Car and Driver recently made an article on just this.

Effects of Upsized Wheels and Tires Tested - Tech Dept. - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver

They used a VW Golf Mk6 for this but it's just as illustrative for our Fits/Jazzes. If anything the Golf is actually a great car for this as it can accept much more ridiculous wheel/tire sizes.

 

Thanks Type 100, after reading the article I can't understand why I didn't renew C&D instead of R&T.... There is nothing I like more than going light with wheels and tires but I have seen that there is a place where the tiny sidewalls, soft rubber compound are a good thing and maybe 16" wheels.... I picked some fairly light 16s and 8 used 205-45-16s to mess around with some.. One of these days I want to get some 14" wheels one of these days just for kicks also.

 

So I have some 17x7.5 +40 rims. What size tire should I get? 195/45 or 205/40?

 

Man you have got me on that question... I am thinking that on a GE you may already have a problem with the width and offset and a 195 45 17 is going to be a little bit of a stretch but might come out to be what you have to go with to have a chance at it not rubbing... I know that Tire Rack will not mount 195 50 15s on 7" rims. With 195 55s on 7" rims with 41mm offset I sometimes have rub tire just a little on my old GD3 and I have been told that a GE would rub even more with the same set up I have.... Maybe the person that told me that was wrong.

 

great info..

 

Interesting article. To achieve the same sidewall height that the 18" wheel setup with the best grip had, the fit would need 195/45/17s, which I believe, are only made by Yokohama (s-drive.) It's the size I'd like to get on my car when/if I upgrade the wheels. Almost the exact same diameter as stock, and no rubbing if slammed.

 

Were you answering my question?? So I should get 195/45/17 to achieve the grip like stock rims? I know on page 1 you said something about this and I'm just trying to follow suit because what you said made sense.

I was gonna go with Toyo Proxes 4 205/40/17 because they were lighter tires (19.4 lbs per). And you're right, only the S-Drives have the 195/45/17 at 20 lbs. per. So still go with the S-Drives?

 

7.5" wide wheels are going to be a little wide for 195s. I'd go with 205/40s, or 45s if you aren't going to slam it. Google "wheel calculator" to help with the comparisons.

 

With 195's that would give me the stretched look huh? I am lowered on T1R springs and the front is semi-slammed, no rubbing on stock height though. To be honest, I wasn't gonna get these rims if they weren't discontinued and cheap! I was gonna go with 16's and flush it out. Ah oh well

 

Go 205/40s - it's your best, and only, bet. With that wide of a wheel and low offset, you won't be able to get away with 45s. FitDEEZ has show it can work, and you would not be too far off in total track width from his ride since his wheels are narrower, but lower offset.