I just bought a 2011 Sport MT - traded in my 2008 base. Can anyone tell me if I can use my old rims on the new Sport? I must have snow tires here and I don't want to buy new tires and rims if I don't have to. Thanks.

 

What size are your old rims? 15 or 16 inch would work fine.

 

They'll fit without any issue. Only thing when you trade in a car they usually expect the wheels to come with it. haha

_

 

GD Base I believe was 14" so without spacers to clear the calipers, I don't think they'll work. outer diameter I believe is also different on the GD (smaller) so you'll run your ODO out quicker. You also don't have sensors in the old wheels if i remember correctly which means you'll have a light on the dash as well as the inability to disable VSA which in the winter can be an advantage.

OP, Pick up some integra or GE/GD alloys that have a few scuffs (15" or larger) and get some TPMS Sensors and the AEQ quickset tool. then add a set of snows. Sell your old winter rim/tire combo to anyone with an Integra or Civic as that should be the perfect size to fit those vehicles and while you won't come out even, it shouldn't break the bank if the rims/tires were decent (1-3 seasons old). I have integra Mesh wheels and General Altimax Arctic snows. The wheels cost me $50 for all 4 and the tires were $73 each installed at sears. I didn't have to deal with TPMS or VSA however.

~SB

 

specboy,
thanks for the info. I did run without the sensors and learned to ignore the light quickly. Can you tell me more about VSA? It's new to me. What do you mean ..."inability to disable VSA which in the winter can be an advantage"

And what is a AEQ quickset?

And what is GE/GD alloys? Sorry to have so many questions, but I've still got a lot to learn.
How do you like your General Altimax Arctic snows? I had Blizzaks and I never had trouble going through the snow - and we had several storms last year where I had to go through 7-8 inches in the morning before the plows came through the side streets. I can't have too good of a snow tire here (Syracuse, NY area). We had 179 inches of snow last season and the only time I couldn't move the car was when the snow was over the bumpers.

Thanks for all your help.

BTW, I'm picking it up Thursday. I had them scouring the state for either a silver, blue or PMM MT and they finally found a PMM downstate. I can't wait.

 

VSA is your car's Vehicle stability assist. it automatically adjusts throttle, braking etc... to help in sudden lane change moves (emergency avoidance moves). In the winter however, sometimes in order to get going you need to allow your wheels to spin and disabling the VSA system will help with this. without TPMS sensors in your wheels, VSA cannot be disabled. This was new for '11.

GE is the chassis code 2009+ honda FIT. (actually it's the GE8) The 2007/8 Honda fit was the GD3. The alloys are the Wheels off of either a 2007/8 or 2009/10 Honda fit. Most any wheel with a 4x100 bolt pattern will fit on the new fits however (4x100 is 4 bolts which are 100mm apart diagonally.) The honda Civic - up until 2006 used a 4x100 pattern and so did the Acura Integra through 2001

I'm in VT and the Fit handled pretty good in the snow but I have to say, I haven't been in it through huge snows, maybe 5-6". We have a Honda Ridgeline for the 1' snows or more I like the altimax but have heard that the Blizaaks were better and with your location, I'd go for the best. blizaaks or Nokian Hakkapelitas.

BTW, I got my wheels off of Craigslist. Scour CL for wheels for your car and you'll find something for cheap, especially if someone is looking for trade. Search Honda Fit, Acura Integra, honda civic, 4x100 wheels etc...

Welcome to the GE8 club.

~SB

 

Just wanted to say that the Blizzaks are awesome. If you check the ratings on the Tire Rack's website, they're one of the best, especially on ice. I've had them on my '09 Fit through two winters now and they haven't failed me. I live in northern Indiana and I drove through both of those crazy snowstorms we had this winter. Even went through the unplowed roads in my neighborhood with around 8 inches of snow. The few times I've gotten stuck I just backed up and drove out!

I use old 15 inch wheels from a Civic for my snow tires. I'll try to find what year the Civic was, but specboy's information seems to be good.

 

Thank you all for the input and great info. I'll start looking for some cheap rims. Going to stick with the Blizzaks, I think for the winter tires.
I'll have the 14 inch to sell now...
And I just realized that I could have used my extra set of CRX rims for my old Fit - I think they're 4 x 100 as well. I've learned something though.

