Everyone should read the article in the latest Car&Driver pg 34 documenting the effects of wider tires, changes in diameter, and weight on a vehicle. Although this was for a Golf, the Fit would be more pronounced due to less power. Test covered 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19" wheel/tires.
0-60 varied by 0.3 sec; the bigger/heavier the slower
0-100 varied by 1.1 seconds; bigger/heavier the slower
0-1/4 mile varied by 0.2 seconds; the bigger the slower.
weights of tire plus wheel varied from 40 lb to 54 lb.
mpg varied by 21.1 to 23.3 mpg; again the bigger/heavier the less mpg.
You may also note that the wider the tire is not necessarily the best cornering.
Proving once again: competence easily beats cool.
Our most recent test shows the fastest Fit mounted 185/60x14 Direzzi Star tires on 14x6 Kosei K1TS wheels; total weight 27.3 lb per. Good combination.

 

Is it possible to scan this test? I like to have it, but this magazine is not available in europe.

I plan to install CE28N 15x6 (8.5 lbs each) with 185x55 Michelin Energy Saver (should be around 18 lbs each).

The best should be 16x6 because of the kinetic energy I think.

 

Any notes on bigger rims but lighter than stock? I'd be curious to see if theres any advantages to say moving up to the 16" rims that are lighter than the GE's stock 15"

 

I suggest you use the internet to connect with Car&Driver's May issue on line to read the article. It begins on page 34. Not sure about scanning a copyrighted article and posting on line.

 

Thx. Found it here:
Effects of Upsized Wheels and Tires Tested - Tech Dept. - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver

 

On a GD, 15s are pretty much the best compromise between unsprung weight, cost, performance and looks IMO.

From my experience, I agree that 16s are generally too heavy and/or have too much rolling resistance. They're more susceptible to bending, too. They do make the car look good without dropping the ride height, however.

At 14" there aren't a lot of wheel choices, at least where I'm from...let alone performance tire choices. Best bet is usually touring tires (e.g. Bridgestone Turanza GR-90).

 

At TireRack the Kosei K1TS or whatever were listed as 9.3 pounds for 14x6 wheels and 18 pound Dunlop Direzza Stars in 185/60x14 at $96. I would think Kosei are available in the Phillipines. My Asian friends say they have better and lighter choices.
Thats pretty low in weight and very high in performance.At 22.74" in diameter thats a three-quarter-inch less than 195/55x15's and an inch and a quarter less than 185/55x16's all geared to better performance.
Performance is one thing; cosmetics are entirely different. Course, if you autocross you probably have a set of wheels/tires reserved just for competition.

 

In my case, RPF1's and Star Specs came in 14" size, so that was all I needed to know. The only wheel/tire that truly matters in motorsports and all-around daily fun. If there is a better combo for function over form, I haven't seen it.

 

Good catch, mahout, and thanks for the link, mcgutt. I'm still about 25,000 miles away from making a decision, but this article will influence it.

Assuming that the C&D tests are valid for the Fit, going from 185/55-16 to 205/50-16 still looks like a reasonable change for a GE Sport. Others have reported here that this size essentially removes any speedometer error, but note also that an optimistic speedometer/odometer increases both indicated speed and gas mileage, so, like getting the mileage meter corrected, the resulting gas mileage, while less, will be more accurate.

 

Does anyone know a source for wheel weights (not rims)?

 

I've had thoughts about switching to skinnier tires for more MPG's and to slice through the snow easier too.

 

Wheel, rim . . . they're the same thing.

Try WHEELWEIGHTS.NET

 

The skinnier the better for (most) winter driving. Makes all the difference in the world on a lighter car like the Fit - but I miss the stability of a wider contact patch when the weather is nice. I run 175 width winter tires, then have Eagle GT's in the stock 195/55-15 size for the rest of the year. I want to upsize to 205/45-16's at some point, I'm still looking at Sprintwheels SW9's, but it won't happen until I need new summer tires (another 25-30k miles, I suspect).

 

Its pretty hard to find a narrower tire for 14" wheels that have a diameter reasonably close to 165/65x14 tires. And wheels are also called rims. Wheel weights come in clip on and stick on varieties and used to balance wheel/tire combinations are available from many auto supply stores and many tire mounting stations will sell you a few.
PS for snow you need a tire wuith fairly open areas in the tread.

 

Wheels could be available but decent performance rubber in 14" is tough. Pretty much the only choice I know at that size is ADVAN Neova AD07s...and it's uncommon at 14" (although rather cheap)

As I mentioned most tires sold here in 14" are either economy or touring tires.

In the US though you shouldn't have that problem. Good luck