Timing belt Gates or OEM Honda

Gates, I've installed dozens of them and never had a problem, easily outlast the timing belt.

I changed the timing belt on my girlfriend's 99 accord last year for a grand total of 24 years and 110k miles. To be honest it looked really good and I wouldn't be surprised if it lasted another 15 years

233,000 mi. 2007 accord with 2.4L vtech. Sold the car to a buddy and it is still going strong.

My sister ran her Honda Odyssey 3.5 to 245k miles. Never had a belt.

I had a 2002 Honda civic at 230K and never changed the timing belt.

I used a gates (rpm) belt , its expensive ($80?) but i feel like thats a part you dont want to go cheap with !

We have a gates timing belt in our 04 Jetta that was placed Dec 2010 and 72k miles ago. Going to change it here soon with a new one this spring. Its accessory belt is gates too. My 06 Navigator has a gates drive belt. Brother in law’s BRZ had a gates belt.

Was able to get the new belt installed with a little less tension but still less than 90* of flex. It till popped a tiny bit during crank rotation, but I decided to go with it, have driven it for about an hour or so, put it through a couple heat cycles all while checking it every 15 ish minutes. First couple times I checked it, it was kinda tight, last couple times I checked it, it felt ok, so idk.

My preference over the past 25 years is ALWAYS OEM/Genuine whenever possible:

BMW - Continental

Ford/Domestic - ACDelco, Continental

I have had repeated problems with GATES fitment, stiffness, and longevity. 7 of the last 10 snapped timing belts I've pulled from cars have been GATES.

I had 280k on my 01 accord when the og snapped, thought it had been swapped by previous owner as it looked to be in good shape when I did the water pump and I ate that about as fast as I stopped when it killed my engine.