I've been waiting eagerly to try out the new Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 tires, since they were introduced in Japan and Europe last year as the replacement for the grippy Potenza RE-01R. The reviews have been very positive. These tires finally became available last week and I pulled the trigger today. Luckily, they make them in the 205/45-17 size that's a good match for aftermarket 17" wheels for the Honda Fit.

I decided on Enkei Racing RPF1 wheels in 17x7", since they are strong and extremely light, tipping the scales at a mere 14.6 pounds each. Every other 17" wheel listed at Tire Rack was heavier, with the Motegi Racing US7 winning the lardo award at 28 pounds each!

Does anyone know the weight of the stock wheels?

Here's a screen shot from the Tire Rack website of the wheels on the car:




Although they look a bit dark, I did pick the bright silver wheels pictured here:




with the optional ($25 each. Ouch!) center caps shown here:



I should receive the wheels next Monday, after which I'll install them (NJ weather permitting) and post some initial reviews of the new tires.

The Potenza RE-11 tires should make for a dramatic improvement in braking performance over the Blizzaks I'm using now and the stock all-season tires in my basement.

As always, thanks to Luke Pavlick at Tire Rack! Here's a shot of Luke standing next to Brock Yates at the start of a recent One Lap of America race: Luke & Brock photo (Luke's on the left) He almost convinced me to skip the new RE-11 at $166 each and go for the "obsolete" RE-01R tires, which are a screaming bargain at just $88 each.

 

Looking forward to getting a review. I also saw a 195 and 205 50 15. I might go for this, but I'll probably go for something with slightly higher treadlife.

 

That's a nice looking tire, with a little softer tread than the Falken Azenis. 180 vs 200. Keep us posted with your tread wear life and performance of these.

 

DAYUM! RPF1's are SECKZ!!! But if I had MR, I would've went with gloss black Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr hahaha

But sweet choice! Can't wait to see them on!

 

somebody said a while ago stock wheel is 19 plus change

 

please tell me you will be putting these on a lowered car? PLEASE!

 

nice choice of wheels and great choice of tires.

i would check on the Dunlop Direzza Z1 star spec and in 205's all around would be perfect.

 

Just another teaser pic I borrowed from the GE picture thread

this very nice car belongs to IS300NA-T

 

Oh sweet! Those are one of the most underrated wheels today! Good choice! At size 15x7 for cast wheels they weigh in at only 9.9lbs!

I plan to get the 15s with 205/50 tires cause my Fit is for track.

I just hope the supplier here can get me the RPF1.

I'm coming from Volk TE37 15s and SE37K 16s on my EK before. Volks are so over priced from where I'm from nowadays these RPF1s should fit the bill.

 

haha thanks. Im taking those rims off and finally putting on my new set probably tomorrow now.

 

Why would you take them off? They look amazing. Something wrong with them?

 

What are you replacing them with? They must been even more awesome than these to be replaced.

 

You had better have a UbEr Baller set of wheels to be getting rid of the RPF1's

 

Well, the wheels were mounted and balanced and shipped from Delaware today, so I should receive them on Monday. I'm changing the brakes on a friend's Audi A6 Monday night, so I will probably mount these on the car Tuesday night. Unless we get another mini-blizzard like this morning!

Updates to follow.

 

going old school style rims with these bitches BBS RS

 

Also a very nice choice you sir have great taste in wheels.

I might get the 17s. 20lbs less of rotational mass should make a huge improvement in performance and fuel economy over stock, plus they look sick.

 

So whats the deal with the offset issues and the rpf1's, they fit fine? I thought it was gonna be real difficult to find wheels that fit on our '09's.

 

Sorry for the long delay on posting this review of the new tires! I got swamped at work and frankly just forgot about this thread.

I installed the Enkei wheels and Potenza RE-11 tires in my garage after work on a Thursday evening, then had to run out to dinner with my wife in a torrential rain storm. Needless to say, the new tires were a bit scary that night. They felt quite greasy.

The next day, I had a chance to scrub them in a bit, as the roads were partially dry. After about 30 miles, they really came into their own. The lateral grip is astonishing, compared to the stock tires that came with the Fit (no surprise here) and are at least as good, if not better, than the Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 tires on my BMW. The braking is dramatically better and the steering response is razor sharp. If there's one simple bolt-on that can transform the Fit's handling, it is this. It even launches off the line with noticeably more power, as the traction control doesn't get fooled by the stock tires' tread squirm any more, and power cut is minimal during a hard launch even with traction control engaged.

The RE-11 tires seem to be relatively noisy at high speeds, but I'm not sure that's really a fair statement about the tires, given the almost total lack of sound deadening in the Fit. I bought a set of these for my mother's VW Passat about 2 weeks later and they are very quiet on that car. If I get motivated, I'll probably strip the interior and apply some serious sound deadening. Man - I wish this car had a 6th gear!

Here are a couple shots I snapped today, while enjoying lunch in the outdoor garden at Panevino Restaurant in Livingston, NJ:

 

I think you made a great decision in the wheel/tire combination.... I have the same wheels with Conti Pro Contact tires in the same size as stock on my 2007 model, and couldn't be more pleased.... I live in a rural area and drive on an unpaved road whenever I drive and opted for a sport touring tire, or would have gotten the Michelins.

 

Hey, looks great. What offset are your wheels?