Fit snow, winter tires,winter driving questions?? - Page 8

5thstreet · #**141** (**permalink**) 07-29-2007, 09:33 AM

I live in upstate NY, one of the snowiest areas in the country. Does anybody know how the Fit handles in the snow?

I'm not sure if I should get snow tires or rely on the all seasons it comes with.

Spule 4 · #**142** (**permalink**) 07-29-2007, 09:37 AM

Fit snow, winter tires,winter driving questions??

Wave · #**143** (**permalink**) 07-29-2007, 09:54 AM

Trust me invest in a dedicated set of snow tires and cheapie steel wheels. I think I spent less than $400 from Tirerack for a complete set.

Oh by the way the ground clearance sucks when it really snows...the front end on Sport models works great as a snow plow - ask me how I know!

jim@tirerack · #**144** (**permalink**) 08-30-2007, 09:34 AM

The wheels will work from the Civic but the tires are going to be short. I would recommend the 185/65R14 or 175/65R14 for the Fit. If I can help let me know.

DagerOne · #**145** (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 08:30 PM

Heh, I searched through this whole thread for the best size for winter tires, and Jim has to make it the last post.

It IS perfectly okay to put 14" steel rims on the Fit Sport, correct? I'm looking at 14x5.5 4x100 wheels, but they only have 35 as the offset...think this will be a problem?

Then I'm going with 185/65/14s. According to Tire Size Calculator - tire & wheel plus sizing this would give me the least difference in my speedometer from the stock 195/55/15s I have now.

Only question is that offset. I'm at stock ride height. Will I be okay, handling-wise?

OrangeBlossom · #**146** (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 08:41 PM

The best way I've found to get the right snow tires for my cars is through Tire Rack. They do a lot of independent testing to match tires and wheels with different cars. I bought 4 good snows with 15 inch steel rims for my FIT Sport and they worked great last winter. By buying the rims with the tires I just swap them out in the Fall and Spring.

DagerOne · #**147** (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 08:58 PM

Well, my thinking is the offset difference pushes my wheels out 20mm, but the tires themselves are 10mm narrower, so the difference should be about 15mm in the end. The tires would clear the suspension by an additional 25mm over stock. At stock ride height, I'm sure I won't rub, but I know that handling can be affected by offset changes, and that's what I'm most concerned about.

And I've not found 15" steels, only 14".

jim@tirerack · #**148** (**permalink**) 10-22-2007, 02:41 PM

The 14" wheels and winter tires would make this car work great in the snow. If I can help let me know.

kinosh · #**149** (**permalink**) 10-23-2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim@tirerack

The 14" wheels and winter tires would make this car work great in the snow. If I can help let me know.

Would 13" steels work on the Sport? These are OEMs from a 1992 Civic LX.

I worry about these Dunlop SP31s in the snow because, if you look at the tread, there is one wide groove with no exit channels. If that groove fills up with water/snow, they can't be compressed out. Then the tire will just ride on top of the snow instead of gripping the ground.

jim@tirerack · #**150** (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 09:04 AM

I do not list any 13" wheels working on the Fit.

dyussen · #**151** (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim@tirerack

The 14" wheels and winter tires would make this car work great in the snow. If I can help let me know.

Looking at putting 15" Blizzaks on a new 08 Sport (factory 15" rims) vs. buying a 14" rims + tire package. The steel rims won't handle tire pressure monitoring system/sensors. Does anyone know if it's OK to put on steel rims and not have TPMS working, or not buy sensors for a 2nd set of wheels?? Is it just a matter of a dashboard warning light? Can it be reset/turned off?

Keeping TPMS would add a lot of cost, or else I'd have to mount tires over and over on the factory rims. Probably not so good for them.

jim@tirerack · #**152** (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 04:36 PM

The Bridgestone Blizzak would give the best traction in the winter. You can go with the 175/65R14 with steel wheels for 436.00 plus shipping. We mount and balance them and ship them ready to go.
If I can help let me know.

MadtownFit · #**153** (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim@tirerack

The Bridgestone Blizzak would give the best traction in the winter. You can go with the 175/65R14 with steel wheels for 436.00 plus shipping. We mount and balance them and ship them ready to go.
If I can help let me know.

I have a question, why does Tire Rack not carry Nokian Tires?

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta snow tires are the best snow tires available, no other snow tire even comes closes to performance you get from the Hakkapeliitta tires. The ones on my wife’s CRV have out performed and out lasted any other brand I have tried over the years. Is there some reason why ou guys do not offer them?

I plan on ordering some Hakkapeliita 4s for my Fit in the next week or so and I would order them from Tire Rack if they sold them.

Tire Rack is loosing out on a lot of die hard loyal customers by not having Nokian tires in there line up.

scott_b · #**154** (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 12:28 AM

What about chains?

I live in the Pacific NW and some of the passes require either chains or traction/studded tires. I don't go over the passes enough to invest in the studded tire option, but can I safely put chains on the Fit Sport? It would provide me with a great simple option when the roads get icy.

PS: The ABS does work pretty well in snow -- 4 to 8" with the stock tires -- ABS kicked in big time, but the Fit was stable and was able to climb as well as my old Mazda 626.

Thanks.

Scott.

jim@tirerack · #**155** (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 12:30 PM

I do not carry the chains so I could not be sure. I would guess they would work.

explosivpotato · #**156** (**permalink**) 01-28-2008, 02:15 PM

Just thought I might add my two cents here, as I just had an experience with the snow and the stock dunlops. At first I thought the Fit was just too light to get any traction in the snow up here in MI, but then during a routine oil / trans fluid swap at my local midas (GM syncromesh FTW, by the way), the tires were up in the air an not covered in snow, and it was very apparent that they were TOTALLY BALD. Not to mention one had a MASSIVE hole in it.. no wonder it pulled left!

Got a new set of Falken ZIEX ZE-512. Technically a "performance" all season tire, but they sure do grip the snow better than the bald Dunlops EVER did.

Just make sure and keep an eye on those Dunlops, mine were bald after 26K.

mahout · #**157** (**permalink**) 02-07-2008, 06:57 PM

All of 'em have 4x100 bolt pattern but watch out for clearance over brake calipers. My 91 CRX wheels don't clear without 3 mm (1/8") spacers. Ddn't notice any centerbore problems but make sure first.

JCLW · #**158** (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 11:12 PM

I used mine to plow the driveway the other day.

Stock Dunlops.

mahout · #**159** (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 10:39 AM

We had very good luck this winter with 185/65x15 Continental Winter Contacts for several trips into the mountains on ski trips. Had no problems at all and they are fairly priced.
Note in snow etc a narrower tire is advantageous as well as a little extra diameter. Tread appears to be 'self-cleaning'. They are widely recommended in Europe.

Carbuff2 · #**160** (**permalink**) 04-29-2008, 10:11 PM

We used a Tire Rack package of 14" "steelie" rims and Bridgestone WS-50 snow tires this winter. Worked well!

We are also using the WS-50 snow tires on our Acura, with equally good results.

I like the WS-50s because they are NOT directional and can be rotated to equalize wear.

PS: the plastic wheel covers sold by Tire Rack were a disappointment. Cracked TWO just putting them on...seemed a bit (!) brittle!