The Honda Civic is one of the most popular compact cars on the market. Many Civic owners wonder if they can use a smaller tire size than the factory size to save money or for certain performance benefits. Here is a comprehensive guide on using smaller tire sizes in a Honda Civic.
Factory Tire Sizes for Different Honda Civic Models
The factory tire size for Honda Civics varies slightly depending on the model year and trim level. Here are the standard OEM tire sizes for recent model years:
2006-2011 Honda Civic
- DX and LX trims: 195/65R15
- EX, Si, Hybrid trims: 205/55R16
2012-2015 Honda Civic
- LX trim: 185/65R15
- EX, EX-L, and Hybrid trims: 215/45R17
- Si trim: 215/40R18
2016-2022 Honda Civic
- LX trim: 185/65R15
- EX, EX-L, Touring trims: 215/50R17
- Si and Type R trims: 245/30ZR20
Using a Smaller Tires in Honda Civic?
There are a few important factors to consider when installing a smaller tire size on your Honda Civic:
1. Speedometer Accuracy
Using a smaller tire will cause your speedometer to read higher than your actual speed. This is because the speedometer is calibrated for the original OEM tire size. With a smaller tire, more revolutions are required to travel the same distance, fooling the speedometer.
2. Ride Comfort and Noise
Smaller tires tend to have stiffer sidewalls and reduced air volume. This can lead to a harsher ride and more road noise entering the cabin. Larger tires generally absorb bumps better and run quieter.
3. Handling and Braking
The shorter sidewalls and smaller contact patch of smaller tires can reduce grip and compromise handling when cornering. Braking distances may also increase. Larger tires provide more traction and grip.
4. Wheel Wheel Fitment
Installing a significantly smaller tire may cause clearance issues with the wheel wells. Check for proper fitment and rubbing at full lock when turning.
5. Legality
In most states, it is illegal to install a tire that is more than 2% smaller than the OEM size. Check your local laws before installing undersized tires.
6. Fuel Economy
Contrary to popular belief, smaller tires usually do not improve fuel economy. The differences are typically negligible. Larger wheels with lower profile tires tend to be more aerodynamic.
7. Cost Savings
The main incentive for installing smaller tires is to save money on the initial purchase. However, smaller tires wear out faster and need to be replaced more often.
What are Recommended Smaller Tire Sizes for Honda Civics?
Here are some smaller tire sizes that generally work well with minimal issues on Honda Civics:
- For 15″ wheels, consider 185/60R15 or 185/65R15 all-season tires
- For 16″ wheels, consider 195/55R16 or 195/60R16 all-season tires
- For 17″ wheels, consider 205/50R17 or 205/55R17 all-season tires
- For 18″ wheels, consider 215/45R18 all-season tires
Going more than one full series below the OEM size is not recommended. For example, replacing 215/45R17 tires with 195/60R15 tires would be too large of a change on a Civic.
Will Smaller Tires Improve Fuel Economy in a Civic?
There is a common misconception that smaller tires will improve gas mileage. However, extensive testing has shown that any differences are generally very small, usually less than 1 MPG either way.
This is because several factors affect fuel economy beyond just tire size, including:
- Rolling resistance – This is more dependent on the tire construction and compounds.
- Rotational inertia – Smaller tires are lighter but have higher rpm at speed.
- Aerodynamics – Lower profile tires are often more aerodynamic.
- Gearing – Shorter tires effectively lower gearing, putting the engine higher in the power band.
Overall, the fuel economy differences are negligible when properly matched to the vehicle. Most tire experts recommend focusing on other performance, handling, and cost factors when choosing tire size.
Will Using Smaller Tires Void the Warranty?
Installing aftermarket tires that are different from the OEM size will not automatically void the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. However, any tire-related problems may not be covered if the non-standard tires are determined to be the cause.
According to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the dealer must prove that the non-OEM tires caused the issue to deny warranty coverage. Problems like uneven tire wear due to non-stock sizes would not be warranted. But they cannot void the whole powertrain warranty just for using smaller tires.
It is recommended to stay within 2% of the OEM diameter to avoid any warranty conflicts. Make sure to document the tire size and speedometer adjustment if you install non-factory sizes.
Will Using Smaller Tires Hurt Performance?
Installing a smaller tire than stock will negatively impact performance in most cases. Here are some of the performance downsides:
- Reduced traction and grip – smaller contact patch
- Longer braking distances
- Poor wet and snow performance
- Lower cornering limits and lateral grip
- Harsher ride quality
- More road noise
High performance vehicles like the Civic Si and Type R are optimized for the factory tire sizes. Deviating significantly from OEM spec will compromise performance.
If your main goal is better fuel economy, focus on getting high efficiency tires in the stock size. Performance should not be sacrificed too much to gain minimal MPG improvements from a smaller tire.
Do I Need to Adjust the Speedometer with Smaller Tires?
If installing a smaller tire that is more than 2% different in overall diameter compared to the OEM size, you will need to adjust the speedometer for accuracy.
Most speedometers have between a 5-10% tolerance before it becomes an issue. Going down one series tire size generally does not need speedometer adjustment.
But go down two series or more and it becomes critical. An unadjusted speedometer can lead to speeding tickets or unsafe driving.
Many local tire shops can adjust the speedometer correctly when installing the new tires. This may require reprogramming the engine computer.
Expert Tips for Running Smaller Tires on a Civic
Here are some expert tips for choosing, installing, and driving on smaller aftermarket tires for your Honda Civic:
- Stick to reputable major tire brands to ensure good quality and performance
- Rotate tires frequently and check pressures often for maximum tire life
- Have a professional alignment done to account for the new sizes
- Drive moderately and avoid potholes/curbs to prevent wheel and tire damage
- Clean wheels regularly to check for rubbing and proper clearance
- Use a high quality wheel and tire cleaner to prevent corrosion
- Adjust speedometer and consider a gearing tweak to match the smaller diameter
- Don’t go overboard with extremely undersized tires which can be dangerous
5 Common Questions about Smaller Tires for Honda Civics
1. How much smaller can I go from the factory tire size?
It is recommended to stay within 2% of the OEM diameter. Going down one series is generally safe, such as from 205/55R16 to 195/60R15. More than that is not advised.
2. Should I install a higher performance summer tire in a smaller size?
This is generally not recommended, as high performance summer tires work best in the OEM size. Smaller sizes will compromise handling and braking abilities.
3. My Civic has 17″ wheels – can I fit 15″ wheels and tires?
This may be possible but is not recommended. You would need to install hubcentric rings to adapt the smaller wheels to the hubs. Going down two full inches requires extensive modifications.
4. What tire pressures should I run with smaller tires?
Inflate the smaller tires to the upper end of the recommended pressure range, usually around 35 psi. This helps compensate for the shorter sidewalls and maintain proper load capacity.
5. Will smaller tires make my Civic louder inside?
Most likely yes – smaller tires generate more noise due to the shorter sidewalls and smaller contact patch. Use sound damping materials or consider better overall tires.
Conclusion
Installing slightly smaller tires on a Honda Civic can be done successfully if proper precautions are taken. Generally, it is recommended to stay within one series of the original size and inflation pressures should be increased. This will minimize impacts on speedometer accuracy, handling, ride comfort, and drivetrain strain. However, the fuel economy benefits will be negligible in most cases. For improved MPG, focus instead on getting quality high efficiency tires in the stock size. Overall, properly fitted smaller tires can be a viable option but the benefits are marginal compared to OEM spec tires.