WB

So I am thinking of what size wheels to get for my Fit - 16" vs 17". Would larger wheels lend a harsher ride given the lower profile tires? Or does it not really matter, and it is more dependent on the suspension set up (ie. with stiffer lowering springs it's all harsh anyways?).

Thanks

007FIT

i had 17x7 on my fit looks nice but doesnt ride as great as when i put 15's on it tho

WB

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 007FIT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i had 17x7 on my fit looks nice but doesnt ride as great as when i put 15's on it tho </TD></TR></TABLE>

How do you mean "not as great" - noisier? bumpier? less comfortable? less control?

fitfreak3

I wouldn't go bigger than 16 inch if I were you.

WB

Why not? Are you just jealous it may look too good? j/k -really I am a noobie and need the explanation.

fitfreak3

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why not? Are you just jealous it may look too good? j/k -really I am a noobie and need the explanation.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes I am jealous, You should do 20's then I'd be really jealous

Fitfokker

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why not? Are you just jealous it may look too good? j/k -really I am a noobie and need the explanation.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Looking good is subjective. You can do whatever you want to your car and some people will like it while others will laugh. The lower profile tire you put on the more likely it will be more expensive, not last as long, be more susceptible to damage from road hazards, and more likely to damage your wheel as well.

civicr97

What is your real overall goal? What do you want to use the car for? Autocross, Show car etc.. I have HFP 16's (came on the car) and the ride is good, could be better but they work. If you want to lower the car at all i wouldn't get 17's in my mind. Hope this
helps.

rcantu

if you want big wheels 17 is max and get some forged ones like volks. i had gramlights and you could feel how slow the car was. also mpg was bad.

stumpyd2002

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rcantu &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you want big wheels 17 is max and get some forged ones like volks. i had gramlights and you could feel how slow the car was. also mpg was bad.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I agree. I have a set of 17" Akuzas and I can DEFINATELY feel the lag, mpg dropped about 8mpg after putting them on. I have skunk2 lowering springs on it, skunk2cat-back, fujita c.a.i., dc sports header, t1r pulley, and so I tend to drive it like a vette so that doesnt help either. But the car looks GREAT! with the wheels on. Your call.

WB

Why the lag? Are bigger wheels heavier? For some reason I thought bigger wheels were lighter and having less rubber even lighter on top of that.

Gee, who would have thunk my 14" steel wheels was high performance, hahaha.

fitfreak3

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why the lag? Are bigger wheels heavier? For some reason I thought bigger wheels were lighter and having less rubber even lighter on top of that.

Gee, who would have thunk my 14" steel wheels was high performance, hahaha.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Bigger wheels are often heavier due to more materials being used to construct the rim. The only case that would be different would be a forged lightweight wheel. But if you have forged 15's and forged 17's then of course the 15 wheels would be lighter. You should try to due some research on the subject, you will find tons of info on the internet. Besides that it should be common sense. Do you happen to have any of that?

WB

If I had so much car knowledge would I be asking these questions? If I had the time to peruse articles on the web, would I need forums?

My question referenced my thought process whereby a larger wheel has more metal on the rim, but subsequently less tire material - how was I to assume that an alloy wheel was going to be denser than the steel/rubber in the tire?

Who was I to assume that a 16" alloy wheel was going to be heavier or than a 14" steel wheel? There is more than one variable at play here.

Don't insult my question - it is helping me learn, and hopefully others are getting something out of it too. I'm sure that's more than we can say about other topics on here debating what is the best colour of the honda fit, or people bragging about how many freebie upgrades they got when buying their car.

The-Kid

As you know bigger wheels mean harsher ride, but good cornering. Well all alloy wheels aren't light. Some 16" wheels can weight 12lbs. Same size wheels can weight 25 lbs.
I don't know the weight of the Fit's wheel, but it looks pretty light. Since the profile of the Fit's tires are pretty small already, going big might just add more weight.

In all a little weight won't hurt the car's performance MAJORLY! Maybe a few miliseconds. But you're not going to race.

I would keep the 15" because they are easier and cheaper to replace. if you hit a curb, you might have a lesser chance of not grinding your rim's edge off.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels...d=108 read that. It should answer all your q's

WB

Cool, man....I have the base Fit (called the LX in Canada), which comes with 14" steel wheels/wheel covers, rather than the 15" alloy rims...