Ecomodding an automatic '04 Civic Sedan

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Do you know where I can find how much the hybrid rims weigh versus the stock EX alloy rims? I can't seem to find the information anywhere. If it's only a pound or two it wouldn't be worth the trouble.

Thanks for the tip! I'll have to do some GPS calibration then to see what my actual mileage is.

Oh, on another note, had a longer 6.5 mile commute to my new job yesterday. Driving there isn't as fuel efficient as my current job but driving back I managed 67.3 MPG. Not sure anymore if that's accurate or not, but deducting 16% for the bad sensor that would've been 56.5 MPG with the bad sensor, and that sensor's replaced now so it was at least 60 MPG.

New job is pizza delivery lol. Driving 50-55 MPH I get 45-50 MPG; on interstate speeds of 60-65 MPH, 40-45 MPG. Don't even ask me to go 70+ MPH lol. I won't be able to go slower than that when delivering, so I'll have to squeeze the most out of the car at other times.

Might need to replace the tail extension already. Despite being waterproofed with duct tape just like my other mods the weather and wind on it seem to be taking their toll and it seems to be sagging a bit.

[California98Civic]

On my garage page I recorded 11# for the Gen 1 insight rims and 14# for the 03-05 Civic hybrid. And this Miata site has lots of great info, including Honda. It lists an EX rim weight of 18#. https://www.miata.net/faq/wheel_weights.html

AND CONGRATS on the sensor replace and the better number. That alway makes the game more fun and tasks easier done.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Thank you for that!

I've been super busy juggling things with my additional job as I transition my hours from my old job to my new one (60 hours this week after my final clock-out) so I haven't had much time.

Delivering pizzas effect on MPG is hugely noticeable. Tank was over 50 MPG before delivering. I've been averaging 50-60 MPG on my own personal drives with a few trips over 60 MPG. However when delivering pizzas I have to go the speed limit and can't drive as "eco-friendly," so my hypermiling is limited to DWL, coasting to stops, and timing lights. I also have to have an aerodynamically terrible sign atop my car that makes my drag worse than stock, even with my ecomods on (they didn't make me take off any ecomods for my car to be used for delivery). I've been averaging 38-46 MPG on deliveries, which isn't bad with all factors considered, and I know I can easily beat 55 MPG on other trips if wind and weather aren't against me, but it's still grating that my tank average won't go up since 90% of my miles are deliveries

[19bonestock88]

Don’t feel too bad about work related driving messing with your tank average, it sometimes can’t be helped... when I drove for Uber, I averaged 20mpg usually, sometimes as high as 22, but that was entirely due to the nature of the work, and the ridiculous grades I had to drive on... there was an intersection that required taking off on perhaps a 15% grade, and 3/5 times I would get copious amounts of wheelspin

[mpg_numbers_guy]

I told myself I wouldn't seriously look for new tires/wheels.

But I seriously can't help myself.

Found someone with a set of original HX rims priced for $200 USD but wants to swap for other oem civic alloys...mine have tires with <2000 miles on them while his are only okay so if we both could come to something I should be able to make $100+ on that if I were to do it, and if I just got a basic set of 185/75/14 tires off of Ebay it would be around $200 so it would cost me less than $100 hopefully. Plus, 185/75/14 tires are only 1.4mm shorter than my current 195/65/15s that come stock on the EX. DX/Hybrid are 185/70/14 so these would be the same width as those, but would actually be as tall as my current setup. Plus with the lightweight HX wheels.

IF I WERE TO DO THIS....and I want to, but the fact of this being a permanent mod, well, half scares me , what tires should I get? These Hankook Optimo H724 - P185/75r14 Tires are only $44.95 USD each, but are they a good brand or not? Are tires a case of you get what you pay for? There's also a couple whitewall options - Travelstar UN106 185/75/R14s are only $46.90 USD, and these Milestar MS775 Touring SLE P185/75R14 are only $46.46 USD each (would a whitewall tire look good with my current all black setup anyway?).

Not sure where to find tire weights and sidewall PSI max for them.

I don't want to spend $300+ on a set of new tires if I were to make this happen.

Also, if you see this California98Civic, you switched away from the HX rims to bigger, heavier Mini Cooper rims...is this just because you ran the stock, shorter HX tires on the rims?

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

... Also, if you see this California98Civic, you switched away from the HX rims to bigger, heavier Mini Cooper rims...is this just because you ran the stock, shorter HX tires on the rims?

I actually switched from VX rims, which are 13" and only 9.7#. The HX rims are 14" and 11.5#. Both are awesome, but I got the VX rims because I got a great deal on them and could not find HX rims. I switched to 15" 12.1# MINI wheels for gearing and aero. They are only about a half-pound heavier than AWESOME HX rims and with 175/70-R15 tires are WAY taller than 175/70-R13 tires or anything I could put on HX rims. I am also modding the wheels to create a "smooth"(er) aero surface by blanking the MINI rims' round holes from behind. If you have a great deal possibility with a set of HX rims and tires you can run at least for a while, take it.

