I am planning to upgrade my tires on my 1.7 EL 185/65/15. For the winter I am set on getting Michelin Arctic Alpin. However, for the summer I would like to get something better. I have found that I can spin the Firestone OEM tires very easily in wet. Who knows how much worse it'll get when they start wearing more. My two options: 1) 16" rims with Kumho Ecsta 712 205/55/16 2) OEM rims with Yokohama AVS dB 205/60/15 The reason I am contemplating option 2 is that getting a set of rims is quite expensive and I really like the look of our stock 1.7 EL rims. In fact, if I were to buy a set of 16" rims I'd be looking for something similar looking to the stock rims like Motegi MR15. My goals are to gain some better dry/wet traction (wider footprint, better tire) and maintain good ride comfort and noise, but I don't need absolute track performance traction. That is why I am not opting for 17" low profile. Also buying a set of rims is pretty expensive. If I get 16" rims then I can use my stock as winter. If I stay 15" then I'll get steel wheels for winter. Can I fit 205 width tires on the OEM stock rims? Any suggestions on my tire/wheel decision?

This is just my opionion... don't attempt to start any flame here. I can't really tell the difference between 15" and 16". Looks very similar from far. 17" is great looking but heavy. Tires are a bit more expensive. If I were you, I still stick with 15" but a damn light one. Racing Hart, Volks, Spoon or Spoon replica...anything less than 15lbs each wheel is great. Spoon 15" is 7.5lbs, Volks are like 8 lbs. Not only the look is great, but you definitely feel the car faster. Less rotational mass, less engine work. I was quoted $1450 cash price for a set of 15" Racing Hart CP-10. They are 12 lbs each. Not bad at all. Tires. Kumho are not bad but I heard it wears fast. If summer tires are what you're looking for, find something with stiffer sidewall and lower profile for better handling. Wider doesn't mean better. Bridgstone are great tires, I have Toyo Proxies T1-S. They are great in both dry/wet, but they are a bit more expensive than other summer tires. Yoko are great as well, but AVS are all season tires. Once you have summer tires, you will never go back to all season tires. If you are a conservative driver, then 4 season is fine as well. Don't get big rims, get light rims and work on your suspension. Doesn't have to be very low. 1" makes a day/night difference already. Regards

Yeah, I considered that route but I don't race or go to the track. I just wanted to get a bit more grip out of my tires. Unfortunately I have a 1.7 EL with the higher profile tires, stock 185/65/15, comapred to the 1.6 EL with 195/55/15. I can't even get any good summer tires based on my stock size: 195/60/15 or 205/60/15. I think most good summer tires come in 55 aspect ratio and lower. So that is why I was considering 16" so I can do 205/55/16.

Can't you try 205/60/15 or 215/60/15 on the stock rims? I'm sure the added width will compensate for the loss in height, maybe the ride will also improve. vicman

205 should fit, and 205/60R15 is a very common size, so you'll have lots of options. 205/60R15 tires usually requires a rim width from 5.5" to 7.5". Since our rims are 6" wide (according to Acura.CA), it should fit. You can double-check with the dealer to ensure proper fitment.

How much is the Yoko AVS dB? and where can you buy them?

In GTA, Tire Depot can order any brand for you. You can also get them from U.S. retailer like Tirerack.com, although shipping will probably be expensive. There is also Wheel & Tire Zone which is a Yokohama distributer I think. I'm sure there are a variety of shops around that will sell Yokohama as the are a fairly popular brand. I was quoted $180 for a Yoko AVS dB in 205/55/16, Tirerack.com had them for $107USD. I don't know for 205/60/15, but Tirerack.com had around $70USD for that size, so it should be around $120. Were you looking at the Yoko AVS dB also? What size?

I am now looking at the Yoko dB and Dunlop SP5000 in 205/60/15. Basically I'm doing the same thing as you: keeping the OE rims and go with better tires. Still haven't decided which one to go with, but I do have time to think about it...probably do it when spring comes.

Did you consider upgrading to bigger rims or did you just want to keep the OE rims? What are you doing for winter?

no...no 16" for me. i'll put the $$ to a set of Pro Kit and KYB AGX when they come out. i'll be putting artic alpin on 15" steel rims for the winter.

What do you guys plan to do with the Firestones? I don't want to see them go to waste but I think they are pretty crappy. But I'm worried since thier grip in wet conditions is already bad, what happens in the snow? Any suggestions? Anyone know how much they might sell for? I put about 7500km on those tires now.

I'm hoping to sell them to used tire stores. I'm sure such a thing exists since they sell used tires.

I think u can sell them at $30 each if you post a for sale here or 2k1civic. But that's already pushing it consider they are not good tires to begin with. You can get them brand new at tire rack for $60CAD each.