I need to buy a set of winter tires & steel rims for my 2006 Civic LX. I’ve listed the possible tire & rim sizes that are within 3% of the original stock tire diameters. Since they’re for winter, high-speed performance and appearance is not a major concern.

By lowering the rim size I noticed, both the cost goes down, and I believe the ride becomes smoother, since the sidewalls become larger. Correct me if I’m wrong. I’m new to buying tires.

The stock tires are 205/55/16, however I’m thinking of lowering the rim size to either a 15” or a 14” to lower costs, and the width down to a 195mm to help increase the traction by increasing the pressure on the ground.

With cost being my primary factor, I’m thinking of getting 195/75/14. My concerns are:

1. Will a 14” rim fit on a 2006 Civic? Will it clear the breaks? or will I have to settle with 15”?
2. Would the small 14” rims & large 75% sidewall aspect ratio have any negative effects?
3. Would the speedometer or any other parts of the car need to be recalibrated to counteract the 2.6% increase in tire diameter?
4. Perhaps I’m choosing the wrong tire entirely by looking at cost alone, what is the ideal winter tire/rim size for my car.

Thanks for any advice.


Tires..........Diameter..........Change..........P rice..........Rim..........Balancing..........TOTA L
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205/55/16..........631.9..........0.0%..........$111.99.. ........$49.99..........$16.00..........$804.47
195/55/16..........620.9..........1.7%............?...... ............$49.99..........$16.00..........?
195/60/16..........640.4.........-1.3%............?..................$49.99......... .$16.00..........?

205/60/15..........627.0..........0.8%..........$101.49.. .......$46.99..........$16.00..........$743.45
205/65/15..........647.5.........-2.5%..........$95.99..........$46.99..........$16. 00..........$718.59
195/60/15..........615.0..........2.7%..........$98.49... .......$46.99..........$16.00..........$729.89
195/65/15..........634.5.........-0.4%..........$91.49..........$46.99..........$16. 00..........$698.25

205/65/14..........622.1..........1.6%............?...... ...........$45.99..........$16.00..........?
205/70/14..........642.6.........-1.7%..........$84.49..........$45.99..........$16. 00..........$662.09
195/70/14..........628.6..........0.5%..........$80.99... .......$45.99..........$16.00..........$646.27
195/75/14.......648.1.......-2.6%..........$76.99........$45.99.........$16.00. ........$628.19
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- Price is for Goodyear Nordic winter tires and steel rims from Canadian Tire
- Total includes 4 tires, 4 rims, 4 balancing, & 13% tax.

Wasn't sure of the best place to post this question so I also posted here: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/2418133


Modified by smxcan at 2:02 AM 10/28/2008

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by smxcan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">By lowering the rim size I noticed, both the cost goes down, and I believe the ride becomes smoother, since the sidewalls become larger. Correct me if I’m wrong. I’m new to buying tires.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's correct. However, I do NOT recommend getting tires whose diameter is significantly larger than stock. Keep it within 1 percent if you can, and don't go more than 2 percent.

I would NOT get 195/75-14, because it's just too big for your car. If 14" rims work - I don't know the answer to that - then get 195/70-14. If not, I would go with 195/65-15 for 15" rims, or 205/55-16 for 16".

 

Thanks for the info. You were right. I just spoke to a couple advisors at Honda service centers, and they both said the same.

They also recommend either the 195/65/15 or the 205/55/16.
Also, the 195/65/15 would help cut through the snow a little better.

They couldn’t say for sure if the 14” would fit, but even if it did, it would be too close for comfort for winter conditions, since you need a little extra room for all the snow, ice, and salt that can fly off the roads.

As for the slightly different +/- sizes in tires, they said to stay as close as possible to the two stock sizes mentioned above, since the other sizes places extra stress on different parts of transmission, brakes, etc.


---&gt; Best size (cost and effectiveness wise) for Winter tires on the 06 Civic: 195/65/15