 

herpgal- Don't sell those 14's because you think you have to (only if you want to). 14's will fit over the stock brake calipers. I promise. New base fits come with 14" wheels in japan. I run a set of 14" bbs rz rims from an '80's bmw 3-series on my '09 fit (GE) daily driver and they fit perfectly.

Good luck with whatever you choose...

 

14" don't necessarily fit without spacers. there are a few GE owners on here who run 14" and had to buy spacers to make them fit. The other issue is that herpgal will need to pick up new tires as well. she'll likely get more money for the Wheels & tires already mounted than it would cost to de-mount the tires and have new ones mounted, plus potentially spacers.

15" will work without any extras.

~SB

 

I am in a similar situation. Just got a 2011 Fit Sport and looking at getting some 14" steels off a 2008. What is the consensus when it comes to this? Is it worth doing if I can find some for cheap? How much are the spacers and where do I find them? Are they something I can install myself?

 

I ran 14" steelies from Tirerack last winter on my '09 sport with no spacers and no problem at all.

 

1. How will I know whether or not I need spacers? Will they just not fit?
2. Running 14" rims - why would I need to get new tires? There's so much about tires I dont 'get'.
3. if i did run the tires and rims... will the odo tick up higher mileage than actual since the tires are smaller? or is that why I need to get different tires- so that the actual diameter remains the same as OEM?

Thanks for your help. I am lost when it comes to tires.

 

Questions 2 & 3 - your current wheel/tire combo isn't as tall as the current sport wheel/tire combo so your speedo & odo will be off. running a shorter than stock wheel/tire combo will speed up the odometer, make your speedo seem faster than you are actually travel, and run your warranty out sooner. you'll also be lower to the ground in the winter which I'm sure you are aware of, being less than advisable.

~SB

 

SB - that's just what I was afraid of. I'm going to have to bite the bullet and find 16" rims for new Blizzaks. Whatever it costs, it will be worth it to have snows.
Last year I got caught short, early snow, couldn't get the tires changed for a week and had a terrible time coming up the hill that I live on.

Thanks for the help. I guess I'll sell the steel rims and wheels and get new ones.

 

You don't need 16" rims. 15" or larger to be on the safe side. you need to adjust your tire size. for example, the oem sport tire is 185/55/16. If you run a 15" wheel, you could go with a 175/65/15 tire which would be narrower and the exact same height. better for winter.

I went with a 185/65/15" which raised the car up about 1/4" as it has a 1/2" overall larger diameter. - The down side is that my speedo is a little slow. 16" tires will be scarce and expensive. Go for 15" steel or Used alloys on craigslist.

~SB

 

Help me understand how your 185/65/15 tires raise the car up. the 185 is the width, the 65 is the aspect ratio. The only difference between the tires you suggested for me is the width - does that mean it will be a higher tire, , slower speedo as well? Don't mean to be a pest, I just want to understand. Thanks.

 

Aspect Ratio is the Percentage of the Width.
Stock Wheel/Tire
Width: 185mm
Aspect ratio: 55 - 55% of 185= 101.75mm
Wheel size: 16 - 16"

total height is the Height of the Wheel (16") plus the sidewall height above and below the wheel (101.75mm x 2) so 16" + 203.5mm (which is 8").
total Wheel height = 16+8 or 24

do the same with 185/65/15" wheel

Width: 185mm
Aspect: 65 - 65% of 185 =120.25mm
Wheel - 15"

total Height = 15" + 240.5mm (which is 9.5") = 24.5"

The 175/65/15" tire is 23.95" which is almost identical to the stock height.

The previous Generation had 195/55/15" wheels which had a total height of 23.6" so just about 1/2" shorter.

Narrower tires work better in snow as they cut through it better so the 175's are better in that manner. the 185/65's are taller so you gain a little in clearance.

the 185/65 will have a slower speedo so when you are doing 60, your speedo reads around 58. The 175 will be right on the money.

I chose the extra clearance since 185 is already pretty narrow. The best thing now would be to compare prices to see what will work best for you (and what's available in those sizes) if there aren't any blizaaks available in 185/65 but there are 175/65, there's your answer. (and vice versa)

Hope some of that makes sense.

~SB

 

Yes, it does make sense. I'll see what I can find. no Blizzaks in 185/65 so now have to look to see if they're available in 175/65,
I pick up my new Fit tomorrow. Cleaned the old one out tonight and hope I didn't forget anything. EZ Pass - almost missed it. Can't wait to drive it with the 16" wheels.
Thanks for all your help.