I'm planning to buy winter tires and rims without tpms. So I was wondering how loud or annoying TPMS light is going to be and if there is any workaround yet? Thanks.

P.S. Also, probably it was answered before, but what's the weight of Honda Fit 09 Base 15'' steel rim? Planning to go alloy but don't want to go heavier than stock steel rim. Thanks.

 

I just installed some 14" steel wheels and General Altimax snow tires without the TMPS on my 13 Fit a few days ago. The TMPS light will come on but on mine it took 18 miles to trigger the light. I drove up the canyon today to Alta and encountered about 8" of snow, I had no problem getting up there and in fact passed 5 suv's. I am coming from driving Subaru's the past 8 years, so I knew I would be giving up some winter capabilities. But I do not miss the constant maintenance of my old winter wagons. My Fit will do fine this winter getting up to slopes.
I do not know the weight difference, but the gas mileage is about 1 mpg lower running the 185 70 14 tires, which is more than acceptable to me. The steering feel is reduced and the dry weather cornering is a little less with the snow tires, but I am willing to deal with this to not get stuck in three inches of snow on the factory tires.

 

I run 185/65/15 on Integra mesh Alloys I picked up off of Craigslist. They are about 2lbs lighter than the stock Sport Alloys with the General Altimax Arctic snow tires. The light is not "defeat-able" but you can just put a piece of tape to cover it up. It's not that big of a deal with it on for me so I don't bother with covering it up. One thing you will need to be concerned with is that with no TPMS sensors, you won't be able to turn off the VSA system which means if you do get stuck, you won't be able to spin your tires to try and get out. When there is a TPMS system Failure (no sensors), the FITs with VSA disable the ability to turn off the VSA altogether. (It's in the manual somewhere - probably under TPMS or the VSA system)

~SB

 

Thanks. Luckily I don't have VSA, 2009 Base model. I'll probably do tape. However, can you please tell me if there is constant chiming sound or just at the beginning couple of times at start/initialization? I'm more concerned with annoying sound.

 

Nope, no sound whatsoever. Just the light. After awhile it becomes the "normal" IP display, I don't really notice it, so have never bothered with tape.

 

Wow - that's great. rarely modern cars have that privilege. So basically there's just light - which can be dealt with. Thank you.

 

You are correct (and I'm the same way with the display. I never tape it off). For some reason I had it in my head that you had a 2013 base... not sure why given your username. It was morning... yeah, that's it... morning.

Also, I went to 185/65/15 which make the car ride about 1/4" higher and only throw the speedo off by 1-2mph. Tires in that size were much cheaper than the alternatives at the time (3 yrs ago). Things may be different now.

~SB

 

I use 14" General Arctic Altimax as well. I have them on some old Mugen wheels. For the sake of getting out of a jam in case I get stuck in snow, I keep the TPMS sensors on the snow tires, and have the TPMS light on with my summer tires instead. Snow tires on the Fit are amazing. No joke, it's like a tank. I couldn't get stuck if I wanted to, at least that's how it feels.