The lighter the wheel and tire combination the better your handling and economy will be , all other things equal naturally. The original 195/55x15 tires and the lower weight wheels will be advantageous. The only thing to watch out for is to make sure the 10.6 lb wheels are load rated for the Fit and have an offset of 42 to 45 mm. Some have gotten away with 40 and even 38 mm but its very risky. There are some better 195/55x15 and 205/50x15 tires. Even lighter or slightly smaller diameter which is better..
As far as the bigger wheels and 205 tires is concerned cornering is improved but mpg will be less by 1-2 mpg. Take your pick. And maybe looks but thats your call.
good luck.

 

I havent read through this thread but in short....

i went from stock tires to 17/40/205 tires and i felt the car was noticeably slower.

 

Me, too. but the 205/40x17 tires are heavier by 2 lb, and are slightly bigger in diameter so some loss was expected to just get increased cornering. Worse, the 17" wheels were a trifle heavier to boot. There's no free lunch.
However our 175/65x15 tires on lightweight 12 lb wheels get 2-3 mpg more than the stock 195/55x15's. But there is no cornering like the 17's. No free lunch.

 

oh my wheel spec is enkei wheel 15 * 6.5 , with offset +38 with 195/50/15 Advan neova.

no drama!

 

Thats a combination not in my database. Do you have any rubbing at all ?
Thanks

 

no rubbing at all, however it may depends on how low you set your suspension at.
I am using HKS hipermax C-Compact coilovers at the moment and I set the suspension at the lowest setting, still no rubbing at all.

 

Just how low is the lowest setting ? If you lowered enough to basically eliminate wheel travel I can see you getting by.

 

I am too lazy to measure exact figure, but the distance between the fender and tyre is about 2cm at the front and 2.5cm at rear.

 

Thats too indefinite. You need to measure the distance from the ground across the center of the wheel to the edge of the fender arch. Based on your info I would guess about 61 cm.
Lets try again.
cheers.

 

Any suggestions on what would be the lightest 15 inch wheel that would hold up to the crappy pothole laden roads here in NJ? Thanks for any help provided..........

 

The lightest wheels purchased around here arethe SSR Type C (RS) 15x6 at 8.8# and the Enkei RFP-1 15x7 at 9.5#. Both are in the $200 to $300 range, each. For those of us tightwads there's the Kazera KZ-M 15x7 at 13.5# for $100 or so. Offset check. I'm sure there are others. In fact the Falken 15 wheel on my CRX is avertised as one of the lightest wheels if they still offer.

These are wheels for the weekend warriors. For you I'd get one of the inexpensive wheels at DiscounttireDirect.com for under $90.. Shipping not free anymore though.

 

Another option could be OEM Saturn wheels, if you see one you like. The Sawblade wheels are the lightest at about 15# each. If you can find a nice set, they'll bolt on and are OEM-tough while still being a few pounds lighter than a stock Fit Sport wheel. Some powder coating could make for a unique looking wheel package.

HF

 

Wheel weight matters a lot less than tire weight. If you widen tread go slightly smaller on diameter.

 

For YeeFit-
Look at the entire wheel and tire package before you decide.

You could go either way as the weights are not that far and you are not going full throttle as you would on a track.

But, a 15 inch wheel will give you tire sizes that are more comfortable for street use, less jarring but OK for handling if you choose a tire that is grippy. While 17 inch rim will need a very low profile tire like 40 series which tends to be very stiff but handles well. Often times 40 series tires do not last as long.

In general the wider the wheel the more it can weigh and the better handling you can get due to the extra wide tire footprint on the road vs a wheel with a more narrow width.

Lighter weight can come from smaller wheel diameter and less width or from minimal materials design of the wheel which also means at some point it might be more risky to drive on rough pothole filled roads.

Always lighter wheels help with acceleration and braking if you have a choice. 3 lbs difference is small but 8 is more significant. Anything around 10-12 would be good for a Fit. 14 -15 is average and 18 would be a bit heavy but not a deal breaker if you really liked the design.

Heavy wheels are fine for daily driving and for looks but don:t expect rapid movement from a standstill since it will require more power to move more weight. Once you get going it will be fine. If you drive speed limit and take turns smoothly you will be fine.

Tires are important, not just for weight alone but for tread pattern, materials, tire size, etc. The weight is farther from the hub center so a really heavy tire will be harder to get going from a stop but I would not worry as much about that vs the other qualities of a tire that will make a bigger difference in road manners, handling, comfort, and cost/treadwear.

If you want better handling then Ultra High Performance tires would be a good place to start, they come in summer and all season which means summer is for three seasons but not really cold weather or any snow. All Season tires last longer, can offer a little more comfort and can be run in colder weather or light snow so you don:t have to change tires in the fall.

For most people in temperate climates like the west coast and southwest you can choose either. Max Performance tires are faster wearing but give good handling and a bit more noise and roughness over bumpy roads. If your roads are very smooth and pot hole free you can choose Max or Ultra HP summer tires.

If you want the lighter tire then you have to choose a size that will fit the rim and the Fit wheel well but still be not overly wide. Usually you have a choice of sizes. Smaller diameter tires with lower sidewall profile tend to be less weight, better handling but stiffer ride quality.

Since you will be using this for daily street driving you do not have to go very light on the tire, I would suggest something that is middle ground for good treadwear, good handling, and good ride quality. Contact Jim at tirerack.com to find out more about options and let him know if your Fit is lowered and what size wheel you are looking at.

 

Yeefit has moved on.... he now drives a G35

 

I am saving for the enkei RPF 1's 200 a rim not what is the best tire to get that is not too heavy. I dont want to get a pig of a tire after spending all that bling on weight savers : )

 

I am saving for the enkei RPF 1's 200 a rim not what is the best tire to get that is not too heavy. I dont want to get a pig of a tire after spending all that bling on weight savers : )

 

I love how this ancient thread gets revived just as I'm making my final decisions on a summer wheel/tire setup.

I understand and appreciate the fact that tire weight matters more than wheel weight when rotational inertia is the focus. But let's not forget that wheels and tires are unsprung weight and that they accelerate in vertical directions as well. Reducing the overall weight of the wheel/tire combination is going to make the car feel sprightlier and should also improve its ability to respond to the bumps and dips encountered in everyday driving.

If anyone is interested I am going with Mugen RnR's 15x6.5 +45 offset, 10.5lbs. each -- about 5lbs. per corner less than stock. Tires (probably) Michelin Pilot Exaltos, 195/55 15, 18lbs. each -- same as the stockers according to Tire Rack.

I'm hoping for a nimbler feel, livelier acceleration, and maybe even a bit better gas mileage; but to be honest the thing I'm most looking forward to is finally getting those awful Dunlops off the car.

 

Your going to get all of those things and love it. The absolute best thing you can do to your car..... I went for Enkei Racing RPFI wheels 9 1/2Lbs. and 195X55 Conti Pro Contact tires 18LB.s.... The tires are performance touring, but are much quieter than stock, unbelievable on loose surfaces and wet pavement. and hook up very well on dry. Even when the boost is on they murder the stock tires with the stock engine.... With the7" rims it throws more lateral Gs than the stock set up also. You will really have it going on with the Michelins.

 

I looked long and hard at those Enkeis, believe me. The weight is awe inspiring, they look great, and they have a fantastic record in terms of reliability. But I wasn't big on going a full inch wider on rims when I had no intention of going to a wider tire. Plus I may put Swift springs on the car in the future, and it seems as though people with the RPF1's end up grappling with rubbing issues whenever they lower the car. I didn't want to be bothered. Go ahead, call me lazy.

Gonna go check out those Conti's...