Tyre Choice I choose 16" instead of 17"

[Honcho]

Originally Posted by nico651

TTDegs,

I think the right answer is a. They don't have time to be bothered.
I asked Honda Belgium the same question last week by email and untill now i've never received any reply nor confirmation that they will examine it.

Maybe it's better to leave the original 17" wheels on the car. I never thought of the homologation form. The dealer is willing to mount the 16" wheels but if the homologation form isn't adapted it could result in troubles in case of an accident or whatever...

Since this is my very first post here i never thought to receive that many opinions. Clearly, nobody can confirm a 100% if it's ok to do so or not.

I'll await the reply from Honda and if they give me the green light to change the tyres i will
do so but only then...
Thanks to anyone to reply on my case....

Good luck with whatever choice you make.

But do let us know what Honda replies...if they ever do!

[vlmxs]

I have 16" alloy wheels with M+S tyres, dealer-fitted , no problems

[pas72]

What about changing tyre dimensions from 225 45 17 91Y to 205 50 17 93W on our original wheels? I've just checked ETRTO table and 205 50 17 is marked as equivalent to 205 55 16 91V, homologuated on our civics? There should be no problem to fit such a dimension with an improvement on comfort and mpg?
I think i will change my primacys to hankook ventus V12 K110 in 205 50 17 93Y, but i've got miles to do before..

[l-noel]

I will add some more confusion to the problem :

If the question is a problem of Honda agreement to go from 17" to 16" on our cars becaus of safety problem, why do they sell in France the Civic 2.2 i-CTDI "Confort" with 16" wheels as standard : it is exactly the same car but without the cruise control...

So if the 5D Civic, same motor is homologated in France with 16" wheels it is homologated for the rest of Europe (including UK) !

[GHGH]

Originally Posted by pas72

What about changing tyre dimensions from 225 45 17 91Y to 205 50 17 93W on our original wheels?

I've been thinking of doing this, mostly because of slightly less tracking with narrower tyres (we have lots of roads worn by studded winter tyres..), and 225/45-17 and 205/50-17 has almost equal diameter.

As far as I know, 205/50 will:
- reduce rolling resistance - about 0.2 l/100 km I think (not much really!)
- improve directional stability - less tracking
- be more expensive. At least in Norway these are several tens of euros more expensive than the "standard sized" 225/45, and we got less models to choose from.
- should be more comfortable, but I'm not quite sure of that either. Standard Honda 7x17 alloys are quite narrow for a 225/45 tyre, which causes the tyre side wall to curve/flex more than with a wider 17" rim. Hence some "comfort" is build in 225/45's by Honda. If you put on a 205/50 tyre, the rim width will cause the side wall to curve/flex less, and thus steal some of the higher comfort expected from the 205/50.

So - if I do it, it will be to reduce tracking, and nothing else.

Also see car and tyre bible:

Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 2 of 2

[pas72]

Originally Posted by GHGH

I've been thinking of doing this, mostly because of slightly less tracking with narrower tyres (we have lots of roads worn by studded winter tyres..), and 225/45-17 and 205/50-17 has almost equal diameter.

As far as I know, 205/50 will:
- reduce rolling resistance - about 0.2 l/100 km I think (not much really!)
- improve directional stability - less tracking
- be more expensive. At least in Norway these are several tens of euros more expensive than the "standard sized" 225/45, and we got less models to choose from.
- should be more comfortable, but I'm not quite sure of that either. Standard Honda 7x17 alloys are quite narrow for a 225/45 tyre, which causes the tyre side wall to curve/flex more than with a wider 17" rim. Hence some "comfort" is build in 225/45's by Honda. If you put on a 205/50 tyre, the rim width will cause the side wall to curve/flex less, and thus steal some of the higher comfort expected from the 205/50.

So - if I do it, it will be to reduce tracking, and nothing else.

Also see car and tyre bible:

Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible Page 2 of 2

Thanks for those elements. I'm looking for comfort and to me, noise is a major part of it. a narrower tyre will produce less noise!

for rolling resistance, you're right, honda gives an average 5.3l/100km for sport version with 225/45/17 and 5.1 on comfort version with 205/55/16.

for typre prices, I retained two comfort/performance tyres on each dimension. Here in france:
goodyear excellence 225/45/17 110€
hankook ventus V12 EVO K110 225/45/17 99€

hankook ventus V12 EVO K110 205/50/17Y 97€
goodyear excellence 205/50/17W 135€

So you're right in famous brands 205/50/15 tyres are more expensive, but you've got cheaper alternative choices!

