Lighter wheels and tires = great advantages.

[VillageIdiot]

It was time for new tires and the idea of upgrading for performance that was practical for all around driving opposed to making a fashion statement is what I was looking for....I looked at what was locally available and couldn't find what I wanted, so I checked out Tire Rack..... Thinking back about the performance gains from reducing the amount of rotating mass on a Harley Shovel Head that I fitted with a belt drive primary drive and the difference between the performance between other motorcycles and even bicycles with aluminum wheels instead of steel, decided to get the lightest wheels I could find and likewise the lightest tires of stock size....The stock wheels on the GD model Fits weigh about 17.4 pounds and the Dunlop tires 18 pounds..... What I found to be the lightest wheel was Enkei Racing RPF1s in 15"X7" at 9.5 pounds each.... The tires I chose to have mounted on them were Continental Conti Pro Contacts that weigh 16 pounds and are classified as, all weather high performance touring tires with M-S rating and 400 tire wear rating..... What I have experienced is a number of improvements in performance that include, comfort, braking, handling, steering and improved fuel mileage.... I have to drive on loose sugar sand when the weather is dry and often had wheel spin problems that at times had the front lip of my car acting as a grader blade with the stock wheels and tires.... That is no longer a problem even on a very steep section I have to slowly go over in first gear very slowly..... The ride on all surfaces are so much smoother that it feels like the shocks have been upgraded.... The braking requires very little pressure and I haven't activated the anti lock feature on the brakes in the 9 months since the change...... I always noticed that the rear end tended to roll and feel very unstable when making quick changes in direction, like when avoiding deer that wander out of the trees and into the road, or the idiots coming into my lane head on while messing with their cell phones..... The change in tires and wheels made me completely forget about thinking I needed a rear anti sway bar.......The reduction in rotating mass improved acceleration, deceleration in gear,and I am wondering if I will ever wear out my brakes.... the steering is very light and directional changes even with the accelerator down in lower gears is very predictable...... Of all things I have or could have spent money on for my car, lighter wheels and tires have been the best bang for the buck ......:)

[fareastgq]

That's great to hear, I'm gonna need the lightest combo for the sport when my factory tires wear.. :) That's gonna be my excuse to the wife.

[VillageIdiot]

That's great to hear, I'm gonna need the lightest combo for the sport when my factory tires wear.. :) That's gonna be my excuse to the wife.
My wife even liked the difference in ride quality and reduced road noise.

[claymore]

Yep good advice.

[VillageIdiot]

If you consider the reduction of wear and tear on the suspension, brakes, steering and drive train components, you can't help but consider the change a win win situation.

[macbuddy]

.... What I found to be the lightest wheel was Enkei Racing RPF1s in 15"X7" at 9.5 pounds each.... The tires I chose to have mounted on them were Continental Conti Pro Contacts that weigh 16 pounds...

VillageIdiot,
I see how you found the weight of the Enkei RPF1s, but what did you do to find the lightest tires? You didn't systematically go through the specs of each tire brand at Tirerack.com now did you? If so, that takes perseverance!
BTW, Did you notice Tirerack's latest offering of the Continental Conti Pro Contacts in the size, 195/50R15. Imagine a 15" tire with a weight of only 14 lbs!
-macbuddy-

PS-...and I thought my 14" Kosei K1 TS wheels with 205/55R14 Kumho Ecsta V710s was light at 28.3 lbs!

[VillageIdiot]

The Village Idiot is known to go to extremes, but TireRack said no to mounting 195- 50- 15"s on 7" rims..... I'll have a local yokel do that for me when I need new tires. Eliminating unsprung weight and rotational mass is better than suspension, brake, clutch and engine upgrades combined.... You don't have to change anything else to compensate for doing it.

[solbrothers]

theres nothing wrong with 195's on 7" wide rims

[ekonetics]

This thread has inspired me so much that I had to find me some light weight wheels. I will post up once I finish my purchase.

[VillageIdiot]

This thread has inspired me so much that I had to find me some light weight wheels. I will post up once I finish my purchase.
Thank you ekonetics.... Your post has made my day.

[ekonetics]

Thank you ekonetics.... Your post has made my day.

I'm sure you will approve since I am buying wheels that are being kept in storage and will put it to use.

