmalls -

This is kind-of reassuring to me. I keep associating LRR with "simple" tread patterns that have wide straight grooves like these :

The Hakka aint' that by a mile (or a circumference?!?!?).

CarloSW2

Yeah, when I first saw the nokian tires I assumed they were stick performance tires :p

the nokian hakkas are very hard. I run the first generation even today. (the version one run is extinct). I can see the honda doing good with them. Ponder AWD diff locked on an old sube with the same tread....the tires are so confident, in the winter, people think I am going to smash into them at the natural pace I continue to drive. :rolleyes:

the 118 mpg is phenomonal. a 500 pound car helps. :D

Hi,

I totally forgot to go to see him -- the hard drive in my iMac failed and I was doing battle trying to save the important stuff...