[GHGH]

205/50-17 was originally used by Porche - maybe a reason for the exclusive prices?

[civicfan]

Originally Posted by pas72

Thanks for those elements. I'm looking for comfort and to me, noise is a major part of it. a narrower tyre will produce less noise!

for rolling resistance, you're right, honda gives an average 5.3l/100km for sport version with 225/45/17 and 5.1 on comfort version with 205/55/16.

for typre prices, I retained two comfort/performance tyres on each dimension. Here in france:
goodyear excellence 225/45/17 110€
hankook ventus V12 EVO K110 225/45/17 99€

hankook ventus V12 EVO K110 205/50/17Y 97€
goodyear excellence 205/50/17W 135€

So you're right in famous brands 205/50/15 tyres are more expensive, but you've got cheaper alternative choices!

I can only suggest to stay away from stuff like the Hankook, unless there was a "technology revolution" in the company - about 3 years ago I had an acquaintance with these on my mother's company car, Jesus was I lucky to have no accident, I got them changed the next day. Agreed you can save on motoring, but not on vital items such as tyres, brake pads, parts of the steering/suspension. Maybe Hankook meantime got better, but it is "in my memory forever"

[nico651]

Ok, I finally got my new Civic 1.8 Sport with the 16" tyres. I'm glad i did because the ride is still rather bumpy sometimes. I checked the manual and it says you can apply the 16" wheels on the 1.8 so i guess it's ok.

BTW: Honda Belgium never replied my querry so I'll not bother them any longer..

Thanks anyway for all your replies...

[Honcho]

Originally Posted by nico651

Ok, I finally got my new Civic 1.8 Sport with the 16" tyres. I'm glad i did because the ride is still rather bumpy sometimes. I checked the manual and it says you can apply the 16" wheels on the 1.8 so i guess it's ok.

BTW: Honda Belgium never replied my querry so I'll not bother them any longer..

Thanks anyway for all your replies...

Good heavens. Honda didn't reply to you about wheel sizes? What an extraordinary thing.

[pas72]

Originally Posted by civicfan

I can only suggest to stay away from stuff like the Hankook, unless there was a "technology revolution" in the company - about 3 years ago I had an acquaintance with these on my mother's company car, Jesus was I lucky to have no accident, I got them changed the next day. Agreed you can save on motoring, but not on vital items such as tyres, brake pads, parts of the steering/suspension. Maybe Hankook meantime got better, but it is "in my memory forever"

AutoZeitung (DE) 2008 - 225/45 R17
1) Pirelli PZero ***
2) Continental Sport Contact 3 ***
3) Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT ***
4) Hankook Ventus V12 Evo **
5) Bridgestone Potenza RE050A **
6) Michelin Pilot Sport 2 **
7) Uniroyal Rainsport 2 **
Nokian ZG2 **
9) Goodyear Eagle F1 Asym. **
10) Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta **
11) BF Goodrich G-Force Profiler **
12) Firestone Firehawk SZ90 **
13) Fulda Exelero *
14) Kumho Ecsta KU31 SPT *
15) Barum Bravuris *
16) Toyo Proxes T1-R *

[civicfan]

Originally Posted by pas72

AutoZeitung (DE) 2008 - 225/45 R17
1) Pirelli PZero ***
2) Continental Sport Contact 3 ***
3) Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT ***
4) Hankook Ventus V12 Evo **
5) Bridgestone Potenza RE050A **
6) Michelin Pilot Sport 2 **
7) Uniroyal Rainsport 2 **
Nokian ZG2 **
9) Goodyear Eagle F1 Asym. **
10) Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta **
11) BF Goodrich G-Force Profiler **
12) Firestone Firehawk SZ90 **
13) Fulda Exelero *
14) Kumho Ecsta KU31 SPT *
15) Barum Bravuris *
16) Toyo Proxes T1-R *

Oh - I would not expect that
But from this list, I'd stick to the Michelin, saved my a*s quite a few times