We have a 2009 Fit Sport w/ Navi and are presently running the winter package from Tire Rack with 14-inch wheels and 185/70-14 tires. As you know, the stock wheels are 16-inch with 185/55-16 tires.

We actually like the 185/70-14 tire size much better than the stock size. The car rides much smoother and I believe it provides much better protection against damage from pot holes. The roads here are terrible for pot holes.

In fact we like this 14-inch size so much better that we are thinking about ditching our 16-inch wheels completely and buying another set of 14-inch wheels with 185/70 all-season tires for the warmer months. Are there any huge disadvantages to doing this? I know that we will likely lose some of the car's nimble handling characteristics, but we don't have much concern about that. The vehicle is for commuting and not street racing.

2 more data points:

1) We don't really care so much about the way it looks. In fact the steel wheels from Tire Rack seem to fit the car so well that we'll probably just buy another set of those.

2) Our winter wheels do not have TPMS sensors (cannot disable VSA) but I will probably splurge and buy TPMS sensors for the 14-inch summer wheels since they will be on the car more.

Any comments on this?

 

I'd say make sure the tpms will fit and at least get yourself some hubcaps.

 

My 2010 to 15" spring/summer/fall rims and like it much more than the 16" rims which are a much harsher ride. I have my snow tires on the 16" factory wheels, but when they wear out, I likely will get another set of 15" rims for the next set of snow tires...