No, 15" for the Civic Hybrids. The REGULAR Civic has 16" wheels. That's the basis of Orient's comment (I'm betting). And I agree. Honda just backed off the 16" wheels, because you can get MUCH narrower TIRES on 15" wheels. Plus, the wheels themselves can be lighter in weight than 16" ones. It made it easier for Honda to get better EPA MPG with the thin-tired 15" wheels.

 

It's the width of the wheel that determines the required width of tire, not the diameter.

Overall the wheel and tire combination needs to be a set diameter, that is how the car is designed and geared. You can come up with any combination of wheel diameter and tire aspect ratio (sidewall thickness) that adds up to that number and be fine, as long as the width of the wheel/tire fits (different issue).

The more tire, the less weight. The tire is mostly air, right? So, the smaller diameter wheel/tire combo is lighter in the end.

 

Thanks, all, for the input.

Philip

 

Agreed. A smaller diameter rim allows for a narrower rim as well. Most 15" rims are also narrower than 16" or 17" rims.
Our tires are 195x15. Finding a 195x17 tire is difficult.
And even if you do find one, the tire-width itself will likely be much wider than our skinny tires.