[VillageIdiot]

The last three items I have purchased were second hand and saved me $450.00 which is less than any combination of two of them would have set me back..... Yes I am cheap..... I hope you are as pleased with your results as I have been with mine..... It is a good thing that there are people getting tired of their GD3s and selling off their goodies to restore them to stock condition to sell or use as a trade in.

[ekonetics]

I sure do hope so, since my wallet is going to be very light for awhile. But I will have some beautiful wheels that are both function and form.

[ekonetics]

I sure do hope so, since my wallet is going to be very light for awhile. But I will have some beautiful wheels that are both function and form.

Payment was just sent for these:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3714911844_5650f62346.jpg

[manxman]

Nice!! They look very good, and very light. Please post a photo with them on your car.

[ekonetics]

Nice!! They look very good, and very light. Please post a photo with them on your car.

Will do. I saw that Texas Coyote posted in the forum and thought that if it was good enough for him, they should be good enough for me. :D

[VillageIdiot]

I can't believe that Jarhead really sold those beautiful wheels and great tires...... Before I was a village idiot I was a Marine also.

[ekonetics]

I can't believe that Jarhead really sold those beautiful wheels and great tires...... Before I was a village idiot I was a Marine also.

:p They will look beautiful now on my GE instead of collecting dust where no one can appreciate them.

[claymore]

All jarheads can't be smart they made me one too. But the wheels will look great and look nice and light.

[ekonetics]

Thanks claymore.

I was in the US Navy so I don't have much to say about jarheads.

[VillageIdiot]

I can't remember the size of the tires that are mounted on those wheels but I remember that they had an aspect ratio of 45 and were expensive.

[VillageIdiot]

The Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy........ The mens department.... Some of the best Marines I ever met were Navy Corpsmen.

[ekonetics]

The tires on the RE30s are 205-50-15 Falken RT615s. They are some great autocross tires from what I have heard.

[ekonetics]

The Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy........ The mens department.... Some of the best Marines I ever met were Navy Corpsmen.

I like how you had to add in "the mens department".

[VillageIdiot]

Please take no offense..... The average age of the Marines where I was when I was 18 was 19 and all of us wished we had been somewhere else most of the time..... Your car will look great with those wheels.

[ekonetics]

Please take no offense..... The average age of the Marines where I was when I was 18 was 19 and all of us wished we had been somewhere else most of the time..... Your car will look great with those wheels.

No offense was taken. I respect anyone who is willing to serve their country. I can't wait to have them here sometime next week.

[fareastgq]

those are really nice, I want to waste money right now on wheels. Must resist spending tax return on wheels...

[ekonetics]

those are really nice, I want to waste money right now on wheels. Must resist spending tax return on wheels...

I say do it. You can't take your money with you when your gone. :D

I got some pics of the rims before he shipped them out and they are beautiful. I'm excited for a Fit meet in a couple of weeks to show them off. Pics to come as well when I get the chance to throw them on.

[claymore]

Just figured out that I was in USMC bootcamp on Parris Island 41 years ago on Feb 19. Whew I'm am old guy.

[VillageIdiot]

Just figured out that I was in USMC bootcamp on Parris Island 41 years ago on Feb 19. Whew I'm am old guy.
I was with 9th Marines in the A Shau Valley on operation Dewey Canyon.... I think those 52 days made old men of all of us that survived it..... A guy in my company got the Medal of Honor on the day I turned 19.... I turned 18 in Boot Camp at San Diego in the medical rehab platoon..... Semper Fi.

[manxman]

'69 was an eventful year for a few of us. I would have traded places with you guys, and in fact tried to enlist in the Marines. But they didn't want Diabetics (picky bunch!). So, glutton for punishment that I am, I got married that year for the first time. You guys got the better deal;);)

[VillageIdiot]

'69 was an eventful year for a few of us. I would have traded places with you guys, and in fact tried to enlist in the Marines. But they didn't want Diabetics (picky bunch!). So, glutton for punishment that I am, I got married that year for the first time. You guys got the better deal;);)

The way I see it is that we all were getting screwed and where at least one of us was there was a better than 1 in 10 chance of being killed and 1 in 2 chance of getting a Purple Heart..... Have you ever gone 11 out of 15 days without eating?I can see where being married during the beginning the of sexual revolution would be frustrating though.... Don't think for a second that Boot Camp wasn't hell on Earth for a 17 year old.

