Blast Shields Down-- I'm not droppin
 

Hi Guys,

I have a 2008 Base M/T with the OEM 14" steelies and caps. I am looking for some nice, but inexpensive wheels. I have also read through so many posts on the subject that it's all running together.

I'd like to think that I should get some 15" wheels in 45mm offset so that I could drop the vehicle later. It's a daily driver and I'm a 38 yr old goat with wife and kids. So in reality, droppin it might not be practical or addordable for quitre some time.

So-- that being said-- I don't want to lose acceleration or ride quality. I don't want to rub under any circumstances-- I'm open to ideas of moving up in wheel size seeing as I might not ever get to drop it.

What do you guys suggest? What size/type will look the best on a non-dropped Fit? Any pics of poor souls in the same boat? :)

Thanks in advance,

Tbird

tirerack?
 

You may well have already done this but, to start with, go to tirerack (see top of page^) and put in honda fit and see what they say will fit. At least it's some place to start. Good luck.

not droppin
 

Yep, I got ya. I can definitely look up the technical details-- I'm wondering, since I'm not dropping, what wheels will fill up the wells, still give really nice ride and not hurt my performance or rub--

Kinda hopin there are others out there in my situation that have already been through this and have some experience/pics.

Thanks for you good advice though.

Tbird

I'm not dropping either.

I live in a town with a lot of drainage ditches, I absolutely don't want to deal with any rubbing issues, and I love the way my new wheels look without any drop.

I got a set of Rota RB's in 16 X 7 with 40 offset. I went with 195 Falkens versus 205's to also minimize any rubbing issues and to give me a better ride.

I think the combination of 16's and 195's is the best option for a non-dropped Fit.

The wheelwells are filled out really nicely and flush, the car rides and handles great, and no rubbing even with four rather large passengers.

Very good to hear . . . got any pics? Is your ride base or sport?

Tbird

It's a Sport, but that really shouldn't make any difference.

I'll have time to post some pics tonight or tomorrow.

not droppin
 

I was asking you base or sport, because the base comes with 14" wheels and appropriately calibrated speedo and odometer. I know the sport comes with 15" and if I go up to 16" wheels, I would curious how much my speedo and odomoeter would be off.

Tbird

If you go up in rim size you just compensate for it by getting a tire that is a bit "lower profile" than the stock one. stock tire i believe are 195/55/15's so you could get a 16" or 17" rim and go with a 205/45 or so tire and be good. If you lower later it might be an issue if you go 17" rim if you get a tire that might be to tall/wide...

Gotcha.

It would be off by the same amount as if you mounted the stock 15" wheels because the 16" wheels with 195/50 tires have essentially the same diameter as the stock 15" wheels with 195/55 tires.

I'm not sure what the total diameter of the 14" wheels and tires on the base is, but lots of people have swapped them out for the stock alloy 15" and I don't recall anyone mentioning any speedo errors. The profile of the stock 14" tires (sidewall height) probably gives the same rolling diameter as the stock 15" wheels and tires.

Cool-- thanks for the update. If you have any pics, I'd love to see 'em.

Tbird

Here's a few pics~~~

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/...96e6e10e_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/...17e92654_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/...489d9ded_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/...8bbb40a6_b.jpg

That's awesome. Exactly what I was looking for. How's the performance? Any difference in acceleration MPG etc? More importantly how's the ride- I'll be using this as a daily driver for the family and I.

Here is my setup. I had a different set of wheels previously that did rub, so I trimmed a little of the plastic clip in the rear wheelwells, and it still rub a tiny bit, so I changed wheels. These don't rub at all. Without the clip ground down, maybe they would. No way to know. But the grinding is very simple to do and does not affect anything.

Oh and I am not dropped, and no plans to either. In the same boat as you, wife and 2 kids, dropping not practical.

205-45-16, wheels are 16x7, 42mm offset

Attachment 79666

Attachment 79667

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My stock alloy 15's and tires were about three pounds lighter than my new wheels so improvement in acceleration, but these Falkens are *much* better tires than the stock Dunlops.

They stick better and are also a lot quieter. Car handles better than before and it handled good before.

Acceleration really doesn't feel more sluggish. I don't have any MPG data as I just installed the wheels a week or so ago.

The ride is smoother and cushier than with the stock tires and wheels, even though these tires have a lower profile.

I'm really glad I went with the 195/50 tires as opposed to the 205/45. It's kind of an oddball size but I think it provides a better ride and also helps to prevent any rubbing issues. I was a little worried about the 40 offset with a fully loaded car, but haven't had any rubbing problems at all.

I like your Fit.

I'm not into dark wheels much,(obviously:)) but those look really nice with the polished lip.

The HFP wheels look good without a drop. I think we should start a club for non-lowered Fits. I fell into the lowering trap with my past 3 cars, but I have no plans to drop the Fit. Sure it looks great in pics on the Internet, but real world steep driveways and curbs make a stock height car much more practical.

http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/personal/15394_23.jpg

there are a few wheels that fit the wells nicely without a drop, but i agree; fits rocking oem wheels usually look better without a drop then non-dropped fits with aftermarket wheels.

I like your windshield sticker! Where'd you get it, and does it come in different colors?

Thanks!

I wish I could remember where I got it. It was some online vendor and it took me a while to find one that had the "H" logos on both sides.

They came in lots of different colors, but I didn't save the packing slip and I can't for the life of me remember the vendor.

I'll search my old emails to see if I kept anything.

Yeah, the H logos are what I like about it too.