My 2007 Fit sport has great 15 inch rims with all season tires The first winter I had the car I ordered 15inch steel rims with Bridgestone Blizzak tires from Tire Rack. They dont look great but the car goes through the snow (and even icy patches) like a four wheel drive vehicle. I think the non-sport version might be the car that has 14 inch wheels.

 

On my 1st gen US Fit, I went with the European base spec tire/wheel combo for a 2nd gen: 175/65R15 on a 15x5.5" wheel with a 45mm offset. The diameter is about a half inch larger than the stock 195/55 sport setup. It works great in the snow, gives a modest boost to ground clearance, and rides nice and smooth over broken pavement.

 

I always run Firestone Winterforce. I have done the Blizzaks but the Winterforce are usually really cheap on TireRack and I can't tell the difference. They both drive unbelieveable well in snow.

 

Does anyone know if we can use the old 14" civic steel rims on our 2nd gen ge8's? I am going to pick up some blizzaks 185 65 14's if so. I am lowered on t1rs and my 195 55 16s rubbed so I sold them. I can't find anything when searching to confirm 14s work.

 

185 65 14 seems very small. Did you mean 185 65 15?

 

It would depend on what year and model Fit you have. We do show 14" wheels on the 2008 Fit but not the 2009 car.

 

I'm not sure how those work on the second gens. I took the rims from my 86 crx and they rubbed the caliper, it you have that problem you could use some small spacers to get them away from the caliper. The bolt pattern should be the same.

 

I've heard of a few people successfully using 14" rims on GE8s, and even more people who have tried without success.

It seems to depend on the design and offset of the particular rim.

186/65R15 would be safe.

Rim width and offset matter as well.

15x5.5 would be better for you then 15x6 if you are worried about rubbing.

If you are worried about rubbing outboard (fenders) then use a +55 offset rim. If you are worried about rubbing inboard then use a +45 offset rim.

I think the OEM GE8 steelies are 15x5.5 +55.

 

bought the fit in april and on and off looked for 15's over the summer, but figured i had plenty of time and didn't look to hard for them. well, time flew by and here it is snow on the ground. wanted 15's so i could get a taller snow tire.

i didn't like how the fit handled at all last week in the snow. (used to xice michelin snows on my old element) found a set of 2012 stock alloy rims with tpms for 400, and since i didn't want to wait and see if i could now find 15's bought em.

my buddies shop couldn't get the xice for a few weeks, so i went with the blizzaks. stock size after debating going with 205.

i knew it would be much better traction, but wow. anyone thinking "are snows worth it ??" yes they are, they certainly are.

 

Second winter for me with the Fit after last winter said I would get winter tires but had to replace the OEM tires, went with a performance all season due to trouble finding tires that fit the 16" Sport wheels seems that most brands do not carry the size 205/50/16. Was thinking of going to 15" because the 195/60/15 tire there is more choices with better snow traction and tread life then the 205/50/16.

 

Quoted for posterity. This is, quite simply, the truth. Winter tires work.

 

AND, they work both going AND stopping, without the gas mileage penalty of a 4WD system.

 

yes they do. normally thanksgiving weekend is when i would put the extra rims with snow tires on them on my honda element and put the regular rims/tires in the back of the garage for the winter. sometimes it might be a week or month before the first snow. buying the fit over the summer and procrastinating led to driving home with the stocks on (didn't like that feeling at all) then the next morning getting the snow tires on and noticing the immediate difference. night and day difference.

it shouldn't amaze me, but it still does the large number of people who think snow tires are a waste of time/money.

 

On my second set of General Arctics... These things are amazing, all I can say to the none believers is don't slide into me

 

Going on my 6th year with the GD.. 5 winters of which with snow tires, including two proper blizzards. We got just shy of a foot of snow in the last 48 hours, hasn't missed a beat.

To anyone above the snow-belt thinking "I can't swing the cost of a second set of tires" .. well they last several seasons and compared to the cost of a tow truck/hospital bills/repairs and time off work, it's peanuts.

 

these blizzaks are boss. at first, i was in doubt with spending $400, but after 3 snow storms already with barely noticeable slipping, its already paid for itself. can't believe i am so excited to go drive in the snow!

 

+1 for the Altimax Arctics!

This is the first winter in 20+ yrs that I'm not driving a 4wd vehicle. Yesterday I got to drive home in the beginning of the storm and I was amazed at how well the Fit w/ snows gripped.
I drove in <1" of snow last spring after getting the Fit and the experience on the stock tires was enough to justify the winter tires.

 

+1 For the Altimax artic here too!

I am in Montreal, QC... And I drive a lot towards the north to see my parents and I must say that these tires are very good for their price. Bought dedicated steelies and running on 185/70 -14.

My father with his brand new Camry is also running with these tires but he added studs on it (lot of iced roads in the north place!) and it grips like it's on rail.

 

I agree on the General altimax arctics.I have a studded set of 185/70-14's on steel wheels purchased from Tire Rack.One thing to keep in mind though.Make sure and have tpms sensors installed in them if your car has them(2009 and newer I think)Here in Idaho we get plenty of snow and ice.My wife stopped the car on an incline and could not get going again because of the traction control/stability system on my 2011 sport 5 speed.As soon as a wheel started to spin the system applied brake pressure and cut engine rpm.This kept occurring until she literally had the gas pedal to the floor with clutch out in first gear.I had her turn off the traction control and the car then had no problem.The reason you want tpms sensors in your winter wheels is that if they don't have them,the tpms light will come on and you can't turn off the traction/stability control.Something to think about.

 

If I lived in Idaho, I'd stud those Arctics, too. My family lived in Twin Falls in the early 80s, and the studs would come in handy for trips into the Sawtooth Range.

I appreciate the tip about the TPMS/stability control link. A couple years from now, when I'm driving the next generation Fit (with the 6MT!), I'll have to remember that.

TPMS became mandatory in the U.S. for the 2008 model year, I believe. I have an '09 5MT Sport. Traction/stability was only available that model year if you ponied up for the nav option, so I skipped it. Instead of springing for the cost of TPMS on my 14" steelies, I put a piece of electrical tape over my TPMS light. Works like a charm!

FYI, the Altimax Arctics I bought in Nov. 2010 worked well in winter conditions for at least 30-35K, which is decent enough. This was my 4th winter with them, and their winter grip has mostly expired by now. Other than the first winter I owned the Fit--on the OEM Dunlops, horrid in all conditions, especially snow--we haven't had much snow in Omaha the last 4 winters. I've only been able to truly "enjoy" these tires and their capabilities maybe a couple dozen times. :-( Over 90% of the time from Nov.-March, I was driving on dry pavement.

I'm leaving the Arctics on for another month or two while I save the dough for some summer 205s on 17" rims. Then I'll get another set of Arctics and mount them on the OEM rims.