Expert Advice Needed: I am a new Fit driver. Bought a 2010 and need to replace the tires. Female driver with questions about what to replace Falken tires with for South Florida driving. Lot of rain here so need good traction. Perhaps, might venture into snow country once in awhile.

Questions: Do I need to stay with a Eco type of tires if I want to get better gas mileage? Actually, do I have to stay with the factory type tires?

I did put some Nexen Blue Eco tires on the car and the highway driving is not smooth. Have gone back to tire place and told them want another type of tire.

Can I get a better highway ride with a different tire size than the 175/65/15? Can I change tire width? If so what size would give me a better ride on the highway. I already know that the Fit is lightweight and not as steady on the road as a heavier car, however the ride has to be better than what I got with the Nexen tire.

So, basically, I am looking for what my options could be to replace the Nexen tire. Tire make/model and size, please. Want good wet weather traction, handling and smoother ride on the highway. Fuel efficiency is important, however will sacrifice a bit of that for a better highway ride. Willing to spend more money for the right set of tires.

Thanks so much...appreciate a speedy reply.
Tina11xx

 

Honestly with this being a (mostly) performance oriented forum, you would be MUCH better off speaking to the experts at tirerack.com

Give them a budget, what your priorities are and they will give you excellent suggestions.

 

You had issues with the Nexens because....they're Nexens. Cheap crap.

There've been DOZENS of threads on this topic, just search.

 

Tina- I am another female driver- sounds as though you have a 2010 Base Fit with the 175 15 " size. I have a 2010 Sport and just replaced the stock tires- I have the 185 16" size. We have Discount Tire where I live- I bought Yokohama Avid Ascend in the oem size. I believe they also come in the 175 size as well.
Fast1One's suggestion to check out Tirerack.com is good advice. It is a good place to research tires--get ratings. See which do best in varying road conditions.
You can order from them and you may have a local shop that will mount them for you. There are lots of threads here on types of tires. Some of the threads are old and the tires mentioned may not be available anymore. Lots of people swear by the Continental DWS.
We don't get much rain here in Colorado- mostly dry conditions, but get some snow in winter, usually not bad enough to need snow tires, so I looked for a good all weather tire.

 

We just had General Altimax RT43s' installed on the '13 base FIT . Like them so far . These are $68 each at Tirerack . Go here for pics , Got the General Altimax RT 43s' put on the '13 base FIT - Honda Fit Forum : Honda Fit Forums .

 

If I were shopping for tires for base 15" steel wheels right now I would get Yokohama AVID Ascend in 185/60/15 size.

They have 175/65/15 as well if you want, i've always felt the 175s were a little too narrow for the weight of the car (it's small, but not THAT small), but they may be fine for you.

 

I second Odie's comments on the General RT43s. I just bought them on tirebuyer.com for my first gen Fit. Great ratings on Tire Rack and am thrilled with the low price given their high ratings by professionals and customers alike.

 

Have you even driven on them? They're HORRIBLE tires.

 

The RT43 are fine . Soak up bumps and handling is good . They're set at 35.5 p.s.i.. 300+ miles and should get better after 500 miles of break in . The price was $59.50 each ( no tax ) with the $50 online rebate that was accepted . Hopefully that'll reach the mailbox in time .

 

Uh....... horrible??? I think you are thinking of another tire, because here is what users to date are saying about it on Tire Rack:


For Standard Touring All Season Tires: Rated best in category for both wet and dry traction, hydroplaning, cornering, and steering response. Also rated best in ride and noise comfort. Rated best by Tire Rack professionals in their dry and wet track tests, and second to the Hankook H727 in snow traction and handling in the snow. Where there is smoke, there is fire.

 

Definitely not thinking of any other tire.

I bought a set of these last winter, having read those same reviews.

What I got were a set of loud, inefficient (fuel economy took a big hit), insanely hard ties. By hard I mean that they had zero traction in the dry/snow. I could spin tires through third gear...in a stock Honda Fit. My friend with an EM1 wanted to buy the tires off of me because he found that so hilarious.

 

Is it possible that you had the RTs' ? The 43s' is an upgrade for the RT .

 

They were RT43. I read the bad reviews for the old RT and hoped they'd be better. I bought them before any of this hype surfaced.

Bad tires. Never again will I stray from Yokohama, Dunlop or Michelin.

 

Gas mileage doesn't seem much worse than the DUNLOP SP 31 A/S . These are still breaking in with less than 400 miles . Handle curves fine and a bit quieter . Not a speed demon , usually within the stated speed limit of 1 > 3 m.p.h. give or take .