[manxman]

The way I see it is that we all were getting screwed and where at least one of us was there was a better than 1 in 10 chance of being killed and 1 in 2 chance of getting a Purple Heart..... Have you ever gone 11 out of 15 days without eating?I can see where being married during the beginning the of sexual revolution would be frustrating though.... Don't think for a second that Boot Camp wasn't hell on Earth for a 17 year old.
It was a joke, son. Not making light of your situation. Going that many days without eating would have killed me- that's why no branch of the service would take me. However, I was strong enough to take the "hell" of boot camp, and was willing to take the risks of death and injury. Now that it is a matter of history, I am happy not to have had to kill anyone else to insure my own survival. In those days, Diabetes was treated as a fatal disease. With so many healthy guys my age being killed, I didn't feel that I had a lot to lose by helping out my country in the military. I was wrong of course- I had as much to lose as anybody. Should have skipped that marriage though.

And I apologize to the rest of our members for participating in such a huge thread-jack. Let's get back to wheels and tires.

[ekonetics]

Has this thread inspired anyone else to go light weight? I think it will be interesting to see how my car will look with 15" but I want the weight savings and lower cost on tires.

[VillageIdiot]

mcbuddy found and purchased some second hand RPF1s with tires and has been pleased with the results so far.

[macbuddy]

mcbuddy found and purchased some second hand RPF1s with tires and has been pleased with the results so far.

Dee,
I didn't respond to this thread because I figured that ekonetics already saw my post on how "I agree that lighter wheels and tires are an advantage."

215/45R15 Toyo T1Rs on Enkei 15X7 41 offset RPF1 Rims...does it fit? (http://www.hondafitforums.com/showthread.php?t=735)

Anyway, to answer Eric's question:

"I was not inspired to go light weight"...I was obsessed!" :)

-macbuddy-

[ekonetics]

I have the wheels on and the difference in tires over stock make driving much more fun. Hopefully its not raining this weekend so I can post up a picture, since all I have is from my cell phone.

[VillageIdiot]

I am crazy about my wheel/tire combo and what all it does for my car, but when 0341s pictures of those wheels when he first got them I was knocked out..... You are flying low and in first class with those pretty things...... You might want to get a few Pit Bull Terriers to keep sticky fingered people away from them.

[ekonetics]

I am crazy about my wheel/tire combo and what all it does for my car, but when 0341s pictures of those wheels when he first got them I was knocked out..... You are flying low and in first class with those pretty things...... You might want to get a few Pit Bull Terriers to keep sticky fingered people away from them.

I think they look amazing on my GE, but a slight drop would be nice. I've made a thread with a few pics below.

http://www.hondafitforum.com/showthread.php?p=5034#post5034

[macbuddy]

I think they look amazing on my GE, but a slight drop would be nice....
Hey Eric,
I have to say, those new wheels do make your SSM look really aggressive! Nice looking tread on those tires too!
So, have you noticed much difference going from 16" down to 15" wheels? That is, are you feeling a bit more "pull" when accelerating? With lighter wheels, I noticed that I am leaving a lot of other cars behind from stop lights, even more so than before. My Fit effortlessly "launches to speed limit," only to have the SUVs, pickups, or whatever, blow past me moments later!
-macbuddy-

BTW, I agree that a bit of drop would compliment those nice new shoes!

[ekonetics]

Hey Eric,
I have to say, those new wheels do make your SSM look really aggressive! Nice looking tread on those tires too!
So, have you noticed much difference going from 16" down to 15" wheels? That is, are you feeling a bit more "pull" when accelerating? With lighter wheels, I noticed that I am leaving a lot of other cars behind from stop lights, even more so than before. My Fit effortlessly "launches to speed limit," only to have the SUVs, pickups, or whatever, blow past me moments later!
-macbuddy-

BTW, I agree that a bit of drop would compliment those nice new shoes!

I notice a difference when entering freeway ramps where I'm able to pick up speed much faster, which makes it so much nicer to merge. The throttle controller set at SP3 also helps, but its a noticeable difference from the change of weight that was shaved.

[VillageIdiot]

macbuddy turned me on to a friend of his that had some Swift Mach Springs that I bought and put on my 2007 Fit..... About a week later I helped a lady on fitfreak install a set on her new GE.... Not a lot of drop but an improvement in ride and handling.