Tire/Wheel size's question
 

All: I am sure it's on here, somewhere, but I can't figure out where.

I have a 89 Civic Wagovan. Stock tire's are 175-70R13's. I am going to need new tire's soon and so I am debating, but I wondered if anyone had any experience or thought's.

One choice, leave them alone.

Second choice, go to a taller tire, like a 185-70R13 or something.

Third choice, go to a 14" wheel and a taller tire.

The downside is cost, which is a major issue, the upside is fuel economy, vs. performance. It sounds like if I go to a larger diameter my mileage should go up, but, how much, is it worth it and so forth?

Any thought's, suggestion's, insight's, experience? I appreciate the help.

If you go to 14s, get HX rims, otherwise you're adding lots of weight and it won't help for mileage. The 14" steelies are very heavy, :(

Any idea what sort of mileage increase I might get?

Dan went from 15s that were big and heavy and wide to HX 14s (12 pounds) with LRR tires and I think he got 2.5 to 3 mpg out of it.

I think your best bet it to do exactly that, with the Insight LRR tires, though that's a little pricey (but the rims look pimpin').

Do you have any feeling of wheel weight's between the VX steel and something in Aluminum?

Revise that to the HX rim's, which is what you referenced, thaniks

The VX rims are 13s, aluminum alloys, 9 pounds, and what I have.

The HX rims are 14s, aluminum alloys, 12 pounds, and what Dan and Jared have.

Steel rims are between 16 and 20 I think, based on size and composition.

Anyway, the HX rims are better if you get Insight LRR tires because they end up being the same size as mine with stock tires but weigh slightly less and have much less rolling resistance, even though they're uglier.

A better alternative is to use a narrower tire of the same diameter. It would have less frontal area, less mass, and would have a smaller contact patch with less rolling resistance.

The diameter of 175-70R13 tires and 165-75R13 tires is about the same, 22.6" and 22.7", respectively.

The 165's should cost a bit less too.

I think the wagovan has larger disk brakes in the front then the normal civic, so vx rims might not fit, so going with hx rims could be a better choice, altho I could be wrong on this, it's still something to keep in mind when going to alloy wheels, as steel wheels are thiner metal, leaving more space around the brakes.

Not less mass. The I14" Insight tire weighs less than any 13" tire.