2008 fit sport. Going to by some wheels and snow tires. From Tirerack.com. Its alot cheaper if i go with 14 inch rims and 185-65-14 tires,, about 170 bucks less than if i go to 15 inch wheels and 195-55-15 tires. this is just for winter time and if it handles not quite as good i really wouldnt care. The overall diamter is the same with either setup at 23.5 which is what the factory wheels and tires are that are on the car now.

So is it worth saving the money and going to a smaller wheel? anyone else do that? As far as width goes i would think a skinny snow tire would be better but since were only talking about 10mm i wouldnt think it would be much of a differance.

 

Skinny is Better in snow, worse on ice.
Having two complete sets of tires and rims will save you time and frustration and the possibility of some ass-hat breaking your tpms when it comes time to switch.

 

Oh yea iam definitly getting another set of wheels. Getting aluminum wheels as they look alot better that steel wheels and there not a huge differance in price.

But anyone else have an opinion about whether its worth an extra $170 to go with 15 inch wheels and the stock Sport tire width or save some money and use 14 inch wheels which is stock on base model and a tire which is slightly narrower than the Sport model. This is for snow tires only.

 

I have the sport and for the winter I have been using 185/65r14 for the past 2 years and they work great( 14 are a little nicer on the potholes )

 

i just bought mine same size as oem

 

DX/LX/Base models run 175/65R14 tires.

Personally,
If you're using 14x5.5 rims I'd go 175/65R14.
If you're using 14x6 rims I'd go 185/65R14.

 

175/65x15 snow tires work very well in snowas we found last year. And dispite this years snow in the NC mountains we did't get a chance to test recently.

 

Skinny (and slightly bigger diameter) is also better on ice; the pressure (lb per sq inch) is the secret. Of course that doesn't mean that traction will be te same on either. A fully lubricated surface like ice at 32 F will ALWAYS have less traction than snow at 32F. Softness counts.
Surprisingly, traction on either is pretty equal at below 20 F. Blame in on the lubrication from liquid water not being there. Down around zero it begins to feel like dirt and gravel roads.
All that naturally can be defeated easily by drag ass driving.

 

I was wondering about this, as Tirerack specifies two different sizes of 14' winter tire for the Fit. I had my eye on an eBay auction for a set of steel rims, tires, and TPMS sensors for around $500, but the seller bumped the shipping up to $250 for the set. I could have driven there and back myself for that much money. :P

Oddly enough, the slightly wider 185/14 Blizzak costs LESS on Tirerack.

 

I will be picking a set up this weekend hopefully. Winter is coming soon!

 

14's! I have been using mine for 2 winters now ... going on 3rd, they work fantastic. Narrow tires = better in snow!

 

Here are our new winter wheels/tires. They are Konig 15" Feather Gold's 11.5 lbs a piece. Tires are Continental WinterContact TS810 185/65/R15





Reason running Nicer wheels--is that our winter is so long and I can't stand my cars looking like a$$ for 6 months with black steelies.

 

Me too, appointment for next week at Urbanexp (Tire and Wheel) in the NE. They have been around a long time and the personal touch is nice compared to the sad sacks at the other tire shops I was into during the last two weeks.

 

Smaller wheel will be fine, five times better than all(no)season tires. Get some steelies and you are set to go.

 

I've got 14" rims and I it's the best size for winter... trust me I had my share of snow storms! :P The reason why smaller is better is that you have the same amount of weight but for a smaller surface, therefore, you won't slip as much on a patch of ice since the weight is more condensed. Actually, It's like having sandbags in your trunk!

 

Narrower is better---can't really go much narrower than 185 though as a the Diameter should be around 23.5".

Last winter we had a wrx with 17" 225/45/r17 winters---they kind of sucked not much better than the stock all seasons--probably because they were too wide.

 

Just out of curiosity, do you guys in the US have the mountain snowflake symbol on your winter tires?



The Rubber Association of Canada - L'Association canadienne de l'industrie du caoutchouc

 

14" wheels are not the issue, its the tire size. The reason narrower and slightly larger diameter tires than stock work better is because as you said smaller contact patches have more contact pressure which is vital to adhesion. So 14,15, or 16" wheels work equally.
However, slightly larger diameter tires have less rolling resistance and one of the biggest problems in getting going, and keeping going, is the tires climbing the oncoming snow and ice. Remember how the tracks you left behind are depressed into the snow? The tires have to climb up the snow in front (oncoming) and press it down to go forward. The easier the tire climbs the oncoming snow the easier it is to get started and to keep going. That climbing is the main reason why it is so easy to spin the wheels instead of getting moving. As tires get larger in diameter the angle of attack is reduced so the tire moves forward easier. Its like how little a slope can you have to climb; the less the better.
Incidently, the narrower tire offers less resistance to to 'plowing' though the snow as well..
Naturally, both can be overdone. Going an inch larger or two section sizes less might handicap forward thrust enough to stall the car or not have enough grip to provide that thrust, and thats not considering the increased chances of getting snow packed into the wheel well in contact with the tire and becoming a big brake.
That just the choice of tire size.Tread design and contruction are also involved. There is a difference between tire brands and thats the best thing about TireRacks tire testing and feedback sections of their website.
I always advise customers to go to that website and compare the attributes most important to them between tire selections and choose the one they most need and within their price range. Seems to work very well.
cheers.

 

Change section specs from 45 to 50 55 even 70 to get the right width and diameter. A 225/45x17 tire is 24.97" dia and a 205/50x17 tire is 25.07". A 195/55x17 tire is 25.4". Choice depends on the conditions you'll expect to get around in. Andof course tire tread and carcass performance on TireRack's website comparisons.

 

We have a 2008 Fit Sport and will be installing winter tires soon. What will happen if a new set of steel 14" Fit rims doesn't have The TPMS valves? We are also looking at putting the snow tires on the stock alloy wheels and then buy new summer rims and tires later. This option would require a second set of TPMS', but will give us the winter months to figure out that solution.

Is it just me, or will the TPMS give everybody who knows how to take care of their cars, a headache.

We've owned our Fit since May, and it has been awesome. I've always been a VW guy, but for the price, size, utilty, fuel economy, and resale value, this thing is awesome. Buy why, for God's sake, do we have to pay extra $120 for floormats? Arrgghh!

Thanks for the help everybody,
Shawn