I also lucked out that two of the four tires on them--in great shape--are Firestone LRR tires. I think the tire size and type were the reason nobody snapped up the deal. It was a screaming great deal for me but race dudes would be factoring the cost of replacing the tires into the overall price. I got the tires professionally balanced for I think $25. I love 'em.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

I would have to buy new tires if I were to do it. However I have been far too busy to do much. Still in touch with both people who are selling HX rims.

I would need to buy new tires since the HX tires are significantly smaller than mine. I would need 185/80/14s or 185/75/14s.

185/80/14s would give me 2.6% taller gearing. 185/75/14s would give me 0.3% shorter gearing.

Comparison:

• The 185/80/14s are...24lbs each...and a set costs $195. With HX rims it's 35.5lbs per wheel/tire. Savings of 2.5 lbs per wheel/tire, but also 2.6% taller gearing.
• The 185/75/14s are...15.7lbs each...and a set costs $165. With HX rims it's 27.2 lbs per wheel/tire. Savings of 10.8 lbs per wheel/tire, but also 0.3% shoter gearing.

Current setup is 195/65/15s...20lbs each...with stock 18lb alloys...38 lbs per wheel/tire.

Which tire should I get (if I end up buying the rims)? Is a height ratio of 80 too much and unsafe? I'm leaning toward the 185/75/14s due to the cheaper price, more weight reduction, plus I'm only losing 1 mile every 400 or so, and RPMs are only raised 3 per 1000.

[Ecky]

Are these LRR tires?

To me there's value in keeping a common tire size. Between the two I'd get the 75's.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Not LRR. Don't want to use a separate set in the winter. Plus, I can't get a set of LRR 185/75/14 tires for $165.

Probably going to meet up with the guy tomorrow morning - $100 for 4 HX rims WITH brand new tires. All other HX rims in the area are $205-$450, and are either with no tires, bad tires, or one or two good tires.

His tires are too small though, so will try to sell those.

HX rims - $100
4 185/75/14 tires - $164 here on Ebay. Whitewall, all season, 15.73 lbs each.
Mounting + balancing - $80
Total: $344

Ouch.

But I have these to sell to make up for some or all of it:
- 4 195/65/15 tires with only 2000 miles on them.
- 4 15" stock 7th gen civic EX alloy rims
- 4 new 185/65/14 tires from the HX rims

They are painted black, but since they'll be covered in cardboard or coroplast, who cares? Photos he sent me:

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Purchased the HX wheels today. They are so friggin light; I can throw one up in the air and catch it with ease. Best part is that they were only 6 miles from my house.

The parts car was advertised as a 98 EX coupe, but it's actually an automatic (or CVT?) HX. Sad to see such a fuel efficient lean burn civic head to the junkyard. Looked pretty beat up though; around 250K miles on it and it looked like its owners never really cared for it. He moved the car back a couple feet before taking the tires off and the engine was already smoking. Car cost him $400 originally and he put 1000-2000 miles on it. Junkyard offered him $250, so with that and my $100 for the rims he isn't doing too bad, although he's of the type that's probably spent the $100 already lol.

I never noticed how perfect the HX rims are for smooth wheel covers! There's like a lip on the edge that makes smooth discs perfectly nestle in there, and the spokes are thin so zip ties won't stick out at all.

Going to be ordering tires soon and getting those on and mounted. Looking at Hankook Optimo H724 All-Season 185/75R14 tires - on sale for just $37.77 each + free shipping on Amazon. No local store carries those tires unless I want to spend $90+ per tire.

70,000 mile warranty too. Maybe I'll pump them up to 50 PSI and heck, if they go bad before 70K I get new tires for free.

Now to sell my current tires and rims. My 195/65R15 tires have ~2400 miles on them; $150 obo if anyone wants to come pick them up in a week. Stock 7th gen EX sedan rims for sale too $300 obo, also if anyone wants to come pick them up in a week. 4 185/65R14 tires for sale too, 3 are good, one is eh, okay I guess. You can have them for $50 if you want to come pick them up in a week. Unless y'all want to pay for shipping. Or just come anyway, I'd love to talk shop in person with someone from Ecomodder!

Have a road trip to Virginia for college orientation; would love to have the new tires all mounted and set for the trip to help with the terrible hills in WV, but tires won't come until the day I get back.

Redid my tail extension since my first one was falling apart. New one is an inch longer and is about as long as I feel comfortable going. It covers the whole trunk and extends out, making this one significantly more stable.

I tried the melting plastic method of waterproofing; I didn't feel like using 20 square feet (~1.9 square meters) of duct tape, so I stapled & taped plastic garbage bags over the cardboard and melted them on using a propane torch. I then painted the whole thing silver and finished mounting it just before I had to leave for work today. Will post pics asap but I'm super busy as usual.

I may try the melted plastic bag waterproofing for the smooth discs for the HX wheels.

Still too excited about my HX rims though. I actually have genuine HX rims!!!!!